Government experts are spelling out how climate change could affect Scotland at a top level meeting in Inverness today.
Scottish Natural Heritage say the best case scenario could see wetter winters and a displacement of the country's native wildlife.
But the worst outcome could mean the extinction of some species, rising sea levels and increased carbon output.
They say by 2080 there could be snowless winters in some parts and many wildlife species could shift northwards.
SNH is the Government's key advisor on the environment.
They are looking at ways in which climate change could be tackled, such as the moving of species under threat to new areas, effectively 're-colonising' them.
Experts say this would be high-risk and costly, but could represent a last-resort boost to species under threat.
Professor Colin Galbraith, SNH's director of policy and advice, said: "There is now enough evidence to support the scientific rationale that climate change is happening and will continue to have a direct effect on species and habitats in Scotland.
"It is too early to predict precisely what changes this human-led impact will have, and that is why SNH is working on this issue with the Scottish Government and other government agencies. The issue of removal of species to habitats in which they may stand a better chance of survival is, at this moment in time, a notional one, but it could happen, and we have to be prepared for that."
The protection of Scotland's peatland areas could also be key in the battle against global warming.
Part of SNH's overall strategy is ensuring land owners recognise the need to keep carbon locked in the soil.
They say peatland and other areas holds on to significant carbon deposits which if was released into the atmosphere would be equivalent to around 170 years of greenhouse gas emissions from Scotland.
