 Climate change has accelerated in the past 30 years, and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has effectively doubled. This is not without consequence. We are already seeing the impact of climate change on temperatures, weather patterns, agriculture, and ocean acidification. Managing the challenges is the task of individuals, businesses, and governments.
Key Takeaways: Climate Change Impacts
As more greenhouse gases enter the atmosphere, the world heats up (GHG). Warmer parts of the planet are the first to suffer the effects of extreme heat. There are also high rates of heat-related mortality, especially in older people unable to regulate temperatures when asleep. As well as causing droughts and putting pressure on water supplies, extreme heat also causes a range of health conditions, such as migraines, arthritis, asthma, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Extreme heat is happening in most places with more intense summers. More Droughts Droughts are also occurring more frequently in many places, including the UK; they are a symptom of extreme heat. Droughts happen when areas receive insufficient precipitation due to extreme heat and evaporation; this affects local ecosystems: agriculture, and food resources. Some droughts last for years and have a substantial impact on crops, animal life, and humans, but even short droughts can have a big impact on local economies. According to the Red Cross, 40°C temperatures would have been unlikely in the UK without human-caused climate change. More Wildfires Wildfires are devastating to local ecosystems, animals, and the human population, and some places are more prone to them than others. In 2019-20, Australia had what is now called the Black Summer, a summer season with hundreds of wildfires in the southeast of the country. Wildfires can be started spontaneously due to the sun’s heat or artificially from campfires and discarded cigarettes; when the land is dry due to extreme heat, it increases the chances of wildfires starting. The black summer is thought to have killed 450 people and 1 billion animals. Storms and Floods Storms and floods have always been natural hazards, but their frequency and intensity are increasing in unpredictable ways, especially in sub-tropical areas that receive monsoon rains. Storms and floods can devastate communities, causing billions in damage and loss of life. As global temperatures rise, island nations like the UK and Ireland will experience more storms and floods. Rising sea levels, changes in Gulf Stream temperature, and low-lying land in the south make the UK particularly vulnerable to these forms of extreme weather in coming years. Coastal Impact Sea levels are rising due to the melting of glaciers and land ice making its way into the ocean; it is also caused by the expansion of seawater when it warms. The IPCC reports that sea levels could rise by between 50 cm and 130 cm by the year 2100 compared to pre-industrial levels. Coastal cities and regions will be severely impacted by sea level rises. In poorer regions, displacement will be common, while established global cities like New York and London will experience financial losses unless infrastructure can be quickly adapted to the water levels. Agricultural Impacts Agriculture is both crucial and controversial in the global economy, and as global temperatures continue to rise, the question of whether the world can sustain a further 2 billion people by 2050 needs to be addressed. Extreme weather can increase yields, but it’s offset by damaged crops. Agriculture is more related to trade and economics than to feeding the world, which is why the EU has stockpiles of food. Benin, an African state, produces 4 to 8 times as much cotton than Texan farmers, but Texan farmers receive $4 billion in subsidies, distorting global trade practice. Ocean Acidification Ph levels are used to measure the acidification of water. Ph stands for “potential of hydrogen” since the inclusion of hydrogen influences the levels of acidity. Ph is measured on a scale between 0-14 - current ocean levels measure 8. The number decreases as hydrogen rises. As more carbon dioxide is absorbed by the ocean, its Ph levels become lower, meaning the water is more acidic due to increases in hydrogen. There are several concerns about it. Ocean acidification affects habitats, alters nutrients, and causes misshapen shells in sea creatures. Biodiversity Changes Biodiversity changes will lead to the extinction of animals such as the African mountain gorilla, neo-tropic amphibians, a bear found in the Andes, forest birds in Tanzania, the Bengal tiger, as well as polar bears, penguins, and a wide range of plants and animal species in the UK as well. Many species under threat can’t migrate when ecosystems change due to weather patterns, extreme heat, and ocean acidification. Currently, the UK has below half its biodiversity left, and although levels are stable; the figure is worrying since nature is at the base of our supply chains. Human Health Death rates are likely to increase as climate change worsens this century. Increased death rates will result from heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, storms, and floods. Higher temperatures will also impact food production and increase vector-borne diseases like malaria due to moisture levels. According to a 2009 report in the Lancet by University College London, the two major threats to human health from climate change are food and water. Water shortages will put a strain on food production and health, especially in regions vulnerable to droughts like North and South Africa. Conclusion Between 1850 and 2020, global temperatures increased by 1.2 °C, which has caused the climate issues we have today. In a high climate change scenario, temperatures would rise by a further 1.1 °C to 5.7 °C by the end of the century, putting human survival on the planet at risk. Image Credit Comments are closed.
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