Impacts of climate change

There is a wide range of climate change impacts, some of which are presented below:

• Increase in temperatures: Nearly all land areas are seeing more hot days and heat waves due to the progressive increase in temperatures. Since 1880, average global temperatures have increased by about 1°C, and it is projected to warm by about 1.5°C by 2050 and another 2–4°C by 2100. This will continue to cause extreme heat waves and natural wildfires in many parts of the world.
• Increased drought: Droughts and long dry spells are becoming frequent in different parts of the world. Droughts often have knock-on effects, such as on transport infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, water, and biodiversity. They reduce water levels in rivers and ground water, stunt tree and crop growth, and increase pest attacks.
• More severe storms: Changes in temperature are likely to cause changes in rainfall, which results in more severe and frequent storms. These lead to flooding, landslides, and soil erosion, destroying homes and communities and causing losses of human lives, crops, and livestock. The costs of repair and recovery are substantial.

• Fluctuations and irregularities in rainfall: Erratic changes in rainfall patterns lead to low agricultural production, thus creating food insecurity, especially in countries dependent on rain-fed agriculture. Agricultural activities are planned based on natural rainfall patterns. Any change in rainfall frequency and intensity also affects water storage, irrigation networks, and water supply systems, as they are designed according to annual rainfall patterns.
• Extreme weather events: Climate change increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as hurricanes, typhoons, floods, and droughts. These events can cause significant damage to infrastructure, agriculture, and human lives.
• Increase in sea and ocean levels: Oceans heat up, causing water to rise as warm water expands and polar and mountainous ice sheets melt. Current projections suggest a sea level rise of six metres over the next 100–200 years. This threatens coastal and island communities. Even a one-metre sea level rise and storm surges will force the movement of tens of millions of people and result in the loss of strategic agricultural land.
• Ocean acidification: Increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere lead to higher carbon dioxide concentrations in the oceans, causing ocean acidification. This harms marine life, particularly coral reefs and shellfish.
• Loss of species: Climate change poses risks to the survival of species on land and in the ocean. Some species will be able to relocate and survive, but others will not. Factors such as temperature increase, forest fires, extreme weather, invasive pests, and diseases threaten fauna and flora. Climate change also indirectly impacts biodiversity through changes in land use, habitat destruction (peatlands, mangroves, and wetlands), invasive species, pollution, and over-consumption.
• Health risks: Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. Climate impacts harm health through air pollution, disease, extreme weather events, forced displacement, mental health pressures, increased hunger, and poor nutrition. Higher temperatures increase heat-related illnesses and can make it more difficult to work and move around. The ocean’s absorption of carbon dioxide makes it more acidic, endangering marine life.
• Increase of vector-borne diseases: Climate change results in an increase in vector-borne diseases, such as the spread of mosquitoes causing malaria, especially in tropical zones.
• Economic impact: The wide-ranging effects of climate change strain economies through increased disaster recovery costs, reduced agricultural productivity, declining property values, and disruptions in supply chains. Climate change may affect workforce availability due to population health decline and additional occupational health constraints.
• Migration and displacement: Sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and environmental degradation can force communities to migrate or become displaced, leading to conflicts over resources and increased pressure on already overcrowded regions.
• Acid rain: Acid rain seeps into the ground, dissolving nutrients like calcium and magnesium, necessary for tree health. It also releases aluminium into soil and water bodies, causing detrimental effects on trees, freshwater, and soils, and destroying insects and aquatic life forms. Additionally, it may cause paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and weathering of stone buildings and sculptures, and has negative effects on human health.
• Urban heating: Increased carbon dioxide causes temperatures to rise most in urban areas. Buildings absorb more heat than vegetation, and buildings and roads reduce evapotranspiration.^[1]  Heat generated from vehicle and building emissions is trapped by tall buildings, contributing to urban areas being warmer than their surroundings, known as the urban heat island effect.

Activity

Activity 6.1. Identify and describe any three climate change impacts that have a particular impact in your local area.