Several impacts of climate change are occurring in our everyday lives, and the effects are largely negative. There are several key areas of concern that need to be addressed, including the effects of sea levels rising, the impact of energy usage on the environment, the effects of wildlife on human health, and the effects of transportation on the environment. These impacts of climate change are important to address if we want to maintain a healthy and sustainable environment for our children and grandchildren.
Human Health
Increasingly, we hear about the effects of climate change on human health. It’s a scary prospect. Earth’s climate is warming and extreme weather events are becoming more common. These events can cause illnesses, injuries, and death. In addition, some infectious diseases are becoming more prevalent as the climate warms.
Health impacts of climate change can be due to multiple factors, and different impacts may occur at different times in a person’s life. The impacts will depend on the sensitivity of the individual, the capacity of the health system, and the current rate of climate change.
The health impacts of climate change are most likely to occur in disadvantaged communities. These communities are often affected by poor air quality, vector borne diseases, and extreme weather events.
For example, the World Bank projects a significant increase in malaria cases in Africa. The malarial mosquitoes that carry the disease can only thrive in certain environments. Climate change will change the range of vectors and their distribution.
Increasing temperatures will also cause increased air pollution. This can lead to more cardiovascular diseases and lung diseases.
Water
Changing climate will have impacts on water resources in many ways. In some cases, the changes will benefit some regions while putting others at risk.
Climate change will alter the way water is produced and transported. It may also affect the quality of water. For instance, higher ocean temperatures may lead to more intense rainfall. This could cause a decrease in availability of drinking water in some regions.
Rising sea levels will also have a dramatic effect on the world’s water supply. For instance, salt water will seep into coastal aquifers, making fresh water salty. This will threaten the survival of many fish and wildlife species.
Other potential impacts include changes in runoff patterns. Water managers must balance the water needs of growing communities with the needs of sensitive ecosystems.
Climate change is also predicted to lead to more severe droughts. This is especially true in the Southwest, where water shortages are expected.
In the Northeast and Midwest, more precipitation is expected. This can lead to flooding and increased stormwater runoff. In addition, heavy rainfall can wash away trash, pollutants, and other materials. The effects of flooding are devastating. This is especially true in low-income communities where there is less flood protection and insurance.
Agriculture
Agricultural impacts of climate change have the potential to affect food security, food availability and human health. Changes in the amount of rainfall and temperature will affect crop yields and water supplies. There are also many weeds that can thrive in a warmer climate.
In addition, warmer water temperatures may alter the habitats of many fish species. This could increase the risk of contaminants being transported into water supplies. Changes in hydrologic characteristics may also increase the risk of contaminants moving to water supplies.
The impacts of climate change on agriculture have implications for various regions. Changing weather patterns are expected to reduce agricultural productivity in some areas, and increase the frequency of extreme weather events in other regions. Climate change may also affect the nature of pathogens in agricultural systems, which can have implications for human exposure.
In addition, climate change will affect the fate of chemicals in the environment. For example, changes in moisture content may reduce persistence of chemicals. It may also affect the transport of chemicals to water supplies.
Wildlife
Managing wildlife resources is a key challenge in the face of increasing temperatures and extreme events. Climate change affects the flora and fauna, ecosystems, and availability of water and energy. Understanding the impacts of climate change on wildlife resources is a necessary first step in designing effective conservation strategies.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently released a report that predicts an increase in surface temperatures by 0.15°C to 0.3°C per decade over the next century. This increase in surface temperatures will affect the distribution of wildlife species and their ability to breed. Some species will be more vulnerable than others.
One example is the African elephant. The elephant’s ability to adapt to climate change is likely to be limited, and it is possible that the elephant may actually be pushed into extinction. Other examples include the black rhino and the hippopotamus.
Climate change also has indirect impacts on wildlife resources, such as increasing availability of nutrients, increasing the amount of rainfall, and changing hydrologic cycles. This can affect the distribution and abundance of wildlife species, and may be detrimental to their ecotourism.
Eco-System
Several studies have demonstrated ecosystem responses to climate change. These responses are related to changes in habitat structure, species composition, and physiological processes. However, uncertainties remain about the potential impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems. Identifying adaptive strategies will be challenging.
To better understand the climate-change related impacts on marine ecosystems, we developed an integrative ecosystem model. This model integrates scientific knowledge about biological processes, interactions, and species distributions with stakeholder perceptions. The model enables assessment of dynamic trade-offs among biological processes and species under future climate change conditions. In addition, it enables communication of ocean warming research.
The model was based on foodweb interactions between pelagic and demersal species in the Barents Sea. It is designed to facilitate discussion about uncertainties with stakeholders. The model incorporates ecologically similar species to reduce model complexity. The model also incorporates key biological processes that have been widely discussed in the scientific literature. These include primary production, competition, and life history variables.
Several scientific publications, including a review of regional ecosystems and reports by expert groups, were screened for relevance. In addition, internet-based news portals and fisheries magazines were screened for relevant topics.
Energy
Various adaptive actions can be taken to lessen the negative effects of climate change on energy supply and demand. These actions can include switching to clean energy systems and enacting policies to support local renewable energy sources.
The effects of climate change on energy supply and demand have already started to impact most of the countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The consequences of climate change include intense droughts, flooding, and fires. The effects of climate change also affect energy infrastructure and energy demand.
Climate change is projected to increase the frequency of heat waves in the Southwest. The Southwest currently experiences extreme droughts. This might exacerbate security concerns in the region and at an international level.
Climate change may also lead to major changes in social and economic dynamics. This is why governments should make climate change planning a top priority. It is also important to make sure that policies are effective and delivered in a timely manner.
Energy research will be focused on developing models to assess the current sensitivity of electricity demand to weather fluctuations and the effects of future climate change scenarios on electricity generation infrastructure. In addition, researchers will analyze the social cost of carbon. The social cost of carbon is an empirically based measure of the social benefits of carbon dioxide. It is the sum of the cost of energy produced and the cost of emissions of carbon dioxide.
Transportation
Various studies have examined the effects of climate change on transportation. Some of these studies have focused on the impacts on transportation infrastructure. Others have focused on the effects of climate change on transportation systems and transportation technology. The results have been varied. Nevertheless, a common theme has emerged: climate change will affect transportation in several ways.
Climate change will affect transportation by increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. These events will have a significant impact on the safety, efficiency, and reliability of transportation systems. The transportation system will be affected by changes in extreme temperatures, precipitation, and sea level.
In addition to changes in weather, transportation systems will also be affected by the shifts in agricultural production patterns. This will lead to changes in the transportation modes that are used in the United States.
Moreover, transportation professionals will need to formulate policies to address climate change. These policies will include the adoption of pro-environmental behaviors, such as reduced energy usage for mobility. They may also include tax rebates for energy-efficient vehicles. They will also need to implement new infrastructure designs to meet future climate conditions.
Sea Levels Rise
Increasing sea levels will affect coastal life worldwide, threatening densely populated cities and communities. Sea level rise is one of the most urgent climate threats to date. It is caused by an increase in the ocean’s heat content, a warming climate and human-driven changes. Its effects include flooding and coastal erosion.
During the twentieth century, global sea levels rose an average of 5.9 inches. The rate of sea level rise has been increasing since the 1800s when humans started burning coal and driving up carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The increase in sea levels is caused by two main factors: thermal expansion of the oceans and melting ice sheets. As ice melts, the dark surface of the ice reflects more of the sun’s energy, increasing the heat content of the ocean. This causes the ocean to warm, which hastens the melting of ice shelves and coastal ice sheets.
The Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets are contributing to the sea level rise. Each year, they lose about 280 billion tons of ice. Combined, they contribute to about 20% of the current sea level rise.
