Climate change, the long-term alteration in the earth’s average temperatures and weather conditions, is primarily a result of human activity. This is a crucial point to understand, as it empowers us to take action. The high demand for more energy, driven by a rising population and economic and technological developments, is contributing to the causes of climate change. From deforestation to overconsumption and burning of fossil fuels, with many other factors, humans are the main drivers of the drastic climate changes we are witnessing. These changes significantly impact our earth today, leading to extreme weather changes, environmental changes, and a toll on humans. These three broad factors are interconnected, and by 2030, most scientists agree that climate change’s impacts cannot be reversed if significant change is not made in time.
The rate of warming since 1982 has more than tripled to an increase of 0.20° Celsius per decade. Increased intense heat waves have exacerbated drought, making already dried areas drier and growing conditions that have steered to more wildfires. Increased precipitation due to more evaporation has led to more moisture in the air, leading to significantly increased rainfall, and then disastrous flooding is more frequent. Tropical storms have been three times more frequent compared to the last century. By 2050, the National Ocean Service predicts the sea levels will rise between 10–12 inches, which is drastic compared to the fact that this rise would typically take around 100 years. Global climate change has been taking a significant toll on the environment. High sea levels are also contributing to more floods. This extreme weather has now been substantially impacting our surroundings.
Extreme weather has had a crucial effect on biodiversity. Wildfires and drought have damaged ecosystems as species experience habitat loss and unsuitable living conditions. The disastrous floods can damage vegetation as the needed nutrients of the soil are eroded, and pollutants carried by flood water can impact water quality and habitats. Degradation of water quality has led to harmful algae blooms that can deplete oxygen from marine species. The melting of glaciers has been leading to the extinction of many native species and affecting marine and aquatic life. Meanwhile, gradual glacier melt sustains stream habitats for plants and animals. These weather changes have led to irreversible environmental damage, affecting the ecosystem.
In the end, the impacts of climate change have taken a toll on humanity. The extreme weather has led to yield reductions in agriculture and risking livestock. This then causes prices to fluctuate and rise. The economy is at significant risk. It is estimated that currently, it would take $38 trillion to fix global annual damages. For instance, Asia will be the epicenter of climate change. With its already hot weather, the inflation of the temperatures with each passing year has led to an estimate that 600 million to 1 billion people will face lethal heat waves by 2050. Worsened air quality due to the increased exposure to wildfires and ozone smog activated by warmer living conditions has been leading to significant health issues. Insect-borne diseases have also been more prevalent as they can thrive for longer seasons. Food and water scarcity have been hitting communities with the fewest resources, like those facing political and poverty instability, leading them to be displaced. They will endure the repercussions devastatingly. The climate crisis has been worsening inequities. These tools will not affect those with ample resources, as disparities will continue between those wealthy enough to protect themselves from the effects of climate change while others cannot.
The climate change crisis is not a distant threat, but a present reality with many different aspects. We are already facing extreme weather changes impacting our ecosystems and taking a toll on our environment. It also affects our future generations and causes instability with an increased death mortality rate and insufficient living conditions. With less biodiversity, we face a future where food supplies and fresh water are at risk. The effects are already being felt, and soon, they will be more lethal. Suppose we fail to curb our greenhouse emissions, carbon footprint, burning of fossil fuels, and many other components leading to this crisis, while prioritizing our environment, ecosystem, and people on the line. In that case, we can make a change before it is belated.
- Yusra Jameel
Sources:
- https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/effects/
- https://www.epa.gov/climatechange-science/impacts-climate-change
- https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/causes-effects-climate-change
- https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/effects-of-climate-change
- https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2019/06/20/climate-change-economy-impacts/
- https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(19)30113-5/fulltext
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