What Will Happen From Climate Change ; If
We Don't Act Now?
Climate change is happening, and it's going to have a massive impact on our planet in the coming years if we don't act now .Take a look at this climate change infographic to see what global warming might do to the world around us.
How Is Climate Change Affecting People
- Climate Change is predicted to affect people worldwide. Rising sea levels, droughts and floods, disease and famine, loss of ecosystems services like crop pollination, coral reefs and kelp forests threaten human well-being. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts that world food production must increase 70 per cent by 2050 to feed a projected population of 9.6 billion people - a challenge which would be difficult even without global warming.
- For example, within 50 years, rainfall in Southern Europe is predicted to decrease by 25 per cent, while Northern Europe is predicted to experience an increase of 10-40 per cent. Sea levels are expected to rise between 26 and 82 centi metres by 2100 due to both thermal expansion and melting of polar ice sheets. Coastal communities all over the world will be affected as sea levels rise. This has a particularly large effect on small island nations like Tuvalu and Kiribati who are only a few meters above sea level.
- Rainfall and temperature can significantly affect crop yields. Climate change is predicted to cut yields in major grain producing countries like China and India by 10-25 per cent. This would result in approximately 110 million more people being at risk of hunger worldwide by 2050. The increasing demand for food means that it could become difficult for farmers to produce enough food while also remaining profitable.
How Does Climate Change Affect The Environment
- Although many are concerned with how human activity is affecting our environment, it is important to note that climate change affects both humans and other species in a negative way. According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, scientists began using terms such as global warming or climate change instead of ice age when discussing changes that occur within a decade or two instead of over thousands of years.
- Global warming is defined as an increase in average temperatures due to changes in greenhouse gas levels. Even though that might seem like a simple definition, there are many complexities involved with global warming. For example, while some greenhouse gases are emitted through natural processes, others are created as a result of human activity such as burning fossil fuels (oil and coal), cutting down trees, raising livestock and managing farms improperly.
- These gases naturally trap heat from entering or leaving our atmosphere, which creates an insulation. Although an increase of greenhouse gases is typically not a concern in colder weather because they trap heat and prevent it from escaping, when temperatures rise too high due to global warming it prevents that trapped heat from exiting back out into space.
Negative Effects Of Climate Change
- Forests and oceans are under threat of acidification, which can lead to an increase in oceanic dead zones. And, according to a recent report from The World Bank, by 2060 global warming could cause a 1.4 percent decrease in global gross domestic product (GDP). In other words, even a small difference in temperature could have devastating long-term economic impacts.
- The negative effects of climate change are widespread and far-reaching. Here are just a few of them:
- Rising sea levels threaten coastal cities like New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, Boston, New Orleans and Seattle
- Warmer temperatures could mean more violent storms
- Ocean acidification could affect fish populations
- More frequent wildfires could cause damage to forests in California and Colorado
- Agriculture is at risk as well—the World Bank report estimates that by 2060 there will be $50 billion in economic losses due to crop failures from global warming.
Why Is Climate Change Important
- Climate change is arguably one of the biggest global problems we face, threatening human existence in a number of different ways. Many people might assume that because it’s such a global problem, it’s also too difficult to solve. However, there are simple things you can do every day that can reduce your own carbon footprint and help us tackle climate change as a species.
- As an individual, it’s easy to feel powerless in tackling global problems. But by changing how you live and how you travel, all of us can make a difference. For example, there are lots of benefits that come with eating less meat – not only is it healthier for us, but also better for animals and our environment! There are also simple changes that all of us can make at home, like turning lights off when they’re not being used or choosing sustainable sources of energy like solar power.
- If everyone were to follow these simple steps and do their bit, it would have a huge impact on tackling climate change as a species. With enough of us working together, we can make sure that there are more great things on Earth than bad.
Climate Change Examples
- The greenhouse effect causes higher temperatures and carbon dioxide levels. If temperatures rise, ice caps would melt. This would cause flooding around coastal areas, which could spread disease, destroy cities, and displace millions of people. In addition to flooding, rising sea levels and droughts are also predicted effects from global warming. For example in Florida alone, it is projected that several billions of dollars worth of property will be destroyed by 2060.
- These predicted effects are based on scientific models. These models simulate what will happen at different levels of global warming by looking at temperature, precipitation, and carbon dioxide over time. However, not everyone is convinced that these models accurately predict future effects. For example some think that even slight changes in temperatures could cause drought and famine; others think that sea level rises could be greater than previously predicted; and yet others think changes in extreme weather events aren't being accurately represented in these models.
- To illustrate how different these opinions can be, let’s look at two extreme forecasts of global warming’s future effects. One forecast estimates that by 2100 it could get as hot as 86° F in New York City during summertime, and Texas could have a mean temperature of 82° F for five months out of each year. Another forecast predicts temperatures in Georgia could get as cold as -16° F for four months a year.
Summary
The Earth's temperature has risen by an average of 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1880, and nearly half of that warming has occurred since 1975, according to NASA. Climate scientists have largely concluded that human activities are driving these changes through greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels and other activities.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS :
1. How will climate change affect us?
2. How do we stop climate change?
3. Is climate change a real threat?
Climate scientists are nearly unanimous in saying humans are changing Earth’s climate. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has reported that with a high level of certainty, most recent global warming is due to human activities—primarily, fossil fuel combustion and deforestation. Additionally, according to NASA, there’s more than a 95 percent chance that 2017 was Earth’s warmest year on record since 1880.
4. Is global warming getting worse?
There is no question that a changing environment poses risks. The trick is figuring out how bad those risks are, and whether they'll affect us on a local or global scale. For example, seaside communities are more vulnerable to rising sea levels than inland areas; water-starved regions may see their already parched farmland become further depleted.
5. What are the benefits of climate change?
Global warming is a concept that gets thrown around a lot, but how many people really know. If you’ve ever been curious about whether or not climate change is real and want a more informed opinion on whether you should be worried, here are some of its key facts.
Conclusion
Climate change is happening. It’s not just an issue for future generations, or something that might happen in a far-off land. Right now, as you read these words, it’s changing our world. If you care about leaving behind a world fit for your grandchildren and great-grandchildren - whether they are yet unborn or already living on Earth - then you must read on.
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