What are the impacts of Climate Change? 

The impact of climate change is something that the world and their heads of state need to look into as a myriad of global events has started to unfold as a result of the impact of climate change. Most countries have been grappling with drought conditions for years, while others have seen significant flooding, heatwave, stronger hurricane, bushfires, and perhaps the newest one the melting of the arctic region. Global temperatures are rising and sea levels are as well. Droughts can impact food production and stability if we don’t assess and put in the necessary mitigation strategies. This can affect human health causing starvation and hunger, especially in poorer countries in the world. Flooding can actually put a dampen on food availability as crops are destroyed likewise the ecosystem. Flooding also causes damage to the infrastructure of most countries like bridges and roads. At times or in its severity flooding can cause the spread of infectious diseases as a result of the death of organisms like people and large animals. It also set back productivity as the time taken for cleanup activities and the mobilization of the staff to pick up the pieces might take time.  There is also the frequency of hurricanes and bushfires and the melting of glacial ice in the arctic region due to heatwaves and the rise in sea levels. This will hurt marine life and aquatic animals like fishes, corals, etc. because the coral provides a good habit for the aquatic animals and if the coral is impacted they will become susceptible to coral bleaching as a result of the warmer temperatures and die. 

Stronger hurricanes

Drought

Bushfire

Flooding victims in Johor Bahr, Malaysia on March 1,2023

Questions

1. How does climate change affect the environment?

2. Who is most at risk from the negative impacts of climate change?

References

At least four dead, tens of thousands evacuated in Malaysia floods. CNA. (2023, March 4). Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/least-four-dead-tens-thousands-evacuated-malaysia-floods-3325106

Climate change impacts. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/climate/climate-change-impacts

Cuff, M. (2022, October 27). World is on track for 2.5°C of global warming by end of the century. New Scientist. Retrieved March 23, 2023, from https://www.newscientist.com/article/2344159-world-is-on-track-for-2-5c-of-global-warming-by-end-of-the-century/

Droughts. Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management. (n.d.). Retrieved March 9, 2023, from https://www.odpem.org.jm/droughts/