A new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has detailed described the impact of climate change on planet Earth. It determined that the world must reduce its anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions significantly by 2030 if global temperatures are to remain below 1.5 degree Celsius (C). This would avoid severe consequences.
Five key risks are identified in the report. These include drought, heat, storm surges, sea level rise, and coastal flooding. The "burning embers" chart, below, shows the severity of the risks at various levels of warming. Darker colors indicate greater stress levels.
Not only are there physical effects, but also socioeconomic ones. As an example, people may be more likely to be evacuated due to the increased likelihood of tropical cyclone and flood surges. This will lead to more deaths from climate extreme events. It was also revealed that the population most at risk from climate extremes in coastal areas will reach a billion people in 2050.
While climate change is already having many impacts, the report says that these effects are far more severe than previously reported. Many species have had to shift their ranges. About half of land animals and plants moved to more favorable areas for survival.
Climate change has not only altered the ecosystems but also made it difficult to access food and water. Millions are currently experiencing food insecurity due to climate change. The increasing heat and storminess is also affecting the availability water resources. Natural disasters are also causing more than 8 million people to be displaced in the world.
Nearly eight percent are at extremely high risk of extinction. This number will rise to 13 % at three degrees, and to 15% at four. The risk of regional extinctions is also increasing.
Rising sea levels will increase flooding and could cause major cities to run out of water. Oceans are heating, leading to hypoxia. This will reduce the ability of marine microbes to absorb oxygen. Additionally, the Arctic permafrost melting will result in more greenhouse gas emissions into the air.
The risk of drought is another threat to agriculture. Two degrees makes agricultural drought 150 to 200% more likely. A decrease of 5 to 10% is expected in the yields of agricultural crops. It could result in the loss of vital nutrients such as zinc, depending on how much carbon dioxide is released into our atmosphere.
Other impacts of climate change include changes in the amount of iron, protein, zinc and other nutrients. A study estimates that a carbon-equivalent increase in atmospheric CO2 will reduce zinc by 7%. Similar results can be seen for protein. An increase of CO2 equivalent will result in a 4% decrease.
These conclusions are based off climate data from five different global climate models. They are compared with two scenarios of emission: a low scenario, and a high scenario. Each one outlines different ways to reach macro-level conditions by 2030.
FAQ
How does climate change impact marine life and oceans around the globe?
What are the effects of climate change on oceans and marine life around the globe?
Since its inception climate change has significantly affected the world's oceans as well as the marine life associated with them. The constant oceanic heating caused by the loss of the ozone layers causes severe disruptions to marine ecosystems, leading to coral bleaching and species declines.
Climate change can also be linked to unpredictable weather and stronger storms. This can cause extreme sea level rises that can prove fatal for coastal areas. Temperature changes can also cause water levels to drop, causing "dead zones", areas where there is less marine life.
Climate change is also contributing to ocean acidification, caused by excess carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere that accumulates within the oceans. Ocean acidification can raise pH levels, making it difficult for animals to adapt like crabs, clams or oysters.
Higher temperatures can also cause changes in natural habitats. They may shrink or change their geographical location, making it unhabitable for species that depend on them. Ocean stress increases already high extinction rates worldwide, creating a severe imbalance of predators and prey which might lead eventually to complete extinction.
The impacts of climate change have rippled through entire ecosystems. They impact multiple species either directly or indirectly through evaporation, decreasing water volumes, or sharp temperature changes. This could jeopardize any sustainable development for fishing and other maritime activities. Overall climate change continues one by one wiping out entire species from our planet transforming future lives on land but most importantly deep below the surface of our oceans.
How does climate change and global heating impact agriculture and food safety?
Climate change and global warming have a direct impact on agriculture and food security. The changing climate can impact rainfall patterns and temperatures as well as soil moisture levels. Extreme weather is also possible. This can lead to disruptions in farming activities, lower crop yields, and loss of agricultural biodiversity. Warmer temperatures can increase the spread of diseases or pests that can impact crops and can also lead to shifts in the areas suitable for agriculture production. This can result in higher costs for food production, and worsening hunger and nutrition around the world.
Rising sea levels pose a further threat. They could inundate valuable agricultural land in many coastal areas, leading to higher salinity levels in wetlands, where important crops are grown. Changes in climate also have an impact on livestock production. In summer, high temperatures can lower fertility rates in animals like sheep and cattle. This can result in lower milk yields, which can worsen food insecurity.
Global warming and climate change are complex issues. However, governments around the world are making efforts to reduce these effects through adaptation strategies such as climate-smart agricultural (CSA) strategic investments. This involves the promotion of sustainable methods such crop rotation techniques, or the conservation and preservation of native seeds varieties. These are ways to help mitigate the negative effects of climate change. In addition, CSA strategies call for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through the use of renewable energy sources and the reduction of deforestation-related logging activities.
It is essential that farmers worldwide adopt technologies that are more responsive to changes in the environment when selecting the right crops to grow on specific parcels of land to ensure food security amid a rapidly changing environment. It is essential to make improvements in existing infrastructure so that appropriate actions may be taken when crucial crop thresholds are reached. This includes the introduction of stable irrigation networks with adequate access waters at times when there is less availability due to warmer temperatures or heavy downpours, which can wash away important access water resources. It is essential to create sustainable solutions that adhere to the international guidelines for quality nutrition in our changing climates. This requires collaboration between all stakeholders, from government agencies at an international level to local NGOs.
How do developing countries and communities experience the effects of climate change?
Because of their limited access and lack of technology and healthcare, the impact climate change has on developing countries and communities is particularly severe. Temperature, precipitation and sea level changes increase pressure on already finite resources. Already fragile ecosystems are being destroyed by floods or droughts. Rising temperatures can reduce crop yields. This will impact communities with low incomes and food insecurity. Moreover, extreme weather events such as heatwaves and hurricanes can result in the destruction of infrastructure and displacement of people, further perpetuating economic inequality.
The long-term impacts of climate change include resource scarcity, poverty, increased health risks, and an increase of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever. In addition, there will be a higher risk of flooding due to rising sea levels coupled with extreme weather events putting lives at risk in coastal areas where populations often lack the adequate infrastructure or emergency services needed for evacuation. While mitigating greenhouse gases is essential to build resilience to these risks, there are other options available. These include better management of freshwater resources and easier access for health facilities. This helps with the prevention of diseases such as malaria.
Statistics
- features Earth's average surface temperature in 2022 tied with 2015 as the fifth warmest on record, according to an analysis by NASA. (climate.nasa.gov)
- This source accounts for about 10% of all the water that enters this highly productive farmland, including rivers and rain. (climate.nasa.gov)
- The 100 least-emitting countries generate 3 per cent of total emissions. (un.org)
- According to the 2014 report on Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability (page 8) from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, governments at various levels are also getting better at adaptation. (climate.nasa.gov)
- Indigenous peoples and local communities receive less than 1% of all climate funding despite scoring wins for people and nature Africa's broken food markets must be fixed to tackle hunger (climatechangenews.com)
External Links
How To
How to Support Climate-Friendly Policies and Companies
Individuals can take several actions to support climate friendly policies and companies. This can include speaking out against non-climate-friendly businesses or politicians, voting for pro-environment candidates, writing letters or emails of encouragement to those who are already taking positive action towards the environment, and signing petitions in favor of policies that encourage and support climate-friendliness. Individuals can also take immediate steps to make a difference by switching to providers with a better record in the environment or choosing sustainable products instead of those with higher carbon omissions.
It is important to reduce one's carbon footprint in order to support climate-friendly companies and policies. This may include changing daily habits such unplugging electrical appliances and switching off lights when not required, using environmentally friendly household products like biodegradable cleansers and composting kitchen soiled food scraps rather that putting them in landfills, wearing sustainable fiber clothing, choosing local foods whenever possible, installing energy-efficient energy systems at your home with solar panels or wind turbines, as well as planting trees around the property that absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.
Investors who want to support climate friendly policies should search for companies with lower carbon emissions prior to investing. Investors interested in climate-friendly policies should examine their portfolios every so often to make sure they are meeting sustainability standards. Green bond investors should ensure that the funds they invest in do not finance any activities that release more greenhouse gases into our atmosphere than they take away. Investors should also be aware of any opportunities for funds to be used towards green business activities, such as renewable energy alternatives and other initiatives that promote sustainability like community-building projects that use green technologies.