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Caitlyn Fink

Dr. Cassel

English Composition II 1201.500

14 April 2022

How Climate Change Negatively Impacts the World

In the Arctic region of North America, the homes of polar bear packs are shrinking,

making it difficult to find food, and as a result fewer cubs survive. In drier climate areas and

desert regions, droughts are more frequent, drying up water holes used by the area’s inhabitants.

In the west of the United States, the drying of organic matter enhances, resulting in more

wildfires. In one’s backyard, a colony of honeybees suffer diseases from the environmental

pollutant and warmer temperatures. In the Atlantic, the bright colors of the coral reef are slowly

fading to white. All around the world, a variety of species are becoming endangered and are

suffering. What is the cause of these occurrences?

The issue of climate change is far from new, but it is progressively becoming more

dangerous as time goes on. As the world’s population increases, the effects of climate change

become more intense. Climate change continues to negatively impact the world in colossal ways

such as increasing temperatures, shrinking of glaciers, the rising of sea levels, and more. Climate

change also affects the world in minute ways that go unnoticed, such as damaging honeybee

health, or disrupting human mental health and well-being.

What is climate change? Climate change is an overly broad term, but it is defined as the

long-term shift in weather patterns on Earth (“Global Warming and Climate Change”). Climate
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change serves as an umbrella term for things such as global warming, which disrupt nature’s

normal balance. Global warming is used to describe the increase in Earth’s average temperature,

which is the primary cause of climate change. A major factor of global warming is greenhouse

gas emissions. Greenhouse gases are gases, such as methane and carbon dioxide, that have been

emitted into Earth’s atmosphere. They are the result of human activity such as burning fossil

fuels for transportation, electricity, and heat. A carbon footprint describes the total amount of

greenhouse gas emissions that one individual or group has caused but is then converted to the

equivalent of carbon. A carbon footprint can make it easier to identify major sources of

greenhouse gas emissions.

When these gases are emitted into Earth’s atmosphere, they have nowhere to go, so they

get trapped in the atmosphere, causing an increase in the global temperature. This is called the

greenhouse effect, which is essential to the Earth’s temperature because Earth would be far too

cold without its production of heat. However, the amount of greenhouse gases has increased

significantly over time, slowly increasing the average global temperature. If the amount of

greenhouse gas emissions continues to rise and the global temperature continues to increase at

the rate it is now, the effects of climate change will worsen and become irreversible (“Global

Warming and Climate Change”). How does climate change and global warming affect the

world?

One of the most obvious negative effects of climate change is the shrinkage of glaciers

due to the rise in global temperatures. Glaciers are large bodies of slowly moving ice that were

once formed on land. Since 1970, glaciers have lost a volume of nearly 25 meters of liquid water,

which is like cutting about 27.5 meters of ice off the top of each glacier. Some well-studied

glaciers have lost up to 80 feet of ice in depth since 1980. Similar to glaciers, sea ice is melting
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as well from the rising global temperature. Sea ice is frozen water from the sea that has surfaced

at the top. Since 1979, sea ice in the Arctic has decreased by approximately 40%. (“Climate

Change Impacts”). The one key difference between sea ice and glaciers is that glaciers form on

land and usually melt in the ocean, whereas sea ice forms in the ocean but melts there as well.

Because sea ice is formed in the ocean, it is often referred to as ice in a glass of water; when it

melts it does not change the level of water in the glass. However, glaciers are not formed in the

ocean. When they melt, their water is deposited into the ocean, which causes a rise in sea levels

(Hancock). This is like adding ice to a glass that is already full of water. When the ice is added,

the water in the glass overflows because there is no room for the new ice.

Not only are the losses of glacial ice a threat to water sources all over the world, but they

have also contributed a significant amount to the rise of sea levels. The global sea level has risen

approximately 21-24 centimeters since 1880 (“Climate Change Impacts”). Another source states

that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or the IPCC, found that the sea levels were

rising about 3.7 millimeters each year from 2006 to 2018. It is also predicted that the sea level

will rise about 2-6 meters by 2150 (“Global Warming and Climate Change”). According to the

World Wildlife Fund, the Greenland ice sheet is disappearing nearly four times faster than it was

in 2003. This occurrence alone contributes 20% of current sea level rise. So, if emissions

continue to rise, it is expected that the melting rate for the ice sheet in Greenland will double by

the end of the century. If all the ice melted in Greenland, the global sea level could increase up to

20 feet. (Hancock). The rising sea levels have caused major disruptions such as floods, extreme

storms, erosion, and hurricanes, all of which are worse in coastal areas. These occurrences

danger both human life and wildlife. If the sea levels continue to rise, conditions will worsen

and will affect countless environments.

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Another way climate change negatively affects the world is by causing severe droughts.

A drought occurs when there is a persistent period without rainfall, causing a shortage of water

and dry environmental conditions. Global warming makes environments such as deserts or

regions like the Southwest of the United States more vulnerable to frequent and intense droughts.

What happens is the warmer temperatures enhance evaporation, drying out surface water, soil,

and vegetation. Similar to drought, climate change also alters the timing of water availability.

Warmer temperatures during the winter season cause less snow to fall. For example, The Center

for Climate and Energy Solutions states that decreased snowpack can become an issue, even

when total precipitation remains the same. Snowpack is the mass of snow in an area that has

been built up overtime, only to melt when temperatures become warmer. Water management

systems rely on the water that melts from snowpack. In addition to this, various ecosystems

depend on the cold temperature of water that snowmelt provides. Droughts also worsen because

snow acts as a reflective surface, so when surface area of snow decreases, surface temperatures

rise (“Droughts and Climate Change”).

In addition to droughts, climate change can cause frequent wildfires as well as enhance

their capabilities. Wildfires are unplanned fires that burn down natural areas such as forests or

prairies. Most wildfires are caused by human activity such as arson, lighted cigarettes, or

unattended campfires, but there is a reason why they are so uncontrollable. Climate change not

only increases the chances for wildfires to occur, but makes them hard to control, stop, and

prevent. According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, “Wildfire risk depends on a

number of factors, including temperature, soil moisture, and the presence of trees, shrubs, and

other potential fuel” (‘Wildfires and Climate Change”). These factors greatly tie into climate

change because it creates a warmer and drier climate, making certain environments susceptible to
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wildfires. So, when a fire starts, material is easier to burn which makes the fire spread farther and

faster than usual. The fires have been extremely destructive and costly recently. Between 1984

and 2015, the number of wildfires has nearly doubled in the western United States. These fires

put lives in danger, ruin ecosystems, and destroy forests.

Wildlife is also in danger when climate change comes into effect. When all the pieces are

put together; glacial melting, higher temperatures, droughts, wildfires, etc., they all have one

thing in common. They all disrupt various ecosystems and put wildlife at risk. In colder regions

such as Arctic of Canada or Norway, sea ice is melting. The primary habitat of polar bears is sea

ice, and they also use it as a platform to hunt seals. There are 19 different regions where polar

bears live, all of which have experienced loss of sea ice in different quantities. This loss of sea

ice makes it harder for the polar bears to find food, which can result in a decline of body

condition and a lower average weight. Cub survival rate is also jeopardized when there is a loss

of habitat and an inability to find food (Pidcock). These factors of climate change make polar

bears more vulnerable to being endangered or becoming extinct.

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Trends in sea-ice from 1979 – 2014 for 18 of the 19 polar bear subpopulations. Source: Regher
et al., (2016)
As for other species, they are in danger similar to or even greater than polar bears. In

2018, the World Wildlife Fund conducted a major research project to analyze the effects of

global warming and climate change on wildlife. According to the project, “With a 4.5°C global

temperature rise, up to 80% of mammals and 86% of birds are at risk of local extinction in the

Miombo woodlands, Southern Africa. In south-west Australia, 89% of amphibians could become

locally extinct and the Amazon could lose 69% of its plant species” (“Biodiversity and Climate

Change”). These statistics are alarming, as it is only 2022 and several different species are

suffering from the effects of climate change. For example, halfway around the world, elephants

in Africa are not receiving adequate water supply due to frequent droughts. Rising sea levels can

cause higher tides which can damage or destroy turtle nests that are in the sand. There are also a

significant number of plants being lost, which can throw off the diets of certain species. For

example, in future years, bamboo supply will be limited, which is the primary food that Giant

Pandas eat (“Biodiversity and Climate Change”).

In addition to wildlife, climate change dramatically impacts coral reef ecosystems. The

rising temperatures and excessive greenhouse gas emissions have caused frequent coral
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bleaching in the world's oceans. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, coral bleaching is when coral turns completely white due to changes in

temperature, light, nutrients, or amount of algae in the coral. When water temperatures get

warmer, the corals release the colorful algae that live in their tissue, causing the coral to turn

white. Although this does not kill the corals, it makes them far more susceptible to disease and

mortality. Coral disease outbreaks are becoming more frequent. Some examples of coral diseases

include stony coral tissue loss disease, black-band disease, rapid wasting, and white-pox. These

diseases severely affect coral health. They can be caused by stress such as changes in

temperature, changes in the amount of sunlight, and environmental pollutants. Ocean

acidification can also negatively impact coral reefs, which is the reduction of the ocean’s pH

caused by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. When carbon dioxide is absorbed by the water,

calcification rates in reef-building decrease through the reduction of the pH. Frequent storms,

sedimentation, changes in precipitation, and altered ocean currents can all disrupt coral reefs

(“How Does Climate Change Affect Coral Reefs?).

A common misconception about climate change is that it only affects the “big” things

like glaciers and weather patterns. Climate change affects so many aspects of the world that most

of the population may not notice. These things can be more personal or more familiar than one

may realize. For instance, a recent study shows that climate change can impact the well-being of

honeybees. Author Etienne J. de Jongh states that there are environmental pollutants in soil,

water, and air. The pollutants can find their way into pollen and honey-making sources, causing a

negative impact on honeybee health that can spread throughout the whole hive. With the warmer

climate that global warming is producing, the chances of honeybee diseases spreading are

increased. The warmer temperatures can also decrease the efficacy of antimicrobials in treating
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pests and pathogens for the honeybees (de Jongh). In one’s backyard, a hive could be struggling

with these issues, but no one would come to the conclusion that it was climate change’s doing.

Just because of a progressive increase in the world’s global temperature, such a small factor of

life is disrupted, which results in more factors becoming disrupted. The occurrence is similar to a

chain reaction or a domino effect. Climate change is also far more personal than one might

realize, it affects many factors of life on both small and large levels.

Climate change also negatively impacts mental health and well-being. The Canada

Psychological Association, or CPA, found that natural or built settings impact human health,

wellbeing, behavior, and decision making (McCunn). It can be hard to understand a carbon

footprint, how to help, and how to take pro-environmental action. Green spaces are open areas

covered by grass, plants, or any other vegetation. Green spaces are meant to positively affect

humans' mental health, without it can severely hurt humans emotionally. Nearly ¾ of Americans

say they are concerned about climate change, and a quarter of Americans say they are alarmed

by climate change. Many feel powerless when thinking about their future in a world where

climate change is gradually enhancing, which creates stress, anxiety, and a strain on mental

health. This is often referred to as “climate anxiety” or “eco-anxiety.” In addition to this, natural

disasters caused by climate change, such as hurricanes or wildfires, cause immediate mental

health effects. Some of these effects might include anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, trauma,

shock, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These events can also disrupt social relationships or be

the cause of one’s social isolation (“Urgent need to address mental health...”).

There are future effects of climate change that the world must acknowledge. Everything

that climate change is now will be greater in the future. The average global temperature will rise,

droughts and heatwaves will become more frequent, precipitation patterns will change, and the
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Arctic Ocean will soon lose all its ice. In addition to this, the frost-free season, as well as the

growing season, will lengthen because of the increased greenhouse gas emissions. This will take

a great toll on agriculture. Infrastructure, fisheries, and ecosystems will be compromised, there

will be decreased water availability, the ocean will become more acidic, and there will be

increased health risks. According to a report written by Susan Clayton and other PhD’s, when

climate change causes natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, or wildfires to occur, it can

take a great toll on human health. For example, the effects of long-term climate change can lead

to illnesses related to temperature, and in some cases mortality. Other impacts of long-term

climate change include, respiratory and allergy issues, the spread of vector-borne disease, and

fetal and child development issues. Climate change also threatens water and food supply that is

essential to human survival (“Urgent need to address mental health...”).

There will also be changes specific to region as well for example, the southwest of the

United States will face frequent heat, drought, and insect outbreaks as well as decreased water

supply and reduced agricultural yields. However, these effects will not carry out just for a couple

of years. Climate change will continue throughout this century and far beyond it (“The Effects of

Climate Change”). However, some of the effects climate change has already made are

irreversible or long term. Lorin Hancock of the World Wildlife fund states that even if

greenhouse gas emissions significantly decrease in the coming years, over a third of the world’s

remaining glaciers would melt before 2100. 95% of the Arctic’s sea ice has already melted, and

it will continue to melt. The Arctic could be ice free as soon as the year 2040 if emissions

continue to rise like they are currently. The average global temperature will increase as well as

temperatures in the ocean. (Hancock).

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The reason why the issue of climate change seems political or not important enough is

because some refuse to believe the facts and data presented to them. In an article published by

The Guardian, the author claims that the crisis is a myth. The main justification of each factor is

that the author does not see it happening, therefore it does not happen. For example, the author

claims that the irregular changes in weather patterns do not exist because he “lives on the globe”

and would have noticed these changes if they were to truly happen. It is understandable to get

frustrated when not being able to physically see it, but people need to understand that climate

change is very gradual, and one cannot see it from one day to the next. Ice caps do not melt in

one day, temperatures do not severely increase in one day, and sea levels do not dramatically rise

in one day. Humans need to face this reality and be proactive about the matter, or else nothing

can help.

If all the people in the world realized these effects and dangers of climate change, they

could start to implement some factors into their lives that would help. Humans can use less

energy or use clean or renewable energy in their homes. Clean or renewable energy is energy

that comes from renewable sources that do not pollute or cause harm to the environment. A

notable example of clean energy is solar power because the energy is taken from sunlight, and it

does not produce harmful pollutants. Switching to clean energy can greatly reduce the amount of

greenhouse gas emissions. Other things that people can do to help are to recycle, use less paper,

volunteer for environmental cleanups, switch to electric cars, or drive less with cars that burn

gasoline. All these things greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid polluting the

environment. People can also speak up and spread the word about climate change, and how its

future is extremely near. Soon enough the effects of climate change will be irreversible. People
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tend to brush off the idea that climate change will get worse, but it has, and it continues to grow

worse.

Although these things seem insignificant compared to the extreme factors of climate

change, every little thing adds up and ends up helping. The number of greenhouse gas emissions

must be reduced, and humans must become more sensitive to their actions that result in climate

change. If the population makes a change, the effects of climate change can be greatly reduced.

In a world with no or little to no climate change, the polar bear in the Arctic could find food and

the cubs survive. The waterholes in the desert would not close up from droughts, and the animals

that rely on it for water would not be dehydrated. Wildfires could be contained and would not

destroy habitats and endanger human lives. The honeybees in one’s backyard would not be so

susceptible to disease and would healthily thrive. In the Atlantic, corals would regain their lost

algae and their beautiful colors would return. The world could be healthier and brighter.
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Works Cited

“Biodiversity and Climate Change.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, 14 Mar. 2018,

https://www.wwf.org.uk/wildlife-warming-world. Accessed 14 April, 2022.

“Climate Change Impacts.” Climate Change Impacts | National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 13 Aug. 2021,

https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/climate/climate-change-impacts.

Accessed 6 Mar. 2022.

“Climate Change Is an Obvious Myth – How Much More Evidence Do You Need? | Dean

Burnett.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 25 Nov. 2014,

https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2014/nov/25/climate-change-is-an-

obvious-myth-how-much-more-evidence-do-you-need. Accessed 20 Mar. 2022.

de Jongh, Etienne J., et al. "One Health, One Hive: A scoping review of honey bees, climate

change, pollutants, and antimicrobial resistance." PLoS ONE, vol. 17, no. 2, 16 Feb. 2022,

p. e0242393. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/A693924147/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-

OVIC&xid=c06bc1cc. Accessed 6 Mar. 2022.

“Desert Threats and Endangered Species.” National Geographic, National Geographic, 4 May

2021, www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/desert-threats. Accessed 14 April

2022.
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“Droughts and Climate Change.” Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Center for Climate

and Energy Solutions, https://www.c2es.org/content/drought-and-climate-change/.

Accessed 14 April, 2022.

"Global Warming and Climate Change." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale,

2021. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/PC3010999211/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-

OVIC&xid=1a9b2e03. Accessed 6 Mar. 2022.

Hancock, Lorin. “Why are glaciers and sea ice melting?” World Wildlife Fund, WWF, 2022.

https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/why-are-glaciers-and-sea-ice-melting. Accessed 14

April, 2022.

“How Does Climate Change Affect Coral Reefs?” NOAA's National Ocean Service, National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US Department of Commerce, 3 Mar. 2015,

oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coralreef-climate.html. Accessed 5 May, 2022.

McCunn, Lindsay, et al. “Addressing Climate Change in Canada: The Importance of

Psychological Science.” Psynopsis: Canada’s Psychology Newspaper, vol. 43, no. 2, Apr.

2021, pp. 6–8. EBSCOhost,

https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=150307632&site=ehos

t-live. Accessed 6 Mar. 2022.

Pidcock, Roz. “Polar Bears and Climate Change: What Does the Science Say?” Carbon Brief,

Carbon Brief, 18 July 2017, www.carbonbrief.org/polar-bears-and-climate-change-what-

does-the-science-say. Accessed April 14, 2022.

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“The Effects of Climate Change.” NASA: Climate Change and Global Warming, NASA, 26

Aug. 2021, https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/. Accessed 6 Mar. 2022.

Regher, et al. “Trends in sea-ice from 1979 – 2014 for 18 of the 19 polar bear subpopulations”.

Carbon Brief, 2016, www.carbonbrief.org/polar-bears-and-climate-change-what-does-the-

science-say. Accessed 14 April, 2022.

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Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, Nov 4, 2021,

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2021/11/mental-health-effects-climate-change.

Accessed April 14, 2022.

“Wildfires and Climate Change.” Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Center for Climate

and Energy Solutions, 22 Feb. 2022, www.c2es.org/content/wildfires-and-climate-change/.

Accessed April 14, 2022.