The Effects of Climate Change on Our Environment

What is Climate Change?

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s,
human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil and gas),
which produces heat-trapping gases.

These are the Effects of Climate Change on Our Environment:

Melting Sea Ice
The effects of climate change are most apparent in the world’s coldest regions—the poles. The Arctic is heating up twice as fast as
anywhere else on earth, leading to the rapid melting of glaciers and polar ice sheets, where a massive amount of water is stored.
As sea ice melts, darker ocean waters that absorb more sunlight become exposed, creating a positive feedback loop that speeds up
the melting process. In just 15 years, the Arctic could be entirely ice-free in the summer.
Sea Level Rise
Scientists predict that melting sea ice and glaciers, as well as the fact that warmer water expands in volume, could cause sea levels
to rise as much as 3.61 feet by the end of the century, should we fail to curb emissions. The extent (and pace) of this change would
devastate low-lying regions, including island nations and densely populated coastal cities like New York City and Mumbai.
Flooding
In addition to coastal flooding caused by sea level rise, climate change influences the factors that result in inland and urban
flooding: snowmelt and heavy rain. As global warming continues to both exacerbate sea level rise and extreme weather, our
nation’s floodplains are expected to grow by approximately 45 percent by 2100. In 2022, deadly flooding in Pakistan—which
inundated as much as a third of the country—resulted from torrential rains mixed with melting glaciers and snow.
Ecosystem Stressors
Land-based ecosystems—from old-growth forests to savannahs to tropical rainforests—are faring no better. Climate change is
likely to increase outbreaks of pests, invasive species, and pathogen infections in forests. It’s changing the kinds of vegetation that
can thrive in a given region and disrupting the life cycles of wildlife, all of which is changing the composition of ecosystems and
making them less resilient to stressors. While ecosystems have the capacity to adapt, many are reaching the hard limits of that
natural capacity. More repercussions will follow as temperatures rise.

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/what-are-effects-climate-change#weather

Increased Drought
Water is becoming scarcer in more regions. Droughts can stir destructive sand and dust storms that can move billions of tons of
sand across continents. Deserts are expanding, reducing land for growing food. Many people now face the threat of not having
enough water on a regular basis.
More Severe Storms
Changes in temperature cause changes in rainfall. This results in more severe and frequent storms. They cause flooding and
landslides, destroying homes and communities, and costing billions of pounds.
Loss of Species
Climate change poses risks to the survival of species on land and in the ocean. These risks increase as temperatures climb. Forest
fires, extreme weather and invasive pests and diseases are among many threats. Some species will be able to relocate and survive,
but others will not.
Not Enough Food
Changes in climate and increases in extreme weather events are among the reasons behind a global rise in hunger and poor
nutrition. Fisheries crops, and livestock may be destroyed or become less productive. Heat stress can diminish water and
grasslands for grazing.

https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/key-findings#physical-science