BaCCC/Module 2/Lesson 1/Part 2
Global impacts and consequences of climate change
According to Secretary-General Petteri Taalas (WMO, 2021),
[t]he number of weather, climate and water extremes are increasing and will become more frequent and severe in many parts of the world as a result of climate change. That means more heatwaves, drought and forest fires. More water vapor in the atmosphere has exacerbated extreme rainfall and flooding, and the warming oceans have affected the frequency and extent of the most intense tropical storms.
Climate change has also increased extreme sea level events associated with some tropical cyclones, which have increased the intensity of other extreme events such as flooding and associated impacts. This has augmented the vulnerability of low-lying megacities, deltas, coasts and islands in many parts of the world.
When carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, that extra heat energises the atmosphere, disrupting and destabilising the global climate. (It is somewhat more complex than this, as you learnt in Module 1.) Let us have a look at the impacts we are experiencing across the globe.
| Climate change impacts and consequences around the world |
|---|
| Extreme weather events: Climate change is leading to more frequent and/or more severe (and sometimes longer lasting) extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, cold snaps, floods, droughts and wildfires. |
| Changes in precipitation patterns: Climate change is causing changes in rainfall patterns, leading to increased drought in some areas and more intense rainfall and flooding in others – and sometimes flooding following drought (parched land cannot absorb water) or deforestation, which can lead to landslides. (It is important to note that the impacts and consequences of flooding can be worsened by human activities such as building homes on flood plains, covering more and more land with concrete and asphalt, planting shallow-rooted non-native plants that get swept away, allowing debris to collect around bridges, etc.) |
| Rising sea levels: As global temperatures rise, the polar ice caps are melting and warming oceans are expanding, leading to rising sea levels that threaten coastal communities around the world, especially during high tides and storm surges. |
| Consequences for agriculture and food security: Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns can have significant impacts on crop yields and food production, leading to food insecurity and malnutrition in some regions. In some places, the rise in the sea level is salinating soils, making it difficult, if not impossible, to grow food crops. |
| Health consequences: Climate change is exacerbating existing health problems and creating new ones, including increased risk of heat stroke, respiratory illness and the spread of disease-carrying mosquitoes and ticks. The same goes for drinking water supplies, which are drying up or being contaminated by floodwaters. Furthermore, climate change events have repercussions for people’s mental and emotional health. |
| Biodiversity loss: Climate change is causing the loss of habitat and biodiversity, leading to the extinction of many plant and animal species and contributing to the sixth mass extinction, which is being driven by human activity (especially habitat destruction). |
| Economic consequences: Climate change is having significant economic impacts, including damage to infrastructure, property and crops, as well as increased costs associated with adaptation and mitigation efforts. (However, it should be noted that the costs of not mitigating and adapting are much higher.) |
| Social breakdown: Research shows that heatwaves increase aggression and violence. Women in some parts of the world are describing an increase in sexual harassment and assault. As clean water sources dry up due to drought, women are having to spend more time and travel longer distances, sometimes in the dark, to fetch water for their families. This leaves them more vulnerable to non-human – and human – predators. |
| These are just a few examples of the impacts of climate change around the world. The specific impacts can vary depending on the region, the severity of climate change and the resilience in that area. |
Table
| Algae blooms | Earthquakes or volcanoes | Melting ice caps | Reanimated viruses | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss of pollinators | Extreme cold | Melting Arctic sea ice | Sea level rise | ||||
| Climate refugees | Financial hardship | Melting glaciers | Shutdown of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) | ||||
| Coral bleaching | Floods | Methane releases | Species extinctions | ||||
| Crop failures | Food or water shortages | Ocean acidification | Storms | ||||
| Desertification | Forest dieback | Ocean deoxygenation | Supply chain collapse | ||||
| Diseases | Heatwaves | Ocean heating | Unemployment or poverty | ||||
| Droughts | Hunger or famine | Permafrost thaw | War or conflict | ||||
| Dried-up water spots | Infrastructure collapse | Price instability | Wildfires |
Can you think of any others?
Climate change impacts will have grave consequences for sustainable development, including breakdowns in social cohesion, human health and well-being, peace, ecosystems and economic development. Every single Sustainable Development Goal will be negatively impacted by climate change. Watch the video The Impacts of Climate Change (1:50) to get thinking about climate change impacts on the economy:
You can adjust the playback speed and/or turn on subtitles/captions.
If you have trouble accessing the video, a summary is available in Annex 1.2.1.
