25 Unfortunate Effects Of Climate Change On The World

Posted by , Updated on March 23, 2024

Regardless of our opinions, the rapid pace of climate change is a stark reality. In essence, the world is experiencing a significant rise in global temperatures, leading to various startling implications on our climate and planet. Besides the evident outcomes such as increased heat, it’s also triggering unexpected issues, including heightened acidity in the oceans, erratic weather shifts and a greater prevalence of diseases like malaria and dengue.

The fact is that the future of our world will depend almost entirely on the policies that we implement and what sorts of measures we take to prevent the climate from changing. If we find more efficient ways to generate power and manage to wean ourselves off of oil, it will mean a much more sustainable future for the generations that come after us.

Nobody can deny that droughts, hurricanes, blizzards, floods, and other crazy weather conditions are becoming far more commonplace than they have been in the past. These are just the beginning. If climate change continues unchecked, it will wreak havoc on the societies that we have constructed for ourselves and change the way we live forever. Having said all of that, these are the 25 Unfortunate Effects Of Climate Change On The World.

25

More frequent and longer heatwaves are increasing the number of heat related illnesses and deaths. Since cities retain heat, they are especially vulnerable.

More frequent and longer heatwavesSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
24

In spite of being a developed nation, the United States is growing increasingly susceptible to dengue and malaria.

malaria mapSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
23

Although sea levels are rising, fresh water availability has been decreasing sharply due to melting ice fields as well as droughts.

oceanSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
22

Extreme weather is expected to increase. Tropical storms will occur more often and be more severe.

tornadoSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
21

If the climate continues changing the way it has been, by 2050 there will be a significantly reduced number of coral reefs in the ocean.

coralSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
20

Warm, stagnant air in cities is increasing the formation of ground level ozone (smog). This is bad because 126 million Americans already live in counties that do not meet national air quality standards.

large citySource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
19

Over the course of the last century, glaciers have been either receding or disappearing completely.

rhone-glacierSource: epa.gov, Image: pixabay
18

Some island nations are considering evacuation plans. Tuvalu, for example, already has an agreement with New Zealand specifically for this purpose.

IslandSource: qz.com, Image: wikipedia
17

Climate change is expensive. By 2030, the global economy is projected to take a $700 billion hit due to climate change associated costs.

moneySource: businessinsider, Image: wikipedia
16

The allergy season is getting longer. This has an adverse affect on respiratory health.

allergensSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
15

Higher temperatures are increasing the spread of food borne diseases such as salmonella.

raw meatSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
14

Extreme weather and shrinking agricultural output in developing countries is causing more conflicts and displacements.

cropsSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
13

Due to changes in the mosquito population, lyme and other diseases are spreading faster and farther.

mosquitoSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
12

As has been seen in the United States, flooding and wild fires are getting significantly more frequent.

Flooding and wild fires will be more frequentSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
11

Droughts are affecting crop production all over the world. Global wheat and maize yields are already declining.

droughtSource: epa.gov, Image: pixabay
10

Things like the opening of shipping lanes in the Arctic due to receding ice might lead to sovereignty issues and international conflicts.

oceanSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
9

Many of the changes that the planet is undergoing are irreversible. These include things like the extinction of various species.

one waySource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
8

The expansion of deserts and higher sea levels will lead to demographic and political pressures due to higher levels of human migration.

desertSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
7

More conflicts like that of Darfur will occur due to strains on resources.

conflictsSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
6

By 2050, the arctic will be almost entirely ice free during summer.

arctic iceSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
5

Oceans are acidifying due to higher levels of carbonic acid (because of CO2 in the atmosphere). This will have adverse effects for many types of marine life.

fishSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
4

Children, the elderly, and the poor will experience the worst effects of climate change as they will be unable to cope with the drastic changes in food availability and harsh climate changes.

ChildrenSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
3

Because of melting ice caps, polar bears are unable to hunt for food (they require ice to hunt for prey). This leads to starvation and a shrinking habitat,

polar bearSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
2

If temperatures predictions are correct, by the end of the 21st century up to 30% of the plant and animal species studied by the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) will be extinct.

plant speciesSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia
1

Climate change will likely polarize society into those who are able to cope (wealthier nations) and those who aren't (poorer nations).

mapSource: epa.gov, Image: wikipedia

Now that you know some of these unfortunate effects, here are 25 Ways To Be Environmentally Conscious.