If climate change continues to progress at the current rate, the planet will be devastated. Coastal areas will move inland, and the air will be hot and heavy, with pollution intermingling with the heat. The atmosphere will be so thick and hazy that many people will cough and have difficulty breathing. Unpredictable storms and heatwaves will cluster together, making it dangerous to step outside.
Impacts of climate change on human life
The impacts of climate change are already being felt and will continue to worsen, with global temperatures expected to rise to one degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Heatwaves will become more intense in many regions, extreme precipitation events will become more frequent, and the seas will continue to warm and acidify. These impacts will affect human life in many ways.
Everyone everywhere will feel the effects of climate change on their health. Heat waves and poor air quality will increase the frequency and intensity of other extreme events. As a result, many people will be more at risk for diseases, especially those with existing health conditions. Increasing temperatures are a threat to everyone, but the impacts on especially vulnerable groups are particularly severe. People with respiratory issues, young children, the elderly, and those who work primarily outdoors will be the most at risk.
Impacts of climate change on ecosystems
Ecosystems may be more vulnerable to climate change than previously thought. Climate change is changing many important ecological properties, including the temperature and type of water in a region. For example, warming oceans restrict the circulation of nutrients and oxygen, which are crucial to almost all life on Earth. The majority of food webs depend on phytoplankton, responsible for half of all primary production. In areas with reduced sea ice, warming climates increase sunlight availability and support the growth of phytoplankton populations, catalyzing primary production.
Impacts of climate change on polar regions
Warming across the globe has been accelerating, but the polar regions are seeing the most pronounced effects. Arctic temperatures have increased by more than one degree Celsius since 1945, while Antarctica has warmed only slightly. Increased warming is expected to increase Arctic temperatures by four to five degrees Celsius in the coming decades. Meanwhile, Antarctic temperatures may rise by two to three degrees Celsius over the same period. Increased warming in the polar regions will have dramatic impacts on polar bear populations, the landscape, and the lives of Arctic residents. Increasing warming is already accelerating the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, with the consequences of this changing state for marine life and ecosystems that depend on cold temperatures.
Arctic warming is expected to reduce the temperature gradient between the polar region and midlatitudes. These changes will impact wind patterns and polar jet streams and may increase the frequency of extreme weather events in mid-latitudes. In addition, continued amplified warming is expected to lead to greater frequency and intensity of cold-air winter outbreaks, with potentially severe consequences. Further, Arctic temperatures will likely continue to increase.
Impacts of climate change on small island states
Climate change will increase small island states’ vulnerability to extreme events in precipitation and temperature. These events will affect rainfall, soil moisture budgets, prevailing winds, and patterns of wave action. Short-term variations in tropical cyclone intensity will increase, while the effects of El Niño events will become more severe. In addition, the increased aridity of a changing climate will lead to more significant flooding and sea-level rise.
Existential risks of climate change
While climate change is widely acknowledged as a global threat, we know little about its cascading impacts. Moreover, science has not yet adequately defined, framed, or analyzed the high-end of the risk spectrum. This limited knowledge impedes our ability to engage in emerging narratives. In light of these limitations, identifying and addressing the existential risks of climate change is essential.
