Although we often envision climate change as a distant event, it’s happening right now, affecting ecosystems and communities worldwide. So, what exactly is climate change and how will it impact our planet?
Put simply, climate change refers to long-term alterations in Earth’s climate, like changes in temperature, rainfall, wind patterns, and sea levels. It can occur naturally due to fluctuations in the sun’s activity or significant volcanic eruptions. However, since the Industrial Revolution, human activities have become the primary driver of climate change, mainly through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. When we burn these fuels, they release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) into the atmosphere. These gases act like a cozy blanket around the Earth, trapping heat from the sun and causing temperatures to rise.
Figure: The graph illustrates the yearly surface temperature compared to the 20th-century average from 1880–2023. Values in negative indicate cooler-than-average years while values in positive show warmer-than-average years (Data source: National Centers for Environmental Information)
Climate change presents a complex challenge on a global scale, affecting various aspects of ecology, environment, socio-politics, and socio-economics. Our most cherished resources and necessities – water, energy, transportation, wildlife, agriculture, ecosystems, and human health – are all feeling the effects of a changing climate. For example, shifts in drought and flood patterns are harming food production, spreading diseases, compromising human health, and damaging ecosystems and infrastructure. Health issues may escalate significantly in coming decades leading to increased mortality, reduced food availability, and decreased worker productivity.
Furthermore, the impacts of climate change are not evenly distributed across the globe. Even within a single community, different neighborhoods or individuals may experience varying degrees of impact. Long-standing socioeconomic disparities can render underserved groups particularly vulnerable, as they often face the highest exposure to hazards with the fewest resources to respond effectively.
Key Facts
Earth’s temperature has increased by an average of 0.06° Celsius per decade since 1850.
The past decade (2014-2023) has witnessed the ten warmest years in recorded history.
2023 stood out as the warmest year since global records began in 1850, surpassing previous records by a significant margin. By the end of October 2023, the year was approximately 1.4 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial baseline of 1850-1900.
Arctic sea ice coverage at the end of summer has declined by roughly 40% since 1979.
Global average sea level has risen by 8–9 inches (21–24 centimeters) since 1880, reaching a new record high in 2022 – 101.2 mm (4 inches) above 1993 levels.
Research indicates that 3.6 Billion people already reside in areas highly susceptible to climate change. Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is projected to result in approximately 250,000 additional deaths annually from undernutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress alone.
The direct health-related damage costs (excluding those in sectors like agriculture and water and sanitation) are estimated to range from US$ 2–4 Billion per year by 2030.
References
Abbass, K., Qasim, M. Z., Song, H., Murshed, M., Mahmood, H., & Younis, I. (2022). A review of the global climate change impacts, adaptation, and sustainable mitigation measures. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(28), 42539–42559. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19718-6
NOAA. (2021). Climate change impacts | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/climate/climate-change-impacts
NOAA. (2024). Climate Change: Global Temperature | NOAA Climate.gov. http://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-temperature
World Bank. (n.d.). World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Retrieved February 18, 2024, from https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/
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