–       Flooding 

Floods are made more likely by the more extreme weather patterns caused by long-term global climate change (UNEP, 2020). 

Higher air and ocean temperatures can increase the potential for evaporation, allowing the atmosphere to retain more moisture content, which can result in intensified precipitation frequency, duration, and/or intensity (UNEP, 2020). Extreme flooding can be instigated by prolonged and heavy precipitation, frequent downpours, or a combination of these factors (UNEP, 2020).

 Studies indicate that the North Atlantic area may experience a greater incidence of extreme hydro-meteorological phenomena, including severe winter storms or prolonged summer droughts. Additionally, the occurrence of severe flooding will persist in regions where human settlements have been established on floodplains or low-lying coastal areas (UNEP, 2020).

• Slow-onset climactic events

Low-scale climate events and slow-onset climate-related changes have affected the livelihoods of numerous populations: catastrophic warming, mass extinction of species, the loss of sea ice, melting glaciers and ice sheets, sea level rise, and more intense heat waves. [1]

–       Ice Melting and Sea Level Rise

Rising temperatures are causing the polar ice to melt, which in turn is contributing to the rise of sea levels, posing a serious threat to coastal and island communities worldwide. 

NASA announced in several reports that Greenland had lost an estimated 280 gigatons of ice annually from 2002 to 2021. This significant loss of ice has resulted in a global sea level rise of approximately 0.03 inches per year.

Similarly, between 2002 and 2020, Antarctica lost an average of 150 gigatons of ice each year, contributing to a global sea level rise of 0.4 millimeters per year.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projects that more than one billion people globally could be exposed to coastal-specific climate hazards by 2050, potentially driving these populations to leave their homes (IPCC, 2022). 

Antarctic Ice Mass Loss 2002-2020: Ice sheet mass loss on a black background, based on data collected by NASA and JPL/Caltech. https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/31158

• Imperiled ecosystems and extinction of species

As a result of climate change, wildlife is facing mounting pressure to adapt quickly to new environmental conditions and human activity. While ecosystems have a certain level of adaptability, many are now approaching or have already exceeded their natural capacity to adapt. This presents a concerning situation, as some ecosystems are struggling to cope with the rapidly changing climate.

It’s estimated that approximately 1 million animal and plant species are currently at risk of extinction, with many facing this fate within a matter of decades. The rate of species loss across the globe is expected to be anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 times higher than the natural rate of extinction (NOW.TUFTS.edu, 2019). This alarming trend highlights the urgent need to take action to protect and preserve our planet’s biodiversity.

Three-quarters of the land-based environment and about 66% of the marine environment have been significantly altered by human actions (UN.org)

• Forests 

 Around 178 million hectares of forest have been lost worldwide over the past three decades (FAO, 2020).

Deforestation and clearing of land for agriculture and grazing cause emissions. Prioritizing nature conservation and embracing net zero strategies against climate change can enhance species’ survival.

• Oceans

Tipping points are being reached and ocean risk is increasing. If the global average temperature increases by 2°C, 99% of the world’s coral reefs will experience heat waves that will damage and destroy them. Whilst in Arctic regions, tipping points may have already been reached such that adaptive practices can no longer work (UNFCCC, 2021).

According to a UN report, almost 33% of reef-forming corals, more than 40% of amphibian species, and more than a third of all marine mammals are threatened with extinction due to climate change.

CLIMATE IMPACTS ON HUMAN HEALTH

Every year avoidable environmental factors claim the lives of more than 13 million people around the world (WHO, 2022). Climate change is harming health through air pollution, extreme weather phenomena, poor nutrition, displacement, and more causing more diseases, increasing fatality, and challenging healthcare systems.

–       Extreme Heat 

Extreme heat is a leading cause of mortality in the United States; without adaptation, deaths could increase more than sixfold.

Estimated increases in heat-related mortality are affected by climate change and population growth, as well as demographic shifts from an aging population. The Atlantic Council Extreme Heat report showed that people aged 65 and older are more than twenty times more likely to die from heat-related events compared to people aged 1 to 44 years.

–       Air Pollution 

About 99% of the population breathes unhealthy air resulting from the burning of fossil fuels. 

Air pollution is responsible for taking the lives of 7 million people each year (WHO, 2022).

–       Water Pollution 

Poor management of wastewater from urban, industrial, and agricultural activities leads to the contamination and chemical pollution of drinking water for millions of people. 

This puts their health in danger. According to a WHO report, each year, an estimated 829,000 people die due to diarrhea caused by unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, and lack of hand hygiene.

–       Displacement and Climate Refugees

About 3.3 to 3.6 billion people’s daily lives are highly vulnerable to climate change. Without action, climate change will push up to 130 million people into poverty in the next decade (World Bank, 2021). The World Bank’s Groundswell report could cause over 200 million people to migrate within their own countries by 2050 (Groundswell, 2021).

According to the latest IDMC GRID report, from the total of 38 million internal displacements registered in 2021, 23.7 million were triggered by disasters. 

Countries such as South Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Afghanistan, and China are among the most severely affected by climate change (IDMC, 2022). These nations face challenges such as droughts, floods, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events that threaten the lives and livelihoods of their citizens, ultimately leading to displacement and migration (IDMC, 2022). 

Climate migration refers to the relocation of individuals or communities who are compelled to leave their homes due to the impact of climate change on their environment. This may include sudden or gradual changes such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and droughts. These changes may force people to move within their own country or across international borders, either on a temporary or permanent basis. Climate migration is a specific type of environmental migration that is driven primarily by the effects of climate change. This phenomenon has become increasingly prevalent in recent years as the impacts of climate change continue to worsen and disrupt the lives of individuals and communities around the world (IOM, 2019).

–       Climate Justice 

The climate crisis is an issue of profound injustice: the poorest populations in the world contribute the least to climate change. 

In fact, data shows that 74 of the world’s most impoverished countries account for less than 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions (World Bank, 2021). This means that the communities that are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as droughts, floods, and food insecurity, are the ones who have contributed the least to the problem. 

Most refugees come from countries more vulnerable to climate change and less ready to adapt to its impacts. South Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Afghanistan, and China are among the most affected countries (IDMC, 2022).