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Impacts of Climate Change - Coggle Diagram
Impacts of Climate Change
Demographic
Older individuals are more prone to health complications caused by rising temperatures (e.g. heat stroke.) This will cause a higher mortality/death rate among the old population.
As the world descends into an economic decline, fertility rates will increase; lower income countries are associated with higher fertility rates as people tend to have more children when some will probably die and they may need children to help them earn money or provide labor.
In summary, the overall population age will decrease as more children are born and seniors pass away. This will lead to some negatives: competition between adolescents for jobs, pressure on the school system and poverty as parents may not be able to provide for them. In spite of this, the positives should not be overlooked: a large population of working age will generate taxes for the government and provide cheap labor for difficult jobs (e.g. construction worker)
Social
Physical Health
Extreme weather caused by climate change has a negative impact on people's health. For example, increased intensity of heat waves in countries such as India results in heat strokes and dehydration. Due to this, the fatalities caused by extreme weather increase.
In addition to being greenhouse gases that play a part in climate change and air pollution, nitrogenous gases are associated with respiratory diseases such as asthma and lung cancer.
However, there will be a small positive: there will be less cold-related deaths.
Mental Health
Source (Also a really interesting article)
Eco-anxiety
or
climate depression
is a condition in which an individual struggles with constant & persistent fears regarding the environment and climate change, resulting in distress.
Pollution and climate change are leading to an increase in eco-anxiety cases. This is demonstrated in this shocking statistic from this Washington post: 57% of teenagers find climate change scary.
Additionally, natural disasters and health problems caused by climate change could negatively impact your mental health.
Poverty and Homelessness
Extreme weather destroys homes, leaving people homeless. For instance, a
2011 flood left Bangladesh villagers homeless.
Rising oceans force populations to immigrate, becoming climate refugees. To give an example, it is estimated that the Maldives will be completely below sea level by 2100. This will result in its people immigrating to safer countries. However, finding a job will be difficult as climate change will likely cause economic crashes, meaning they will be poor and possibly homeless.
Political
Riots & Protests
Lack of government actions regarding climate change prevention and action have resulted in movements such as school strikes for climate change have become popular. These have pressured leaders to take action and educated others on global warming. Personally, I believe that these protests are positive as most are peaceful. However, the government should be protecting the planet so people would not have to protest in the first place.
Further Division Between Left & Right
Specifically in America, Democrats of leftists generally prioritize renewable energy and sustainability over profits and advocate for climate justice and environmental protection. Alternately, Republicans (especially those of the far right or Trump supporters) often do not take climate change seriously or even deny its existence entirely, campaigning for the usage of fossil fuels and climate inaction in the name of American freedom. These contrasting beliefs have escalated tensions between the two parties, leading to arguments instead of actual action. Leaders and countries must put their differences aside, listen to scientists and work together to overcome the biggest to humanity and all other life on Earth.
Environmental
Approximately 2,000 species are at risk of extinction due to climate change. Some of these species include polar bears, bumblebees & Asian elephants.
Higher temperatures warm oceans. This can result in coral bleaching. 25% of ocean diversity is found in coral reefs. An increase in coral bleaching will cause ecosystem imbalances and habitat loss.
Weather
Scientists predict that weather hazards will increase in both severity and frequency. Namely, floods and heat waves. Heat waves can result droughts and strokes whilst floods destroy crops and infrastructure in addition to being the deadliest thunderstorm-related weather hazard.
Economic
Scarcity
Changes in the environment will decrease crop yields for soybeans, corn & wheat. When products become scarce like this, they rise in price. Because wheat and soy are both major sources of food in different parts of the world, this could lead to famine as many could not afford it. To add to that, people tend to hoard scarce products, making them increasingly hard to come buy.
According to ilo.org, increased heat and floods could result in regions become too difficult to work in, resulting in unproductivity and poverty.
Employment Opportunities
On the other hand, adapting to the planet's changing climate could provide employment opportunities: building flood-resistant infrastructure, establishing coastal defenses and relocating communities to safer areas.
