Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Consequences of climate change - Coggle Diagram
Consequences of climate change
Social
Around 600 million people live in coastal areas that are less than 10 m above sea level.
People living in vulnerable areas may have to move home or even countries. Some small island states, such as Tuvalu and Vanuatu are particularly vulnerable.
People may suffer increased frequency of flooding and storm damage.
People may lose their jobs and have to learn new skills.
The number of environmental refugees, who lost their homes due to flooding, will increase.
Economic
Many important cities could be affected by flooding, including New York, Venice and London.
Vulnerable agricultural land may be lost to the sea or polluted by sea water.
Harbours and ports my be affected, this will then have an impact on on fishing and trade.
Transport systems may be damaged or destroyed, such as railways, roads, and airports.
Valuable land and property will need expensive measures of coastal defense.
Many countries depend heavily on coastal tourism as their main source of income. If beaches become eroded or flooded people may decide not to visit, forcing hotels to close.
Environmental
Fresh water sources, such as wells, could be polluted by salty seawater; this is called salinidsation.
Damage could occur to coastal ecosystems such as mangrove swamps, which form natural barriers to storms.
Fish breading grounds and ecosystems could be affected through the damage to the coral reefs from storms and powerful waves.
It is estimated by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) that up to 33% of coastal land and wetlands could be lost in the next 100 years
Due to increased rates of coastal erosion, harbours may become blocked by sediment.
Impacts of climate change...
...in the UK
Sea levels could rise, covering low lying areas, particularly in east England.
Due to the lack of snow, Scottish ski resorts may have to close.
As extreme weather increases, droughts and floods become more likely.
Increased demand for water in hotter summers puts pressure on water supplies.
...around the world
80 million people will be effected by the rise in sea level.
Magnitude (strength) will be increased in tropical storms.
Species in affected areas (e.g. Arctic) may become extinct.
An additional 280 million people may be affected by the increase in diseases such as malaria.