Issues of Climate Change
Social
Economical
Environmental
Fresh water sources such as wells could be polluted by salty water - this is called salinization.
Many important world cities including New York, Venice and London could be affected by flooding. This would affect the people that live there and also the people who visit there, if they still come
600 million people live in coastal ares that less than 10m above sea level, if sea levels rise potentially 600 million people could loose there home and possible lives.
Valuable agricultural land (in Bangladesh, Vietnam, India and China) may be lost to the sea or polluted by seawater. This would mean that people would have to buy food from somewhere else and people might need to find different jobs
Damage could occur to coastal ecosystems such as mangrove swamps, which form natural barriers to storms.
Harbours and ports may be affected, which will have an impact on fishing and trade.
Damage to coral reefs by storms and powerful waves will affect fish breeding grounds and ecosystems.
Transport systems, like roads, railways and airports may be damaged or destroyed, this would cut of links between places.
The IPCC estimates that up to 33% of coastal land and wetlands could be lost in the next 100 years.
Valuable land and property will need expensive measures of coastal defence.
Harbours may become blocked by sediment due to increased rate of coastal erosion.
Many countries depend on coastal tourism as their main source of income. Beaches may be eroded or flooded, forcing hotels to close. People may not want to visit them, this would mean that the economy might suffer financially.
people that live in vulnerable areas, might have to move meaning they don't live where they want to, could affect there mental health, they might even have to move to a different country - especially small island states such as Tuvalu.
Droughts could be a more common occurrence with the increasing temperatures and a lack of rainfall.
people can loose there job, for example people that work in the fishing or tourism industry, they'll have to learn new skills which could be difficult for them to overcome.
People may suffer increased frequency of flooding and storm damage.
The numbers of environmental refugees - people who have lost their homes due to flooding - will increase.
Changes in rainfall which could result in more floods, droughts, or intense rainfall.
Oceans are warming and becoming more acidic.
There is a shift in flower and plant blooming times.
Farm workers can suffer from heat-related health issues, like exhaustion, heatstroke and heart attacks.