Climate change has been a topic of concern for humanity over the past two decades. In my opinion, it is the best example of the consequences of our actions on our planet. Most countries have taken some efforts and precautions to save the Earth from experiencing further damage. Decline of forests and global warming has affected our lives in more ways than one and in the future, the Earth and its inhabitants might see a more crucial period in their lives, if we neglect this issue. At this point in time, preventing further climate changes is the most important precaution, in my opinion. Unlike events like war, terrorism, and recession, which have direct impacts on the human population, climate change is an indirect consequence of our actions. Climate change is a collective term that refers to an array of changes experienced by our climate system over a period of time. It includes global warming which is the rise in earth’s temperatures, glacier and polar icescapes melting, sea level rising, increased carbon dioxide in the air, changes in pollen, and other major climatic changes all over the world. Several factors contribute to these changes. In this research paper, I try to analyze some of the major effects of climate change and its physiological and psychological consequences on human beings.
Frist, I like to discuss the effects of climate change on the economic conditions of people. Climate change has adverse effects on agriculture and forestry. Nearly 30% of earth’s land is covered by dense forests. According to the UN statistics, 23% of these forests and cultivation lands have declined over the past 50 years (Easterling & Apps, 2005). Deforestation was about 5% in between 1980 and 1995. It affects the resources coming from the ...
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... 165-189. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10584-005-5941-0.
Holmberg, M. O. (2010). Mapping climate change: Six U.S. case studies. (Order No. 3403928, University of Colorado at Boulder).ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, , 209. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/507900445?accountid=8067. (507900445).
Mertz, O., Halsnæs, K., Olesen, J., & Rasmussen, K. (2009). Adaptation to climate change in developing countries. Environmental Management, 43(5), 743-52. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00267-008-9259-3.
Searle, K., & Gow, K. (2010). Do concerns about climate change lead to distress? International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 2(4), 362-379. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17568691011089891.
"The Ocean." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2014. .
Climate Change in California is a book written by Fredrich Kahrl and David W. Roland-Holst. Through scientific facts and statistics, the book focuses on the negative influence climate change has, and will continue to exhibit, on California regarding its economy, natural resources, public health, and agriculture. All of these aspects ultimately come together to affect the overall livelihood of its residents. Similar to Tanaka’s Climate Change, the book also heavily stresses the idea that society needs to first recognize the magnitude of the risk climate change poses on humanity before any major improvement occurs. Unless that recognition happens soon, our generation might just be the last to witness the prosperity and natural beauty California is known for.
In recent decades, the contentious issues surrounding climate change and the corresponding effects it likely exerts upon contemporary civilization has developed to become one of the most pressing areas of concern afflicting humanity (Armstrong, 1). Currently, climate change has started to demonstrate its potentially calamitous consequences upon human subsistence practices, and has even begun to alter the very environments that entire societies reside in, theoretically endangering them in both instances (Armstrong, 1). Though the hindrances inherent in climate change are potentially devastating to the preservation of modern society, the problem of climate change itself is not one that is exclusive to the contemporary era. Rather, the harmful
Climate change refers to shifts in the mean state of the climate or in its variability, persisting for an extended period of decades or longer (Ziervogel and Zermoglio, 2009). It is the change in average atmospheric behavior, and change in the patterns of variation around this behavior (Rumbach and Kudva, 2011). The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) declared that climate change is unequivocal as evidenced by observed changes in several global and regional climatic indicators (IPCC, 2007). At the country level, climate change refers to observable changes and permutations (undefined geographic variations) of temperature, rainfall and extreme climate events and their single or collective impacts on various agricultural production (Lasco, et al., 2009).
The causes of climate change are also known to them that though it is not only the human action playing role but it is the main cause of climate change. The effects of climate change does include harm and loss of environment and organisms but it also has impact on the human health. Semenza (2014) displays an assessment report which states that throughout the 21st century, the rapidly occurring climate change will lead to increase in number of humans with ill health in many regions mainly in those of developing countries where citizens face low income. Semenza (2014) also mentions how there are physiological limits to intense heat exposure and the global climate change will turn some parts of the world which are currently highly populated into uninhabitable even if the global temperature rises by 7 degrees Celsius. Johnson (2014) states how El-Niño-related hydroclimate variability will lead to being intensified under global warming mainly in areas as southern Asia which are already stressed by different droughts, floods, and crop yields. Dettinger, Udall, and Georgakakos (2015) mentions how climate change puts risk and threat on water resources in the western United States to an extent that no other part of the country matches it. Dettinger, Udall, and Georgakakos (2015) also states how recent research and studies strictly point a limited number
There is no longer any question that our world climate has changed (King, 2004). Over the last 100 years, "temperatures have risen by about 0.6 degrees Celsius and global sea level has risen by about 20cm" (K...
“An introduction to climate change.” Natural Resource Defense Council. Natural Resources Defense Council 8 November 2015 n. pag. Web. 28 November 2015.
Climate change has become of the world’s major issue today. The earth’s climate is always changing in a very fast and also in different ways. Climate changes affect our lives psychologically, emotional and also physically. Climate change is defined as a long term change in the earth’s climate, especially a change due to the increase in the average atmospheric temperatures. Due to this change in temperature, a lot of changes has occurred in our environment, these changes include rising sea levels, flooding, melting of polar ice caps, hotter days, colder nights and heat waves. These climate changes plays an important role in shaping our natural ecosystem, our human economics and also the most important, it affects the human race. For
These are conflict, poverty, instability, migration, unrest, collapse, capacity, and dependency. This film serves as a wakeup call to the audience because climate change is a very critical problem that people should address as soon as possible. It also explicitly shows that climate change is in fact in our midst and is not just a myth or a theory as some would say.
Hardy, J. T. Climate Change: Causes, Effects, and Solutions. New York: J. Wiley, 2003. Print.
Juma, C. (2009, September 15). Climate Change in Africa. Retrieved December 1, 2009, from The World Bank Blog: http://blogs.worldbank.org
These two case studies along with the other information above provide examples of the vast impacts that climate change is currently having and further changes that are predicted to have on both the environment and human development in the future. Some of these impacts are positive however overall negative impacts are expected to occur. This will create many consequences and issues for future generations, some challenges which may be overcome, and some which may not.
Solomon, S. (Ed.). (2007). Climate change 2007-the physical science basis: Working group I contribution to the fourth assessment report of the IPCC (Vol. 4, pg 501). Cambridge University Press.
The backbone of a stable nation, socially and politically, is agriculture. Agriculture is the largest sector that provides a nation with food and employment. Agriculture is currently being affected by climate change and at the same time it is also a contributor to climate change. The drastic elevations in climate change started from the mid to late 20th century and they have been increasing since then (Boisvenue & Running 2006). Climate change is affecting agriculture by interfering with the efficiency of crop production. Agriculture is facing droughts, flooding, sea level elevations, natural disasters, and health hazards for employees. All of these exponents lead to crop failure that creates famines and food prices to rise. On the other side, agriculture is also contributing to climate change through their output of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprints. These are caused by the activities that agriculture engages with such as breeding of livestock, ploughing of fields, deforestation, and the use of pesticides and other agrochemicals. Climate change affects countries differently, mainly due to their ability to adapt and their geographical location. Canada and Russia benefit from the changes in climate while Sudan and Bangladesh are affected negatively, struggling to adapt. Agriculture and climate change are interrelated processes that exist mutually making it harder to reduce one without affecting the other.
...local agriculture and food security, this paper attempts to give an overview of observed and projected climate change in Sri Lanka, its impact on the agriculture sector and climate change adaptation strategies through reviewing recent literature on climate change. To develop appropriate strategies and institutional responses to climate change targeting smallholder farmers it is necessary to have a good understanding about the local farming environment in terms of farmer perception about climate change, key issues faced by farmers in overcoming climate adversities, local knowledge and strengths on climate change adaptation. There is a dearth of such research studies undertaken in Sri Lanka therefore; this paper presents a case study undertaken on a farming community in the intermediate zone to demonstrate how farmers perceive and respond to climate adversities.
... of extreme weather and melting ice caps are indicators of global warming. Because these things will affect society, there are important decisions that have to be made in the present as well as in the future to secure people’s lives and lifestyles. The world community is aware of this serious issue and do already prepare for projects to slow down global warming, but they still have to improve. If the world leaders stop worrying about this issue, the future generations could be in danger. The future lifestyles will be affected by the decisions made in the present day. Society has much to improve to save energy and to lower greenhouse gas emissions. There are also small things people can do to help. Individuals can live a life without wasting energy or polluting the environment. Without effort, global warming endangers the quality of life for the future generations.