Climate Change: Causes, Impacts, & Solutions - Research Paper

Introduction

Climate change refers to long-term changes in common patterns of local, regional, and global climates. Measures of environment significantly change, which include rainfall, temperature, or wind for an extended period. Natural processes and human activities like emissions of gases from greenhouses causes global warming. Consequences of climate change are experienced in the world, and different countries have specific impacts depending on the climatic condition during specific time. The impacts include;

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Oceans and Sea Levels

Like the oceans, warm sea levels are rising; hence ice melts, and water expands. First, increase in temperatures cause glaciers to increase melting point, and water flows into the ocean, which consequently increases the total volume of water, which in turn leads to an increase in sea level.

The Environment

Ecosystems tend to be affected by changing climatic patterns. Modification of existing habitats takes place as the species must change their homes from the harsh conditions so as to find a conducive environment for survival. Ocean changes occur as the oceans absorb almost 30% carbon dioxide released into the environment as a result of human activities like the burning of fossil fuels (Matawal & Maton, 2014). Seas tend to be acidic and directly affect marine life.

Health

Health is a crucial sector in the economy and has been affected by change of climate patterns. Changing climate causes more heat stress, poor quality of air, and the spread of waterborne disease. For instance, in Asia, the significant impact on the health sector is on the epidemics of malaria and vector-borne diseases. Illness and death cases increase due to diarrhea diseases caused by drought and flooding and also cholera outbreak in the coastal waters. Severe heat waves and summer conditions increase mortality and morbidity rates, especially in the poor and old population of tropical Asia. Poor quality air and extremely high temperatures like in China and Indonesia contribute to severe heat and smog diseases to individuals in the urban settings.

Agriculture and Food Security

Sufficient food supply depends on climate and weather conditions. A harsh climatic change like water stress, diseases, and increased temperatures poses a challenge in food production. For example, Africa continent will face water shortage, and since agricultural activities depends on rainfall for irrigation purposes, climate change like persistent drought hinders the activities. With climate change, land set for agricultural purposes will be abandoned due to a shorter growing season and low production yields (Blanc, 2016). Food insecurity increases the population exposed to hunger, which consequently leads to deaths, especially in the African continent.

Coastal Zones

An increase in sea levels causes a massive impact on the coastlines in the African continent and the existing coral reefs. A rise in sea level threatens lagoons and mangrove forests and also affects the urban areas and ports. Climate change affects many fields in the coastal zones that are water resources, food production activities, ecosystems, biodiversity, and health conditions. Degradation of marine ecosystems occurs, and adaptation to the sea level increases.

Water

Drastic changes of water supply sources have a high consequence on the population around the globe. Due to climate change, glaciers disappear, especially in Latin America, and this poses a severe effect on the ecosystem and people. For instance, people in Bolivia and Peru depend on seasonal glacial discharge for their supply of water, which also plays a significant role for hydro-energy .The disappearance of glaciers, implies a shortage of water problems, drought risk, and reduced hydropower.

Precipitation, Snow, and Ice

Climate change has an impact on precipitation, snow, and ice. For example in the case of Asia, it will result in increased rainfall in the summer season, increased reduction in ice and snow in Tibetan plateau glaciers (Sohoulande Djebou & Singh, 2016)

Severe Events

Climate change causes harsh occurrences in the globe that poses a danger to the health of the surrounding population. This includes drought during summer and El Nino outbreak, which are predominant in the Asia continent, Tropical cyclones, and intense rainfall leading to landslides, tornadoes, and thunderstorms. The extreme events affect people as they lead to various disasters like severe hunger, decline of income, and loss of property, thus affecting human survival. For instance, in China, extreme weather conditions like storms and flooding, heat, and drought led to the loss of many people hence causing damage to the economy. Torrential rains, especially those related to tropical cyclones, led to a high number of deaths, severe economic loss, and disruption in Latin America. For example, in the 1998 hurricane event, that caused 10,000 deaths, infrastructure damage (Matawal & Maton, 2014).

Increase In temperatures

Global warming affects the distribution and productivity of forests throughout the globe. Increased temperature with reduced precipitation reduces grassland productivity, especially in semi-arid areas. Fisheries in seawater are affected in higher elevations by the presence of low levels of oxygen due to the rise in surface temperatures. Fish respond to the environment through migration to floodplains to allow spawning and growth. Changes in seawater temperatures alter the healthy breeding conditions and food capacity for fish hence affecting the coastal economy.

Adaptability Capacity

Adaptation capacity is a consequence resulting to drastic changes in climatic patterns in all field in the economy that is; agriculture, forestry, energy, and infrastructure. Adaptation, mostly in developing countries, is essential and is of high priority. Adequate knowledge and information on strategies and plan of implementing adaptation do exist. Nevertheless, developing countries have difficulties for adaptation activities to be implemented due to insufficient resources. For example, Africa is slow in implementing adaptation strategies due to human capital and financial resources constraints. Many countries experience challenges in an attempt to integrate climate change patterns to government policies and inadequate resources.

Climate Change is a world catastrophe and is influenced by different factors, and the consequences result in both positive and negative effects. Developing countries are experiencing the impacts of the change and tend to be more vulnerable to expected future change. The implications affect various sectors in the economy, which are highly valued, and this poses a danger to the surrounding population. Necessary measures should be undertaken through adaptation capacity by developing adaptation plans and including then in national policies and find ways to implement the strategies. Climate change requires the implementation of a global framework like adaptation to promote sustainable development

References

Blanc, E. (2016). The Impact of Climate Change on Crop Yields in Sub-Saharan Africa. American Journal Of Climate Change, 01(01), 1-13. doi: 10.4236/ajcc.2012.11001

Matawal, D., & Maton, D. (2014). Climate Change and Global Warming: Signs, Impact and Solutions. International Journal Of Environmental Science And Development, 62-66. doi: 10.7763/ijesd.2013.v4.305

Miles, L., Grainger, A., & Phillips, O. (2004). The impact of global climate change on tropical forest biodiversity in Amazonia. Global Ecology And Biogeography, 13(6), 553-565. doi: 10.1111/j.1466-822x.2004.00105.x

Sohoulande Djebou, D., & Singh, V. (2016). Impact of climate change on precipitation patterns: a comparative approach. International Journal Of Climatology, 36(10), 3588-3606. doi: 10.1002/joc.4578