Introduction
Whether around dinner tables or between politicians on television, climate change has been heavily debated for years, even decades. However, scientists have used many research methods, including temperature records dating back more than a century, satellite records, ice cores, and more[1] to establish beyond a doubt that global temperatures and greenhouse gas levels have increased at scary rates in the past century.
Way back in 1880, humans began keeping temperature records. Since then, annual averages have increased, but those increases have been most drastic in the last few decades. Nineteen of the hottest years on record, not including 1998, have occurred since 2000.[2] In addition, the annual average anomaly, (a data point comparing a year’s average temperature to the long-term average) was 0.85oC (1.53oF) in 2021.[2] In other words, 2021 was 1.53oF hotter than average. Since 1880, global temperatures have increased by more than an entire degree Celsius.[2]
Just like the temperatures, carbon dioxide levels in the Earth’s atmosphere have also steadily increased. According to NASA, “…human activities have raised atmospheric concentrations of CO2 by about 50%” since the beginning of the industrial revolution, which is more than the 20,000 years proceeding 1750.[3]
The Greenhouse Effect
But, how are humans responsible?
We humans love our ever-improving technology, which is understandable. Our technological advancements are incredible and mind-blowing in so many ways. Unfortunately, our modern lifestyles also have severe consequences. Human activities, including energy production, transportation, large-scale agriculture, and countless others, release greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere.[4] Carbon dioxide and methane are the two people talk about the most, but there are others as well. GHGs get their name from the greenhouse effect. Light from the sun enters Earth’s atmosphere and creates heat, but the gasses act like the glass in a greenhouse and keep that heat from escaping. Over time, human emissions worsen the greenhouse effect by “thickening the glass,” and the planet continues to warm, leading to countless consequences.
Graphic Courtesy of Tracy Wilkinson
Impacts
Okay, but…what does this mean?
Climate change has a range of negative effects, impacting everything from weather patterns, to biodiversity, to humans.[4,5] Continued change will have disastrous implications, but the consequences of climate change are already plain to see across the world.
Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, droughts, and floods are already becoming stronger and more common in parts of the world.[5] The increased heat causes more water to evaporate from the ocean and topsoil, leading to a rise in precipitation, storms, and droughts, depending on the region. The temperatures and drought also leech the life out of vegetation, creating a perfect storm for longer fire seasons and more intense fires.
Climate change also has a significant impact on countless species across the globe. Many can’t handle the increased temperatures and different climate conditions, which then impacts other species up and down the food chain.[4]
Needless to say, climate change also has consequences for humans. The weather events destroy infrastructure, crops, and homes, and can lead to water and food insecurity.[5] The extreme temperatures have also made some parts of the world practically unlivable for those without reliable shelter, and climate migration (the movement of people forced out of their homes due to climate change) will become increasingly common as the climate situation gets worse. If unsustainable forestry practices continue, the consequences of climate change will only amplify.
[1] Harrington, Samantha. "Scientists agree: Climate change is real and caused by people." Yale Climate Connections, 17 Feb. 2022, yaleclimateconnections.org/2022/02/scientists-agree-climate-change-is-real-and-caused-by-people/.
[2] "Global Temperature." Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet, NASA, climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/global-temperature/. Accessed 3 July 2022.
[3] "Carbon Dioxide." Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet, NASA, climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbon-dioxide/. Accessed 3 July 2022.
[4] United Nations. "What Is Climate Change?" United Nation Climate Action, www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change#:~:text=Climate%20change%20refers%20to%20long,like%20coal%2C%20oil%20and%20gas. Accessed 3 July 2022.
[5] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. "Climate change: a threat to human wellbeing and health of the planet." IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/resources/press/press-release/ge/what-is-climate-change#:~:text=Climate%20change%20refers%20to%20long,like%20coal%2C%20oil%20and%20gas. Accessed 4 July 2022.
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