Visible Effects of Climate Change

Extreme Weather Events

The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events have surged in recent years. Hurricanes have become more powerful, wildfires more widespread, and floods more devastating. In 2023 alone, the Atlantic hurricane season saw a record number of named storms, with Hurricane Ian causing unprecedented damage across Florida and the southeastern United States. Similarly, Australia faced one of its worst wildfire seasons, with fires burning over 46 million acres and causing extensive loss of life and property.

Melting Polar Ice and Rising Sea Levels

Polar ice melt and rising sea levels are among the most alarming indicators of climate change. According to NASA, the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have been losing an average of 279 billion tons of ice per year since 2002. This ice melt contributes to rising sea levels, which are currently increasing at a rate of about 3.3 millimeters per year. Coastal regions, from Miami to Bangladesh, are experiencing more frequent flooding, threatening homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods.

Biodiversity Loss

Climate change is accelerating biodiversity loss at an unprecedented rate. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) reports that one million species are at risk of extinction due to habitat loss, climate change, and other human activities. The decline of species disrupts ecosystems, which in turn affects food security, water supply, and overall ecological balance, posing direct threats to human communities.

Health Impacts

Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns are having severe health impacts. Heatwaves have become more common and intense, leading to increased incidents of heat-related illnesses and deaths. Additionally, changing climates are expanding the habitats of disease vectors like mosquitoes, leading to the spread of diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050.

Europe’s 2003 Heatwave

The summer of 2003 saw a devastating heatwave in Europe, resulting in over 70,000 excess deaths across the continent. Countries like France, Italy, and Spain were particularly affected, with record-high temperatures leading to heat strokes, dehydration, and other heat-related conditions, especially among the elderly and vulnerable populations.

India’s Recent Heatwaves

India has experienced increasingly severe heatwaves in recent years. For example, the 2015 heatwave resulted in more than 2,500 deaths, making it one of the deadliest in the country’s history. Extreme temperatures, often exceeding 45°C (113°F), strained health systems and highlighted the urgent need for climate adaptation measures.

Spread of Infectious Diseases

Malaria in Africa

Climate change has expanded the habitat range for mosquitoes, the primary vectors for malaria. Warmer temperatures and altered precipitation patterns have facilitated the spread of malaria to higher altitudes in East African highlands, areas that were previously malaria-free. This has put additional pressure on health systems and increased the burden of disease in these regions.

Dengue Fever in Latin America

Dengue fever, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, has seen a significant increase in cases due to changing climate conditions. For instance, in 2019, Latin America reported over 3 million cases of dengue, with Brazil accounting for more than 2 million cases. Warmer temperatures and increased rainfall create ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, leading to higher transmission rates.

Respiratory Problems

California Wildfires

The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires in California have led to severe air quality issues. The 2020 wildfire season was one of the worst on record, with smoke causing widespread respiratory problems. The fires released significant amounts of particulate matter (PM2.5) into the air, exacerbating conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Studies estimate that wildfire smoke contributed to hundreds of additional deaths and thousands of hospital visits for respiratory and cardiovascular issues.

Over 500 plaintiffs are suing regional utility providers in Los Angeles, claiming negligence led to the Palisades Fire that destroyed thousands of structures and burned 23,000 acres last month.  They allege systematic maintenance failures and safety code violations and seek damages for property loss, medical expenses, and displacement. Check this page to read more about this wildfire lawsuit.

Mental Health Impacts

Displacement from Extreme Weather Events

Extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires not only cause physical harm but also lead to significant mental health impacts. The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 displaced hundreds of thousands of people, leading to widespread post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. The prolonged recovery process and the loss of homes and livelihoods have long-term psychological effects on affected communities.

Farmers’ Suicides in India

Climate change-induced droughts and unpredictable weather patterns have severely impacted agriculture in India. Crop failures and financial instability have led to a tragic rise in farmers’ suicides. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, more than 10,000 farmers and agricultural laborers committed suicide in 2019, with climate change being a significant contributing factor to their economic distress.

These examples illustrate the diverse and far-reaching health impacts of climate change, emphasizing the need for comprehensive adaptation and mitigation strategies to protect public health.

Treatments and Mitigation Strategies

Renewable Energy Sources

Transitioning to renewable energy sources is critical in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Solar and wind energy have seen significant advancements and cost reductions, making them viable alternatives to fossil fuels. For instance, Denmark now generates over 50% of its electricity from wind power. Globally, renewables provided an estimated 29% of electricity generation in 2022, showcasing their potential to significantly cut emissions.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes and stores them underground. This technology can play a vital role in mitigating climate change by reducing the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere. Projects like Norway’s Sleipner CO2 Storage, which has successfully stored millions of tons of CO2 since 1996, demonstrate the potential of CCS.

Reforestation and Conservation Efforts

Reforestation and conservation efforts are essential in sequestering carbon and preserving biodiversity. Trees absorb CO2, making forests critical carbon sinks. Initiatives like the Great Green Wall in Africa aim to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land, sequester 250 million tons of CO2, and create 10 million jobs by 2030. Such efforts not only combat climate change but also support local economies and ecosystems.

Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture practices reduce emissions and enhance carbon sequestration in soils. Techniques such as no-till farming, cover cropping, and agroforestry improve soil health and increase its capacity to store carbon. The Rodale Institute’s Farming Systems Trial shows that organic farming practices can sequester up to 1,000 pounds of carbon per acre annually, demonstrating a practical approach to mitigating climate change.

Role of Politics in Combating Climate Change

International Agreements and Policies

International agreements like the Paris Agreement are crucial in uniting countries to combat climate change. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. Despite challenges, countries have made commitments to reduce emissions, with the European Union pledging to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

National Policies and Legislation

Effective national policies are essential for achieving climate goals. Countries like Sweden and New Zealand have implemented carbon pricing mechanisms to incentivize emission reductions. The United States rejoining the Paris Agreement and passing the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which includes significant investments in clean energy and infrastructure, marks a substantial step forward in national climate policy.

Local Government and Community Actions

Local governments and communities play a pivotal role in implementing climate solutions. Cities like Copenhagen and San Francisco have set ambitious targets to become carbon-neutral by 2025 and 2040, respectively.

Copenhagen’s ambitious climate plan includes transitioning to 100% renewable energy, improving energy efficiency in buildings, and enhancing public transportation infrastructure. The city has already made significant progress, reducing its carbon emissions by over 50% since 1995. Key initiatives include expanding the city’s extensive cycling network and investing in wind power, with Copenhagen now sourcing over 80% of its electricity from renewable sources.

San Francisco, on the other hand, aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2040 through a combination of measures such as adopting zero-emission vehicles, increasing energy efficiency in buildings, and promoting clean energy technologies. The city has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 68% below 1990 levels by 2030. Notable projects include the installation of solar panels on public buildings and the implementation of aggressive waste reduction programs, with San Francisco currently diverting 80% of its waste from landfills.

These cities serve as models for urban climate action, demonstrating that local initiatives can drive significant progress towards global climate goals. Their efforts highlight the importance of municipal leadership in the broader fight against climate change, providing valuable lessons for other cities around the world.

Conclusion

The planet’s fever is evident in the increasing severity of climate impacts worldwide. Addressing this crisis requires a multifaceted approach, combining renewable energy adoption, innovative technologies, conservation efforts, and robust political action. It is imperative for individuals, communities, and governments to intensify their efforts to mitigate climate change and ensure a sustainable future. The time to act is now.

Climate change seems to be knocking at our doors. The same goes for climate change-induced catastrophes, which seem nearer every day. That’s why we believe preparing for climate change impact is key in preparing for the future.

In this article, we will discuss how one can prepare their home, storage, and family for inevitable disaster. You must have heard that the temperature cycles, once appearing every thousand years, now occur in only a decade. That’s why climate change is a problem the entire world is facing, not just a handful of polluters.

How to Help in Stopping Climate Change Impact

Preparing for climate change impact and helping in stopping climate change require the same actions, and here are the ones we took. If you believe you can do more, why not try it out? But first, focus on the baby steps.

Inform Others

Everyone heard about climate change, but it’s up to them if they believe in it. You, as an observer, need to take a side. The importance of teaching others how climate change will affect their lives is immense.

Talking to your friends and family members about your fears will help both sides. In the end, it will show them the perils of climate change that lie ahead and hopefully change their mind.

Recycle

One of the most obvious tips is to start recycling, especially if you have not done so before. This is preparing you for the days when there will be no single-use plastics at our disposal. Recycling also lowers your greenhouse gas emissions.

You can try learning a few skills, like upcycling and precycling, which can help you minimize your waste. Also, they teach important skills you will need in your post-disaster life.

Change Diet

Cattle used for meat production is the no. 1 carbon emission polluter in the world. That’s why cutting down on that steak or removing meat from your diet can make a lot of difference. Of course, this also goes for dairy products as well.

Be Energy Efficient

Being energy efficient is a tip that will not just minimize your carbon footprint, but also your monthly energy bill. Here are our favorite tips for energy efficiency:

• Use LED light bulbs in your home
• Seal doors, windows, and any air drafts
• Unplug electronics when they are not used
• Use a programmable thermostat
• Wrap water heater with insulating materials for less heat loss
• Use electric, instead of gas stovetop appliances

Reduce your Emissions

The world set a goal to minimize car emissions and maximize fuel efficiency in the automotive industry in the forthcoming years. Also, we are focusing more on renewable energy. But these things are not something you can do yourself.

What you can try to do and minimize carbon emissions is to use your vehicle less. This means more walking and better health. An additional thing you can do is to minimize air travel as well.

Adapt to Climate Change

Climate change will make your life more expensive and will include more risks in everyday life. Prepare for extreme weather, from snowstorms to floods. Also, we are expecting a change of number in microbiome and bug life, which will spread diseases more easily.

Adapting your way of life and stocking up on some key products is a must. Remember to try and identify the risk you and your surroundings are facing and prepare in advance.

Modify your Home

Climate change brings floods, storms, and other extreme weather with it. Adapting your home to be ready for climate change impact is a must. This means you can try to take these steps, if applicable to your location:

• Flood proof your property
• Invest in backup electricity systems
• Prepare for droughts and save freshwater
• Don’t pave the front lawn to promote water drainage
• Make structural upgrades to keep the roof over your head

Grow your Food

Growing your own food is the most important of all steps since food production can become more costly and hard if climate change strikes. Drought and extreme heat negatively influence not just agriculture, but fishing and hunting as well. That’s why we recommend preparing for the worst-case scenario with a backyard garden.

Conclusion

A climate-change-related disaster is one of the most probable situations we can find ourselves in, sometime in the future. That’s why you need to stock up and prepare the family.

Take our steps to help fight climate change and do your small part. But to also prepare yourself and your surroundings for when all hell breaks loose.

Pakistan is considered one of the disaster-prone countries in Asia. Natural disasters such as Droughts, Floods, and heat waves have become common in the country. Among these, floods have been recognized as the most severe form of natural disaster

Droughts

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Report of 2015, Groundwater resources in Pakistan are very limited which has already been reduced from 5,600 m3 (at the time of Independence 1947) to 1200 m3 (per Capita). Due to the low availability of water, the frequency of droughts had been higher in the region of Baluchistan and Sindh, according to climate data. Millions of hectares of the country’s land experience an annual rainfall of less than 30 mm, and some hectares of land which is suitable for agriculture are subjected to wind and water erosion, waterlogging, loss of organic matter and salinity. Several other severe episodes of droughts were recorded in 1967–69, 1971, 1973–75, 1994, 1998–2002, and most recent 2009–15.

Floods

On the other hand Pakistan has a long history of floods and floods of 1928, 1929, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1973, 1976, 1988, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2008, 2010, and recent 2020 share the saddest events with tremendous damages in the country. The floods of 2010, resulting from heavy monsoon rain affected the Indus River basin. 1/5th of the country’s total land area was underwater, approximately 796,095 square Km (307,374 sq mi). The floods directly affected about 20 million people, mostly by destruction of property, livelihood, and infrastructure, with a death toll of close to 2,000, according to Pakistan Government data. Data from Pakistan Meteorological Department in 2010, recorded Heavy rainfalls of more than 200 millimeters (7.9 in) in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

At one time Pakistan faced severe drought conditions due to extremely low rainfall which caused extreme famine conditions affecting 3.3 million families, and at other times country faced the most destructive form of floods. Several factors are responsible for the vulnerabilities of shifts in climatic conditions.

The major dynamic pressures on society causing vulnerability are fragile natural environment, lack of education and awareness, environmental degradation, explosive population growth, poor construction practices, poverty, weak agriculture practices, poor early warning systems, and deforestation. Uncontrolled free grazing of livestock (Tragedy of Commons), and aridity is one of the causes of droughts and deforestation. These play role in the flooding equation because trees strengthen the soil and prevent soil erosion and absorb water efficiently.

Fewer Tress = More Floods

Climate Change and Glacial Melting

According to the Fourth Assessment Report on climate change of the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate change (IPCC) and Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change 2009, “Glaciers have been the most visible indicators of Climate Change”. The northern part of Pakistan occupies glacier in the range of Karakoram, Hindu Kash, and the Himalayas covers around 13,680 Km2 which represent around 13% of the mountainous regions of the upper Indus Basin.

Glaciers are important aspects of climate change because they provide important information and tells about past climate that is preserved in the core specifically trapped in air bubbles, and this scientific information enables the scientist evaluate the past climate change and to predict the future trends. It also analyzes the current situation of climate change, as they are very sensitive to temperature, and unusual weather conditions.

The study of glaciers provides the basis for climate change and global warming. Glaciers are receding and wasting at a global level, which shows the sign of Global warming. On the other hand, it has also been reported that in some cases glaciers are not wasting or receding but the pattern of snow melting and feeding capacity has been increased with the passage of time which is the root cause of Hazards. According to the Government of Pakistan, the global mean temperature due to global warming is expected to increase from 1.5oC to 6oC by the end of this century, and these changes are responsible for a discernible increase in floods, storms, forest fires.

Some glaciers in Pakistan are growing due to rapid change in seasonal variations and summers and winter seasons are becoming shorter. The major sources of fresh water in Pakistan are glacier, upon which almost 50 million people are dependent, and changes in glaciers definitely affect the population. The bulk of glacier melts coincide with the monsoon rainfall increasing the risks of floods hazards. Climate change in the Indus basin is not uniform; the temperature increase in both summers and winters will be higher in the northern part of Pakistan as compared to the southern part of the country and these changes are the cause of variability in monsoons adding water-stressed conditions in the arid and semi-arid region of the country.

The worst thing about the challenges of climate change is the lack of understanding. Climate change is more than melting ice caps somewhere far away. It is a change that impacts your life wherever you are living.

Climate change impacts the ability of global society to grow food, build, and live. And, it largely depends on pollution.

Thus, there is a need for energy-efficient architecture. You can do your part by joining Solar Nation. For all else, keep on reading to find out where you stand today.

How Things Came to Be This Way

The primary issue of ecology today is getting the world on board to fight climate change. While it is a global issue, not all countries can tackle it in the same manner. That is due to the difference in development and capabilities of First World Countries and Third World Countries.

First-world countries are responsible for most of the fossil fuels consumption and waste generation. Since they have a greater need for resource consumption, it is natural that they pollute more.

However, that also goes for third-world countries. The advantage of the first world countries is the sophistication of the production processes. With advanced technology and system implementation, they can perform waste management.

The same fails to apply to third-world countries. Due to the lack of technology, the third world creates more waste without a proper management system. That impacts the global environment, polluting the world and society.

Thus, the world of hyperproduction became unsustainable. But, if humanity wants to live in a world with regular weather, food to grow, and an actual life to live. Yet, there is another problem aside from the production processes. And it relates to how people live today.

Urban Planning and Climate

The production processes need a purpose. And, that purpose is in the way of life of contemporary people. The people today lavish in the lifestyle that revolves around overconsumption of specific products and services.

For that, they need stores, offices, and spaces that are open 24/7. And, they want products that are always available. Thus, society has to produce without stop, and that requires constant use of resources.

In that case, you need to use more fossil fuels, electricity and create more waste. However, even if there are constant warnings, people avoid them. The problem here is that people still want to keep the same lifestyle even if it threatens the environment.

However, the COVID-world shows that people can consume more. But, that is far from enough to stop the current levels of pollution. The problem of global pollution is embedded not only in the lifestyle but where people live as well.

Consequences of Unsustainable living

Contemporary people live in settlements that overly consume energy. And, these settlements are highly energy inefficient. They consume more energy and resources while creating more waste at the same time.

During the COVID-era, people were in global lockdown. They were unable to visit various offices and use services if they had to leave the house. However, even in their housing, they were still overly using energy and resources.

That problem relates to the architecture of living and workspaces. Before climate change, there was no concern for energy efficiency. Instead, people want to consume as many resources as they can as long as it fits their needs.

That led to the development of skyscrapers and housing projects without a thought for energy efficiency. In those spaces, you can’t retain any amount of energy and reuse it later.

As a consequence, you lose resources and make your living space inhabitable. Thus, there is a global push for energy-efficient architecture and sustainable development.

Sustainable Development

Sustainable development refers to the practice of building and developing energy-efficient communities. Not only does it include the use of recyclable materials, but also concepts of green design and eco-conscious thinking.

The idea behind sustainable development is to create housing and workspaces for the future. And, it should help to create less waste as a development by-product. But, it also should help to reduce spending of energy by amassing green energy use.

With this method, developers have to put energy-efficient architecture as a priority. That means that you do urban planning with less energy consumption in mind. And, you also put specific focus on how to reuse the energy you would otherwise waste.

For that, the architects of tomorrow will understand what energy-efficient architecture is and how it helps people.

Energy-Efficient Architecture

The core idea of energy-efficient architecture is to develop self-sustaining buildings. While they have to use energy like electricity, energy should be reusable.

That is possible due to the use of specific materials, but also by using a specific structure. For materials, developers should use cement with higher insulation capabilities. It should help the walls retain both heat in winter and cold in the summer.

But, the structure should remain the priority. The structure should include:

• Envelope-style build for walls
• Solar panels
• Natural ventilation
• Green growths on the building exterior
• Green spaces around buildings
• Insulation
• Heat-retention
• Natural materials
• Recycled materials
• Wind turbines
• LED lights
• Alternative motors for electrical applications

As you can see from the list, energy-efficient architecture should decrease resource spending. In theory, energy-efficient buildings require little to no energy for all applications. Instead of using fossil fuels and a lot of electricity, use alternative energy sources.

You can get that energy from solar panels and wind turbines. And, with insulation, heat retention, and LED lights, you can consume less energy. Finally, you can avoid creating waste by using recyclable materials which you can transport or use in your vicinity.

Another advantage is in the construction process. The premise is that you can use materials locally available. That is how energy-efficient architecture changes the world.

Be the Change

While energy-efficient architecture is slowly changing the world, it is far from mass adoption. However, the individual is the carrier of the lifestyle.

Live as an example of a change you want to see. Make the world a greener place for all of us.

The world is forever grateful to the brilliant minds that worked around the clock to develop an effective vaccine to prevent the infectious disease known as the coronavirus. In record time, Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson discovered a solution that would ultimately save millions of lives. Though the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines has played a significant role in the world’s ability to return to normalcy, scientists and medical experts worry that infectious diseases will become more prominent soon.

The Earth is Heating Up 

Scientists, environmental experts, and advocates alike have talked about climate change and its impact on human life for decades. Unfortunately, many politicians and citizens ignored their cries, believing global warming didn’t exist or wasn’t something they’d have to worry about in their lifetimes.

Fast forward to today, and you can’t help but notice the impact of climate change. Temperatures are hotter than average, storms are more frequent and severe, and the fruitfulness of agriculture is fading. At the top of the list of problems, however, is the increase in infectious diseases.

Climate Change And Infectious Diseases

While advanced technologies enable experts to enhance their efforts in antibody development and other preventative measures, the correlation between climate change and infectious disease must be addressed. Let’s take a deeper look at this connection.

Changes in Weather Increases The Spread of Disease 

Climate impacts how infectious diseases are transmitted globally in several ways. For starters, some viruses only thrive in certain conditions. Take dengue fever, for instance. This contagious disease tends to thrive best in tropical or subtropical climates. Be that as it may, as temperatures rise in otherwise cool parts of the world, this virus can spread more quickly.

Another factor to consider is the migration of people as climate change ravages their homes. The more people that become displaced, the larger populations grow in other areas. These mass migrations not only result in an increased strain on the ecosystem, the potential that people bring infectious diseases with them increases.

Finally, increased migrations and natural disasters like forest fires minimize space for wildlife. With nowhere to go, animals and humans come into contact more often than usual. As many viruses are transmitted between animals and humans, it increases the likelihood that another pandemic will manifest itself.

Air Pollutants Serve As Vehicles For Viral Transmission 

During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, scientists discovered that regions with the worst air pollution seemed to have the most significant outbreaks. Environmental toxins like black carbon and sulfates are prevalent and known for causing substantial damage to the immune system. Further research revealed that these particles serve as vehicles for viruses, causing them to spread faster and significantly affect those infected.

Rising Temperatures Threaten The Return of Ancient Diseases 

Did you know that viruses, bacteria, and diseases can last for years if it’s frozen? The ice provides the perfect environment for preservation. If this ice should melt, however, it could be a catastrophe for the world. Diseases that were once eradicated will return, causing a spike in infections and worldwide panic. Unfortunately, the rising temperatures in some of the world’s coldest climates are causing ice to melt.

Climate Change Sparks Mutations And Weakened Defense Mechanisms 

Last but not least, experts fear that the rising temperatures will lead to viral mutations that the human body cannot fight. As pathogens and viruses mutate to thrive in warmer temperatures, the expectation is that new diseases will develop that are stronger and more challenging to treat. This adaption will also mean that primary bodily defenses to fight illness like fevers will no longer be effective.

It’s amazing what modern advancements have enabled medical and scientific experts to do amid one of the world’s most prolific health crises in decades. Be that as it may, if world leaders and everyday citizens don’t start to make changes to preserve the environment and manage climate change, the future could prove catastrophic. Hopefully, gaining a better understanding of the connection between climate change and infectious diseases will encourage you to do your part to make a change.

Local governments are uniquely impacted by climate change. They are also uniquely ill-positioned to do anything about it.

Climate change is a cruel phenomenon. Those least able to mitigate climate pollutants and adapt to the changing climate are those who will suffesSaasr the most. Indeed, the world’s poorest countries are the least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions and the least capable of adaptation but yet they will bear the brunt of climate change. And they will do so well-before richer countries.

But climate change’s cruelty extends to American governance, too. The level of government least able to mitigate and adapt is the level of government most affected. For local governments, climate change is quite literally an existential threat. For coastal municipalities, it is a slow-moving wave that imperils land values with sea level rise inch by inch submerging and devaluing a main source of municipal revenue—property (and its accompanying tax revenue).

Indeed, since at least Superstorm Sandy in 2012 we’ve seen extreme weather events destroy local infrastructure and strain local first responders. For other local governments, climate-change-related heatwaves and drought have and will place impossible demands on local water and power utilities. So too for local governments contending with wildfires exacerbated by climate change. While, so far, federal and state money has largely plugged holes in municipal budgets, the trend is clear: local governments have a lot to lose from climate change.

Local governments are also the least able to do anything about it. Consider a coastal municipality—say, Salem, Massachusetts. Suppose this seaside city of roughly 43,000 wanted to get serious about climate change. What could it do? Cutting emissions or divesting from fossil fuels may be feel-good symbolic measures, but neither has any chance of making an appreciable difference to the global problem. Spending on beach re-nourishment and armoring the shoreline with seawalls may be effective (though even these tactics are merely temporary stopgaps), but both are costly endeavors.

Market forces, too, hem in municipalities. Any restriction or expenditure put in place by Salem andnot done by its neighboring municipalities threatens to drive businesses and residents away from Salem to less constraining and more tax-friendly locations. And that’s assuming that the local government has authority to take action in these areas; should the state government disapprove, the state’s decision is controlling. The political and economic incentives all go in one direction—away from local governments taking action on climate change.

Of course, some municipalities—like Boston and San Francisco—can implement mitigative and adaptive climate change measures that are impactful both for their symbolic and practical effects. And we should encourage these efforts. But for most of the over 39,000 local governments in the United States—including 1,400 coastal municipalities looking to lose significant territory—climate change remains a stubbornly cruel paradox.

In the face of these dire challenges, we need to reconsider the current framework in which local governments operate. Although federal progress on climate change may happen (finally) during the Biden Administration, we can nonetheless still take action at the state and local levels. A flotilla of policies and ideas—from information sharing to resiliency planning, from grants to cooperative regional organizations—exist to further this goal. No matter the specific policy prescription, empowering local governments to deal with the existential threat of climate change means being proactive. For if we wait, local governments will surely suffer the cruelty of climate change.

Instead, they’re issues that have the propensity to change people’s lives, not in some future version of reality, but right now.

Photo Source

When the University of Southern California surveyed the risks noted as most worrisome by public health experts they found that “Warming weather patterns have led to longer and more frequent bloom seasons and less seasonal viral and bacteria die-off, not only creating havoc with allergy sufferers and a faster spread of food and waterborne diseases, but increasing air pollution and extremes in weather leading to greater states of emergency.”

As always, one of the best ways to deal and prepare for these troubling changes is by making sure that you and that people around you are educated. What does climate change look like, right now, on a personal level?

Natural disasters increasing in intensity

The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season has provided a fitting backdrop with which to begin this conversation. The season will come to a close on November 30th, and at this point it’s been one of mass devastation certainly: the estimates for hurricanes Harvey, Jose, Maria, and Irma, have been reported at $200 billion dollars.

Each dollar represents the places and things that thousands of people had used to live their lives. But more profoundly, so far, 103 people have lost their lives in the midst of these massive storms.

Climate change didn’t cause the hurricanes to occur, seasonal weather occurrences were seasonal before the threat of climate change.

However, as Sean Sublette, a meteorologist with Climate Central, told CNN, “The short version is, climate change makes these very bad storms worse. It’s not the proximate cause of the storm, but it makes these bad storms worse. And in the case of a really bad storm, climate change can make it totally disastrous or catastrophic.”

Wider impact of diseases

Another impact of global warming is its ability to cause diseases to spread, because many types of diseases thrive in warm, wet climates.

Infectious: Cholera, which kills over 100,000 people every year, is predominantly problematic in the summer, but is far less pervasive in the winter. Salmonella, which is foodborne, has the easiest amount of time reproducing in warm climates. These gastrointestinal diseases will thus only be fortified by future global warming trends. 

Vector-born: These diseases are spread by insects that thrive in warm temperatures that prolong their lifespan. Illnesses like Zika and Malaria are predominantly spread by infected mosquitoes.

“Changes in infectious disease transmission patterns are a likely major consequence of climate change. We need to learn more about the underlying complex causal relationships, and apply this information to the prediction of future impacts, using more complete, better validated, integrated, models,” concluded the World Health Organization in a summary on climate change and infectious diseases.

The health impacts of the types of diseases that flourish in warmer climates have the ability to impact people like never before.

Changes made to the Environmental Protection Agency

In the U.S. EPA’s own words, “The mission of EPA is to protect human health and the environment.” They accomplish that end by doing a number of things including studying environmental issues, pushing legislative change, and giving grants.

“The Clean Power Plan, which was created during former President Obama’s administration, intended to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. The EPA estimated the plan would prevent 3,600 premature deaths per year,” notes the University of Arizona.

However, since then Trump-appointed EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt has taken steps to repeal the plan, and the EPA has released a new four-year plan that does not mention climate change.

It’s a discouraging change of events for those who hope and count on government involvement.

Related mental health issues becoming prevalent

The social and economic impact that can come at the hands of climate change reaches beyond just the physical implications. Underlining everything is the fact that loss of a physical nature has a direct tie to the mental and emotional well-being of a person.

For example, even for those who survived hurricane-devastated areas, there is no going back. For most, their homes and towns are not what they were — every semblance of normalcy gone.

And, of course, they’re the ones who lost the things most easily replaceable. For those connected to the 103 who have perished during the 2017 hurricane season, the road ahead is filled with even more tumult.

The United States Global Change Research Program notes, “The social and mental health consequences of extreme weather events have been the focus of research for more than three decades. The mental health and well-being consequences of extreme events, particularly natural disasters, are common and form a significant part of the overall effects on health.”

It’s important to remember as we move forward that the numbers don’t accurately represent the way that lives are changed as a result of natural or man-made calamities. Long after the rebuilding efforts are successful, there will be lingering pain.

Climate change, changes people

While we collectively need to be aware of the vastness of climate change’s implications and working towards collective solutions, the most poignant proof is often right in front of us as individuals. It can be easy to see global warming as a trend that’s massive impacts will be in the distant future; it’s our grandchildrens problem.

However, critically assessing what is already happening — if not in one’s own family, but in one’s community or society — often brings things to light that make it clear that this is an issue that we are already in the midst of. And if an individual stands outside the parameters of climate change’s reach, it’s not likely to be a truth that remains over the long term.

Let’s examine How future Climate change will affect the poor?

 Unpredictable weather-

 The frequent occurrence of floods, famines, droughts, and overall rise in the temperatures is severely affecting the poor people. These people live on meager incomes and having very less social security insurance and infrastructure, thus are the most unguarded individuals.

Impact on agriculture-

Agriculture is one of the most important economic sectors in developing countries like India where more than half of population is directly, indirectly or remotely dependent on agriculture for their income and unfortunately it is also one of the most sensitive to climate change given its dependence on weather conditions. Non-seasonal rainfalls and less rainfall in the required seasons cause a great distress on the agriculturalists and farmers, causing them to fall into the cycle of debts, pushing them towards Poverty.

Increase in Out-of-Pocket expenditure-

Poor people already spend more income on food and health than other classes. Climate change along with rising prices of basic necessities i.e. Bread, Cloth and Housing and along with Inflation and the increasing spread of communicable diseases and epidemics will drive the vulnerable households into the viscous cycle of poverty again.

Unpredictable weather-

Climate change is leading to the frequent droughts and floods, famines and other disaster hazards. Such natural phenomenon’s have more adverse impact on the poor people as their livelihood gets affected easily and more severely.

Water scarcity-

Water is going to be a depleted resource in the times to come, especially the people living in coastal areas are predicted to be suffering the most. This effect of climate change would also have a direct effect on the economically instable people. Approximately 22 million people faced water scarcity at the end of the twentieth century, and according to projections configured by the IPCC, the number of people likely to endure issues in water sanitation by 2050 is 79 to 178 million.

More strain on poor for mitigation strategies-

The climate risks and natural hazards, disasters also require preparedness but due to low levels of capacity development along with inadequate financial resources, the poor households will feel the extra pressure of mitigation and adaptation .As these people are the most vulnerable to Climate change shocks, it will be more difficult for them to escape poverty.

Climate change hits the poor people the hardest and it is becoming very difficult to eliminate poverty. Therefore, it is very important to have some safety nets and proper adaptation strategies to fight against Climate change keeping in mind its impact on the poorest people .The work underway right now, with a goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030, can help governments lead the way on combating climate change while also working to improve the lives and futures of the least well-off in their countries.

“The events of heat waves, floods and glaciers melting have been extreme during past some years due to global warming caused by continue emissions of Greenhouse Gases (GHSs)”, Petteri Taalas, the head of World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said in November 2016. These intense events have affected our natural wonders in the world and caused a permanent destruction, MSN report of August, 2017.  Are we humans responsible for these events or it is just a wrath of our Mother-Nature? With the considerations and concerns that we – with The Planet Earth – have entered into an era of environmental consequences of Climate change and Global Warming, which was considered a figment of imagination some decades ago, recent Paris Accord brought the nations together, rich or poor, to combat the climate change, signed by 195 countries with the agreement to submit their GHGs emissions inventory after every two years in order to check and balance the emissions. We, being humans, possess a very confused and complex nature. First we convert our green spaces into concrete jungles and smoke industries, and when we realize the destruction caused by us, we use our major capital resources to make green land with trees again. Why humans always care the things when it’s gone? World’s biggest organizations along with developed countries have already taken the initiative a long time ago to protect the environment in the name of Climate finance (also major objective of Paris Accord). The World Resources Institute defined the Climate Finance as the “flow of funds to promote the activities to reduce the GHGs and to help the poor society to adapt and mitigate the climate impact”.

Pakistan, despite a lowest emitter of GHGs, is drastically under the influence of environmental consequences and is listed 22^nd in Climate Change Vulnerability Index 2016 (CCVI), which ranked it as “Extreme Risk.” Many people lost their homes and lives due to extreme floods, heat waves and Mini cyclone during past some years in the country. For Pakistan, being a developing country, it is very difficult to reduce the damaging effects of climate changes with the limited resources when the country already facing internal issues for instance, terrorism, energy crises, food security, and poverty. In order to reduce the risk of climate changes major funding bodies like Adaptation Fund, Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) are helping the Pakistan as climate finance for green infrastructure and technology transfer. Among these GCF is crucial to mitigate and adapt the climate change as it the main channel with the help of which finance in allocated and it approved 36 million USD to country. These funds are given to country to mitigate and adapt the climate change through planting the trees, increase the levee of river banks to avoid the floods and glacial lake outburst flood, and to cut the emission of GHGs through green technologies.

UN launched REDD+ in 2009 to make economic flow for the developing countries to maintain and manage their forests. Under this initiative the countries can avoid the deforestation in order to reduce the emissions. In Pakistan, REDD+ strategic implementation was approved in February 2017 to stop the deforestation especially of indigenous species, and for the implementation of REDD+ activities, Pakistan will be granted 3.8 Million USD. On the Governmental level of Pakistan, there has been started many renewable energy projects in Pakistan in order to mitigate the environmental effect and to meet the energy need with the help of China under CPEC.

“We have single mission: to protect and hand on the planet to next generation,”Francois Hollande- Former President of France

How much we are sincere with our fragile ecosystems of Mother Nature and to hand on its precious services and resources to next generation?

In 2009, The House Energy and Commerce Committee (USA) introduced an act called American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES) also know as Waxman-Markey Bill or “Energy Bill”, a cap-and-trade bill, approved on 26^th June, 2009 by House of Representatives but was never brought to Senate for further discussion and vote. Critics had been started prevailed before brought to implementation because it needed to shift the whole technology to cap the GHGs emissions. After thoroughly consideration this bill seems more political policy than climatic agenda, because in this way Energy and Commerce Committee would be industrial and economic regulator as well as tax collector, which could ultimately leads to energy crisis because the bill do not consider the demand of energy in coming year. We are in desperately need to make the Eco-Friendly as well as Investors-Friendly policies, without capturing the whole industry that would threat and discourage the new investors of country. This bill is keep sparking in USA every year but settled down due to critics but  another cap-and-trade bill, resembling to this, already exists under the Kyoto Protocol known as Carbon credits that allow the limited amount of emission of GHGs as Assigned Amount in the form of given quota of emissions to countries. Great encouragement are required to mitigate the effects of Climate change as the population is increasing with increased energy and industry demands and the other major problem is that polluting industries are still polluting the environment

According to the report of BBC of August 8^th, 2017, it was investigated that large amount of one GHG is emitting from the location of Italy that was measured by the Air Monitors in Switzerland, but Italian report, submitted to UN, declared only tiny amount of substance being emitted. On the other hand the level of emissions from China and India submitted are also so uncertain.

Corruption and climate change are often considered parallel to each other. Both effect the poor but done by powerful people. According to Transparency International (TI), the rich governments provided almost 30 billion USD, between years of 2010-2012 to fund the different projects in developing countries either to adapt of mitigate the impact of global warming and climate change. The corruption by upper level of government and institutions leads to the poor infrastructure of country and make it more vulnerable to disasters.  Unfortunately the managing structure in Pakistan to climate change is under threat. The annual Corruption Perception Index of 2016 ranked Pakistan number 116 of 176 countries indicating the country “High Level” of Corruption. The recent event took place in the country of disqualification of Prime Minister of Pakistan has left the country instable with many doubts of Corruption. However, the Government of Pakistan, ironically, acknowledged that loss of trees by Timber Mafia has a serious threat and this is increasing our degradation cost with the passage of time. So serious governmental authorities and considerations are required in order to save the environment. On the other hand the initiative to avoid the deforestation by REDD+ in amazing but several critics have also generated which agued its policies as threatened, manipulative and conflicted with the arise of many questions like who will be the owner of forest land and who will be the responsible of consequences that would result after implementation of REDD+? Forests cannot make as private ownership because local people are connected to particular forest. Save environmental policies always bring more questions with less implementation. Another big challenge faced by climatic finance team and highlighted in the report UNEP 2015, is that, 5.7 Trillion USD are required by 2020 for the investment of green infrastructure but the investment is only 360 billion USD, so there is a big difference of money requirement.

So our Global single mission to protect our mother is under threat along with Paris accord due to dodgy data submitted to UN, insincere intentions, and bare policies without implementation, critique and Corruption. These threats are much bigger than Trumps intention to withdraw Paris accord. But the good thing is that the Non-environmental organizations also taking part in eco-agenda and Santander Group (Spanish Banking Group) have already financed 5200MW of renewable energy projects.

Along with Pakistan, Somalia, Papua New Guinea, Bangladesh, Maldives, Chad are some countries that are under threat of climatic change. Conditions are not very much better in Maldives due to rise of sea level with the passage of time. In order to mitigate and adapt the impact of global climate change education, training camps and awareness of local community is very important with the climate finance so they could understand and evolve the better ways to survive and protect on their own. Involve the local community and seek their help is really important because they are the actual stakeholders of the climatic project.

A survey was conducted of around 150 people of community members residing near the river in City Lahore, Pakistan. It was identified that perhaps the illiterate people do not have the idea of environmental terms but they observe the major changes in their climate and that’s why community showed a keen interest in rehabilitation of their surrounding environment and expressed their higher willingness to pay for its rehabilitation. Because they know that how much important is environment in which they are living.

No doubt those developing countries are in urgent need of funding, but the use of proper funding can be achieved by accountability, trust and also involvement of community. Lay man needs to know what is going on with their environment.

Many of us grow up wanting to pursue a career that allows us to help people. When we’re very young, we believe the best jobs for helping people and saving the world are doctors, firemen, and perhaps superheroes. As we get older, it occurs to us that there are other ways to save the world and enforce positive change on the planet. We may consider a career as a civil rights lawyer or a political activist, as well as working for the emergency services. However, as the world evolves and changes, so do the threats to its future. This means there are even more careers than ever open to those noble people who dream of helping it. Here are a few of the best degree options for students who still want to save the world.

Geographic Information Science and Technology

An online GIST degree equips you with the skills needed to use up to date technology such as GPS and satellite imagery to collect data and take measurements. This data can then be used to chart maps, detect environmental changes, chart boundary lines, or plan new communities.  Those who graduate from a geographic information science and technology degree could work in a variety of roles, many of which involve improving the planet and charting environmental change.

Healthcare

Healthcare encompasses a huge range of different degree specialisms, all of which would allow you to work helping others. There is currently a huge shortage of healthcare professionals and the ever-growing population means that they are needed more than ever.

Solar Energy Engineering

Climate change is perhaps the biggest threat to the planet and our way of life today. There can be no doubt that more needs to be done to stop it or to prevent its effects. Renewable energy sources, such as solar power, are finally being used more frequently. This means there are more job opportunities within the field and it’s a great time to study something like solar energy engineering.

Social Work

Social workers work to protect those who are vulnerable and in the most need of help. This could be the homeless, addicts, abuse victims, the mentally ill, veterans, the elderly, or young children. While social work might not be the first thing you think of when it comes to saving the world, they are certainly changing the worlds of the people that they work with.

Seismology

Modern technology is allowing seismologists to predict, detect, and prepare for earthquakes much more quickly and successfully than ever. This can save lives, homes, and communities.

Nutrition

After climate change, one of the biggest dangers to society is poor nutrition, leading to obesity or malnutrition. Nutritionists work to understand and educate their clients and communities. This could lead to fewer illnesses and deaths from obesity related illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.

There are so many options available. So, if you want a career which allows you to truly help people, both now and in the future, think about which field appeals to you the most and apply today.