Impact on the Environment
Geography: Cambridge International GCSE (2027 Exams), topic 5.2.1
Effects of Climate Change on the Environment
The Paris Agreement of 2015 tried to agree to limit the impact of climate change. By 2100, current policies are expected to lead to 2.8-3.2°C of warming. 4.8°C of warming is a worst-case scenario. Potential impacts include:
Melting ice
- Melting ice causes sea levels to rise, which could flood coastal habitats and move the coastline inwards. This would forever lose the land and associated biodiversity.
- Most ice is stored in ice sheets at the Arctic and Antarctic.
- Changes to the way sea ice changes throughout the year is already affecting the survival of animals at both poles.
Sea surface temperature increase
- Rising sea surface temperatures are causing bleaching of sensitive corals.
- Higher sea surface temperatures would also lead to more cyclones and more severe cyclones as they would have more energy from the warm water. Hurricane Katrina caused an estimated $125bn of damage. These events would become more common in a hotter Earth.
Changing distribution of species
- Malaria-carrying mosquitoes, which don't live in temperate climates may be able to inhabit more and more countries in the world.
- It is possible that malaria and similar exotic diseases will become an established part of life as far North as the UK in the near future.
Reduction of biodiversity
- The rate at which the climate is changing makes rapid adaptation key to avoiding extinction. Evolution takes place over thousands or millions of years.
- Species that are specially adapted to the habitats which are being damaged and destroyed by climate change are at risk of extinction.
Changing precipitation patterns
- Global warming is affecting the amount of rain that areas get and also the times of year that they get it.
Test yourself on Impact on the Environment
What happens as a result of melting ice?