Extreme heat is one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths. Higher temperatures increase heat-related illnesses and make outdoor work and activities more difficult. High humidity and elevated nighttime temperatures are key factors in causing heat-related illness and mortality.

They also increase the risk of other types of disasters. Heat can exacerbate drought, and hot, dry conditions can in turn create wildfire conditions. Buildings, roads, and infrastructure absorb heat, leading to temperatures that can be 1 to 7 degrees F hotter in urban areas than outlying areas. There are a number of other impacts including but not limited to reduced agricultural yields, increase in air pollution, increase in kidney stones and heat stress on livestock.

Nearly all land areas are seeing more hot days and heat waves. At 1.5 °C of warming, there would be up to 19 extra days of extreme heat per year on average, with warm spells lasting roughly 17 days longer than usual. Two degrees of warming would bring around 29 additional days of extreme heat, with warm spells enduring for 35 extra days.

Source: UN, globalcitizens.org

Yes, Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. Climate impacts are already harming health through air pollution and increased prevalence of respiratory diseases. Changing weather patterns are expanding diseases and increasing pressures on mental health. Every year, environmental factors take the lives of around 13 million people. Extreme weather events increase deaths and make it difficult for health care systems to keep up.

Source: UN.org

Yes, Climate change poses risks to the survival of species on land and in the ocean. These risks increase as temperatures climb. Exacerbated by climate change, the world is losing species at a rate 1,000 times greater than at any other time in recorded human history. One million species are at risk of becoming extinct within the next few decades. Forest fires, extreme weather, and invasive pests and diseases are among many threats related to climate change. Some species will be able to relocate and survive, but others will not.

Source: UN.org

Destructive storms have become more intense and more frequent in many regions. As temperatures rise, more moisture evaporates, which exacerbates extreme rainfall and flooding, causing more destructive storms. The frequency and extent of tropical storms is also affected by the warming ocean. Cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons feed on warm waters at the ocean surface. Such storms often destroy homes and communities, causing deaths and huge economic losses.

Under 1.5 degrees of warming, 17% of land will face extreme rainfall and average rainfall will increase by 2%. An increase of 2 degrees would expose 36% of land to extreme rainfall and cause average rainfall to rise 4%.  1.8B people around the world are directly exposed to a 1-in-a 100 year flood risk.

Source: Based on various Sources (Carbonbrief.org, EPA.gov)

Climate change is changing water availability, making it scarcer in more regions. Global warming exacerbates water shortages in already water-stressed regions and is leading to an increased risk of agricultural droughts affecting crops, and ecological droughts increasing the vulnerability of ecosystems.

Droughts can also stir destructive sand and dust storms that can move billions of tons of sand across continents. Deserts are expanding, reducing land for growing food. Many people now face the threat of not having enough water on a regular basis. The World Health Organization warns that drought is expected to displace 700 million people by 2030 alone.

Climate change is altering precipitation patterns, creating both unprecedented downpours and droughts — events with similarly destabilizing effects. Both drought and downpours can upend agriculture, displace people from their homes, and undermine local economies.

Source: Based on various Sources (UN.org, WHO.int)

The ocean soaks up most of the heat from global warming. The rate at which the ocean is warming strongly increased over the past two decades, across all depths of the ocean. As the ocean warms, its volume increases since water expands as it gets warmer.

Melting ice sheets also cause sea levels to rise, threatening coastal and island communities. As sea levels rise, coastal communities can expect more frequent and more severe flooding from high tides and storm surges. Over time, such flooding will damage roads, bridges, buildings, and other infrastructure and will lower property values. Health effects include increases in water-borne illness from contaminated drinking water supplies, complications of existing diseases, and increases in respiratory diseases due to mold from flooding.

In addition, the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, keeping it from the atmosphere. But more carbon dioxide makes the ocean more acidic, which endangers marine life and coral reefs. Acidification will decrease food supply to humans, increase prices and decrease storm protection from reefs.

Source: NOAA.gov

Yes, Changes in the climate and increases in extreme weather events are among the reasons behind a global rise in hunger and poor nutrition. Fisheries, crops, and livestock may be destroyed or become less productive. With the ocean becoming more acidic, marine resources that feed billions of people are at risk. Heat stress can diminish water and grasslands for grazing, causing declining crop yields and affecting livestock.

Extreme weather events will disrupt food availability, reduce agricultural productivity and strain the food supply chain. Spikes in food prices after extreme events are expected to be more frequent in the future.

Source: Based on various sources (UN.org, EPA.gov)

In general, global warming makes winters warmer and shorter, however there is more snowfall during winter storms due to climate change. That’s because a warmer planet is evaporating more water into the atmosphere. That added moisture means more precipitation in the form of heavy snowfall or downpours.

As average global temperatures rise and the Arctic continues to warm, the jet stream is both slowing down and growing increasingly wavy. In the winter months, this is allowing bone-chilling cold Arctic air to both spill much farther south than usual and linger over areas unaccustomed to it for longer. So, even as winters on average have been getting shorter and warmer, many places should still expect to see bouts of very cold weather from time and time.

Source: Based on various sources (climaterealityproject.org, Environmental Defense Fund)

Yes, 1.2 billion people could be displaced globally by 2050 due to climate change and natural disasters. Floods may sweep away urban slums, destroying homes and livelihoods. Extreme Heat will impact poor communities harder. Water scarcity may affect crops. Weather-related events are displacing millions of people each year, leaving many more vulnerable to poverty. Most refugees come from countries that are most vulnerable and least ready to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Source: Based on Various sources (UN.org, IEP)

Children worldwide worry about the future and feel let down by governments, a huge study on attitudes towards climate change has found. Climate change is causing distress, anger and other negative emotions in children and young people worldwide. The scale of the problem, inaction by governments and a general feeling of powerlessness by individuals to manage a complex planetary problem is creating widespread anxiety among younger generations.

Source: Understanding eco-anxiety, Nature Climate Change, Sep 2022; Nature.org - https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-02582-8

“Rising temperatures are likely to reduce global wealth significantly by 2050, as crop yields fall, disease spreads and rising seas consume coastal cities. The effects of climate change can be expected to shave 11 percent to 14 percent off global economic output by 2050 compared with growth levels without climate change. That amounts to as much as $23 trillion in reduced annual global economic output worldwide as a result of climate change. Wealthy Western nations, including US, Canada, Britain and France, could lose between 6 percent and 10 percent of their potential economic output, while poorer nations, which tend to be more exposed to warmer temperatures but have less ability to adapt their infrastructure and economies in response could lose upto one third of their GDP.”

Source: SwissRe

“Every country has its own risks. Worldwide, roughly 90 percent of the population will be exposed to one or more threats. From 2000 to 2019, floods upended the lives of at least 1.65 billion people — the highest number in any disaster category. In 2040, 41 percent of the global population will be exposed to the risk of inundations. Southern and southeastern Asia would be among the places hardest hit, with more than two billion people at risk.

In the past 20 years, hurricanes, typhoons and other storms were the deadliest weather-related disasters, killing nearly 200,000 people worldwide. That is only expected to get worse. Island nations in the Caribbean and East Asia are the most vulnerable, with many lying along historical storm paths.

Heatwaves, which caused 91 percent of extreme temperature deaths in the past two decades, will be especially pronounced in Africa, where almost one billion people face a high risk of heat stress. Northern parts of South America will be another densely populated area threatened by extreme heat. In Colombia and Venezuela, more than 90 percent of the population will be exposed. So will their crops.

Then there is climate inequality. Most people at greatest risk from climate change live in low- and mid-income regions. A 2019 study found that climate change has already deepened global economic inequality by around 25 percent. “

“In densely populated lower-income countries close to the equator, with weak economies, inadequate roads and power supplies and other infrastructure deficiencies, climate risks could lead to food shortages, mass migrations and other social challenges.

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other vast southeastern archipelago nations face high risk of floods, heat, lack of water and wildfires could diminish productivity, threaten crops and disrupt food supplies.

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has been suffering from climate change for years. Threats there include crop failures, contamination of water supplies and spread of diseases like malaria and cholera.”

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/01/28/opinion/climate-change-risks-by-country.html

New York Times, 01/28/2021

“Throughout the developing world, the effects of climate change are already creating greater instability in fragile and emerging countries and markets:

Fragility, Conflict, and Displacement: Climate change and environmental degradation are a catalyst for conflict and a key driver of fragility. Extreme weather has contributed to conflict and terrorism in fragile states. By 2050, more than 143 million people could be driven from their homes by conflict over food and water insecurity and climate-driven natural disasters according to the World Bank. And by 2070, almost 20% of the planet could be too hot to be habitable.

Food and Water Security: >75% of acute food insecurity is due to climate shocks and extremes, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, and more than half of the people in developing countries live in rural communities dependent on agriculture. Rising temperatures increase the costs of agricultural production and threaten biodiversity, with one million species in danger of extinction that affect crop growth, fisheries, and livestock.

Global Health: Warmer temperatures could expose as many as one billion people to deadly infectious diseases such as Zika, dengue, and chikungunya. A warmer climate could lead to an additional 250,000 people dying of diseases including malaria each year between 2030 and 2050, according to the World Health Organization.

Economic Development: The World Bank estimates that the effects of climate change could push an additional 100 million people below the poverty line by 2030. Major commercial ports in developing countries – including Rio de Janeiro, Mumbai, Guangzhou, and Dar es Salaam – face the threat of being submerged by rising sea levels, and by 2050 at least 300 million people will live in coastal areas threatened by dangerous flooding. Climate change has increased economic inequality between developed and developing nations by 25% since 1960 based on a Stanford university study.”

Source: US Global leadership coalition, usglc.org

Wealthy, industrialized nations have released most of the greenhouse gas pollution to date. Some countries and populations have benefited more than others from the industries and technologies that are causing climate change. And at the same time, the countries that have benefited the least are more likely to be suffering first and worst because of climate change.

Source: MIT Climate portal