Understanding Climate Change: Impacts and Challenges

Climate change encompasses global warming, but refers to the broader range of changes impacting our planet. These include rising sea levels, shrinking mountain glaciers, and accelerated ice melt in Greenland, Antarctica, and the Arctic.

Carbon dioxide levels today are higher than at any point in at least the past 800,000 years. In 2021, atmospheric CO2 concentrations reached 416 parts per million, primarily due to fossil fuel emissions and deforestation.

The ocean absorbs about 30% of emitted carbon dioxide, leading to acidification. Since the Industrial Revolution, oceanic pH has fallen by 0.1 pH units, a 30% increase in acidity, impacting marine life and ecosystems.

Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets have decreased significantly in mass. Data from NASA's Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment show Greenland lost an average of 279 billion tons of ice per year between 1993 and 2019, while Antarctica lost about 148 billion tons annually.

Climate change alters habitats and availability of water and food, forcing species to migrate. For instance, some fish species are moving toward the poles at an average rate of 40 miles per decade, disrupting local ecosystems.

Global warming exacerbates the intensity and frequency of extreme weather events. Heatwaves are more severe, hurricanes are becoming stronger, and rainfall patterns are changing, leading to more severe floods and droughts worldwide.

The economic impact of climate change is staggering, potentially costing the global economy $7.9 trillion by 2050 due to loss of productivity, health issues, and damage to infrastructure from extreme weather events.