Climate Change Impacts

We often think about human-induced climate change as something that will happen in the future, but it is happening now. Ecosystems and people in the United States and around the world are affected by the ongoing process of climate change today.

A collage of events related to climate and weather: loss of glacial ice, wildfires, hurricanes, floods, and drought.

A complex issue

Climate change impacts our society in many different ways. Drought can harm food production and human health. Flooding can lead to spread of disease, death, and damage and . Human health issues that result from drought, flooding, and other weather conditions increase the death rate, change food availability, and limit how much a worker can get done, and ultimately the productivity of our economy.

Hope for the future

There is still time to lessen the impacts and severity of climate change. We already know many of the problems and solutions, and researchers continue to find new ones. Experts believe we can avoid the worst outcomes by reducing emissions to zero as quickly as possible, which will limit warming. To meet this goal, we will have to invest in new technology and infrastructure, which will spur job growth. For example, we will need to continue improving technology and facilities that capture and process renewable energy. Lowering emissions will also benefit human health, saving countless lives and billions of dollars in expenses related to health.

Diving deeper into climate change impacts

In the following sections, we will look at some of the effects climate change has on our resources and society.

Water

The effects of climate change on our water resources can have a big impact on our world and our lives. Patterns of where, when, and how much precipitation falls are changing as temperatures rise. Some areas are experiencing heavier rain events while others are having more droughts.

Flooding is an increasing issue as our climate is changing. Compared to the beginning of the 20th century, precipitation events are stronger, heavier, and more frequent across most of the United States.

Drought is also becoming more common, especially in the Western United States. We are using more water during hot weather, especially for agriculture. Much like we sweat more when it is hot out, hot weather causes plants to lose, or , more water. Then, farmers must give their crops more water.

Snowpack is an important source of fresh water for many people. As the snow melts, fresh water becomes available for use. Snowmelt is particularly important in regions like the Western United States where there is not much precipitation in warmer months. But as temperatures warm, there is less snow and snow begins to melt earlier in the year. This means that snowpack is less likely to be a reliable source of water.

Food

Our food supply depends on climate and weather conditions. Higher temperatures, drought and water stress, diseases, and weather extremes create challenges for farmers and ranchers. Farmers, ranchers, and researchers can address some of these challenges by adapting their methods or creating and using new technology. But, some changes will be difficult to manage, like human and livestock health. Farmworkers can suffer from heat-related health issues, like exhaustion, , and heart attacks. Heat can also harm livestock.

Human health

Climate change is already impacting human health. Changes in weather and climate patterns put lives at risk in many ways:

Heat is one of the most deadly weather conditions.

As ocean temperatures rise, hurricanes are getting stronger and wetter, which can cause death during the hurricane itself and in the aftermath.

Dry conditions lead to more wildfires, which bring many health risks.

More flooding leads to the spread of waterborne diseases, injuries, death, and chemical hazards.

As geographic ranges of mosquitoes, ticks, and other pests expand, they carry diseases to new locations.

The environment

Climate change affects all living things, or organisms, and the environment they live in, but not equally. The Arctic is one of the ecosystems most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. It is warming at least twice as fast as the global average. Warming in the Arctic has impacts that are felt across the globe — melting land ice sheets and glaciers contribute dramatically to sea level rise. Sea levels are also rising due to thermal expansion. Higher sea level puts coastal areas at greater risk of erosion and storm surge.

Effects of climate change can build upon one another to damage ecosystems. Sea level rise can cause sediment to smother corals. But, coral reefs are also vulnerable to many other effects of climate change: warming waters can lead to coral bleaching and stronger hurricanes can destroy reefs. Coral reef ecosystems are home to thousands of species, which rely on healthy coral reefs to survive.
Some organisms are able to adapt to and even benefit from climate change.

Some plants have longer growing seasons or are blooming earlier. But, these changes can happen too fast for other plants and animals to keep up. For example, an earlier blooming plant may depend on a pollinator that does not adapt as quickly.

There are also species that have adapted by expanding or shifting their geographic range, meaning they live in new places that used to be too cold or unsuitable in other ways. As a species expands or shifts its range, it may harm other species that already live in the new area. Existing invasive or nuisance species, like lionfish and ticks, may also thrive in even more places because of climate change.

Ocean ecosystems face an additional challenge: ocean acidification. The ocean absorbs about 30% of the carbon dioxide we release into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. As a result, the water is becoming more acidic, which affects marine life.

Infrastructure

Physical infrastructure includes bridges, roads, ports, electrical grids, broadband internet, and other parts of our transportation and communication systems. People often design it to be in use for many years. Because of this, most communities have infrastructure that was designed without climate change in mind.

Existing infrastructure may not be able to withstand extreme weather events that bring heavy rains, floods, wind, snow, or temperature changes. Impacts that result from these events occur in many different ways. For example, increased temperatures require more indoor cooling, which can put stress on an energy grid. Sudden heavy rainfall that exceeds storm water drainage capacity can lead to flooding that shuts down highways, major transportation routes, and businesses.

Coastal infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, water supplies, and much more, is at risk from sea level rise. Nearly 40% of the United States population lives in coastal counties, meaning millions of people will be impacted by related risks. Sea level rise can also lead to coastal erosion and high-tide flooding. Researchers project that some communities could end up at or below sea level by the year 2100. They will face decisions about how to respond. Most likely, communities will both adapt their infrastructure and strategically move away from the shoreline, a process called managed retreat.

Many communities are not prepared to face threats related to climate change. Researchers are studying current and future impacts of climate change on communities and can recommend best practices. Going forward, it is important for communities to invest in resilient infrastructure that can withstand future climate risks. Resilience education is important for every role of our society, including city planners, emergency managers, educators, and . Everyone can learn how to prepare for climate change through resilience education.