Impacts of Climate Change (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Health

• Increased temperatures and lack of precipitation may lead to the spread of diseases:
  • Italy has experienced cases of malaria since 2017 when it was previously a malaria-free area
  • An additional 280 million people may be affected by malaria
  • Water-borne diseases are more likely to spread
• Heat waves may become more frequent
• Heatstroke, dehydration and sunburn increase during heat waves
• Stagnant air during heat waves increases air pollution levels:
  • Respiratory diseases increase and those suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma may be more affected 
• Increased temperatures negatively affect people with cardiopulmonary diseases
• Diets may be restricted by food shortages leading to malnutrition and famine

Employment

• Loss of job opportunities due to changes in tourism and agriculture

Homes 

• Increased flooding due to sea level rise and increased frequency and severity of storms will lead to displacement of large numbers of people

Agriculture

• Farmers may need to change the crop they grow if climate conditions become unsuitable
• Coastal flooding may lead to salt intrusion
• Reduced availability of water will mean that irrigation is limited or impossible
• Food shortages will lead to malnutrition and famine

Employment

• Job opportunities may change or decrease because:
  • Tourism may decline in some areas for example ski resorts may close due to the lack of reliable snow
  • Coastal resorts may be at risk of flooding leading to the closure
  • Farmers may have to change the crop they grow or livestock they raise or leave farming
  • In some areas agriculture may decline due to rising temperatures or changing rainfall patterns

Settlements

• Settlements in low-lying areas may have to be abandoned or need additional defences against sea level rise:
  • Moving settlements or improving flood defences will be costly

Sea Level Rise

• Warmer temperatures cause the water in seas and oceans to expand, increasing the sea level
• Melting ice is adding to the increasing volume of water:
  • Average sea levels have risen 23cm since 1880
  • Sea levels are forecast to increase a further 30cm by 2050
• Low-lying coastal areas and islands are at higher risk of flooding:
  • The Maldives may be uninhabitable by 2050 
• Beach erosion will increase leading to greater coastal erosion 
• Coastal ecosystems including coral reefs and mangrove swamps will be affected
• Saltwater is contaminating freshwater supplies and affecting coastal agriculture

Natural Hazards

• Changes in climate patterns are likely to increase the frequency and severity of storms:
  • The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was the first most active season on record and 2021 was the third most active
• The frequency and length of droughts are increasing
• Dry conditions lead to the increased risk of wildfires:
  • In 2021 Australia, Greece, South Africa, Brazil and USA were just some of the places to experience severe wildfires
  • In September 2021 the USA National Fire Centre reported 44.647 wildfires which had burned 5.6 million acres
• Rising sea levels together with increased storms lead to increased flooding risk

Ecosystem Change

• The location of biomes may shift to the north (Northern Hemisphere) and south (Southern Hemisphere) as they rely on specific climate conditions:
  • Polar and tundra biomes are at risk of becoming extinct as they cannot shift any further north/south
• Increasing sea temperatures and ocean acidification have resulted in coral bleaching
• Migration and behaviour patterns of animals affected by changing temperatures:
  • Fish species are moving north and south of their usual habitats to seek cooler water
  • Reduced hibernation due to warmer winters
• Mangrove swamps and coral reefs are threatened by rising sea levels