Climate Change And The Environment

Climate change affects the environment in various and diverse ways. Natural elements such as rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind and moisture are controlled by climate.

The environment can mean the sphere in which life exists. Dry land (lithosphere), the ocean (hydrosphere) and the atmosphere, the interaction and combination of which forms the biosphere in which life thrives.

Climate refers to the average weather conditions of a particular place that have been observed for a minimum of thirty years.

Weather on the other hand refers to more short term changes. For example, it can be cold in the morning and warm in the afternoon. That’s weather changes. When aggregated for many years, these expected and predictable weather outcomes is what is known as climate.

Climate change in the sense in which it’s normally used refers to the distinct change and alterations of the entire global climate system, meaning that every place in the planet has experienced disruptions of normal climate patterns.

These disruptions are caused by greenhouse gases; of which they are primarily seven categories that are regulated. These trap heat escaping from the Earth and retain it in the atmosphere, thus warming up the air, land and the ocean.

Now, greenhouse gases naturally occur in the atmosphere, and trap infrared heat being reflected back to space by the Earth. This heat is what enables the existence of life on the planet, because without it Earth would be frozen cold all over.

A breathtaking view. Picture via iwaria

But in recent times, the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have increased greatly further causing a spike in average temperatures everywhere.

Ghgs have been artificially increased in the atmosphere by human activities with burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) accounting for the biggest percentage followed by deforestation, agriculture and land use.

Water vapor and black carbon also act in a similar manner to ghgs but these are removed in a matter of weeks or days by natural occurrences such as rain or settling down.

Human caused climate change also shows up in other ways such as sea level rise, droughts, high temperatures, increased rain and flooding, stronger and intense storms, permafrost thaw, loss of sea ice and glacier retreat, and wildfires and heat waves.

All these impacts affect natural elements which in turn impact ecosystems.

Ecosystems in simple terms are ecological systems. Plants, animals, microbes and all categories of natural life in the specific places they exist, together with the physical elements make up an ecosystem.

Different types of animals and plants require specific physical conditions to thrive. For example, polar bears live in the cold Arctic and Antarctica while elephants are found within the tropics. Neither can survive in the other’s environment.

So we see these physical conditions are being altered by anthropogenic climate change and thus affecting the survival of these species.

Also, the availability of water and moisture levels in the soil and air is altered by climate change, sometimes it’s too much i.e. heavy rains and flooding, sometimes it’s too little i.e. heatwaves and droughts.

Water itself is life. Everything that is alive depends on water for survival. Human communities and all nature needs water, but climate change now affecting water availability and increasingly causing scarcity on a global scale.

Another way climate change affects the environment is when seasons are out of place. That is, too much or too little of something and often at the wrong times.

For example, the dry season can set in earlier and last longer or come even at the wrong time. Spring sets in earlier and by the time summer dawns, the snow is already melted and there’s not enough freshwater yet demand is high.

Summer is also becoming hotter, with the hottest years in recorded history being within the last decade.

Oceans, which are incredibly bio-diverse face some of the severe effects of climate change. A great number of species are still undiscovered, especially those in the deep sea and on the sea floor.

Oceans absorb both heat and gases from the atmosphere and so regulate climate. But with climate change, they increasingly absorb more of these causing the ocean to warm up and become acidic.

Species such as reef building corals which in turn house thousands of other species are in direct danger, because heat causes them to die and acidic water interferes with the formation of skeletons and their life processes.

Fish species are forced to either migrate or die. Fish usually need sheltered and cooler waters to breed and hatch but with warming waters, their lifecycles, numbers and variety is affected.

Fish also need oxygen of which warmer waters dissolve lesser oxygen and so many face death. Not only so, they depend on plankton for food and this is also threatened.

Mangroves are another sensitive ecosystem which is of particular importance to coastal communities and the world at large. Mangroves sequester four times the amount of carbon taken in by terrestrial forests. They also house unique and threatened species. Sea level rise changes the balance in the water needed for mangroves to thrive, and the encroaching ocean can swallow them up.

Tropical forests face climate threats from high temperatures and lack of enough water affecting tree growth. Wildfires threaten the very survival of forests and invasive species, spurred on by warmer and hotter weather are a problem for these forests.

Of course forests face other threats from human beings such as deforestation and fragmentation. This happens because of infrastructure development, agriculture, urbanization and human settlements because of population pressures.

Invasive species are those not originally or naturally found in a specific ecosystem but because of climate change, the regions within which they exist are expanding and moving into new territory.

This is also a problem for human health and domestic animals because vectors carrying diseases are taking over new areas.

Mountain ecosystems are facing uncertain times as the zero degree line migrates higher and pole wards. Very unique flora and fauna which survive only in very cold areas will either disappear or continue moving upwards till there’s nothing left.

Mountains are also very often the source of rivers which provide freshwater for millions downstream. With thawing ice caps becoming more common as temperatures rise, water supply is now threatened, which will then put more stress on existing surface and ground water.

Water fluctuations affects all economic and domestic sectors, with energy and household supply being the first.

Vegetation belts are shifting and with them dependent wildlife and this might sometimes cause clashes with people in settled areas, as animals follow the grass and water sources wherever they might be found.

Another thing is agriculture. Agriculture feeds everyone on the planet, which is billions of people. But this important economic sector which ensures food security is controlled to a large extent by climate phenomena such as rainfall and temperature.

Important crops such as rice and maize are controlled by climatic zones and cash crops like coffee and tea facing the same as well.

Climate change influences environmental phenomena which affects human health. Diseases can be spread through water, food, air and vectors.

Waterborne diseases occur in times of flooding or scarcity, illnesses such as cholera or typhoid. Foodborne diseases include food poisoning and aflatoxins, and malnutrition from nutritional deficiencies. Vectors such as mosquitoes can bring a variety of illnesses.

Airborne conditions include respiratory problems from dust and pollen. Heatwaves also cause such problems and further cause fatigue and heat strokes especially in the elderly and vulnerable groups such as those with sensitive conditions.

Short lived climate pollutants are substances that affect both climate and air quality. Such include methane and black carbon for example. Black carbon found in smoke and soot is particulate matter formed from incomplete burning of fossil fuels or even wood fuel.

It is a climate forcer (causes climate to change in a particular way) and also lowers air quality.

Notably, climate action also improves air quality. In an effort to stop use of fossil fuels, a lot of other pollutants released from these fuels are avoided. Such include sulphur dioxide and lead, which harm people.

Climate effects can be severe enough to cause unpreventable loss and damage. This includes loss of property and lives from wildfires, flooding and droughts. Human health can be damaged by excess heat. Islands and coasts face the threat of submersion from rising seas. Infrastructure can be destroyed from hurricanes or harvests lost to drought. Homes can be lost to fires.

Loss and damage happens at the endpoint of adaptation.

Now, it’s not all gloom and doom. When carried out well, adaptation offers more than a glimmer of hope.  It is possible to make the best of what is happening, by trying to plan for a warmer climate. However, in order to work, it needs widespread consultation and inclusive cooperation from literally everyone, especially those who are directly affected.

In climate action, no one can afford to be a spectator, we all have a role to play.

And for adaptation to work efficiently, it has to be paired with mitigation. Mitigation refers to cutting of emissions. Because the more it warms the more difficult it will be to adapt, especially for the natural world and already vulnerable human societies.

Climate change affects the environment in various and diverse ways, yet economic prosperity and general wellbeing depends on ecological stability.

However, this is a challenge that we are up to as the human race.