How Climate Changes Affect Our World

The effects of climate change can be felt in everyday life, and now, it is more important than ever to reduce our carbon footprint. This crisis is ongoing, and every year, we hit new and unwanted record-high temperatures. But these are not the only areas in which our planet is impacted by climate change. It also shifts our ecosystem, wiping out animal species, altering the food chain and destroying natural habitats.

Action must be taken, and it doesn't just come from the top. While big industry-leading businesses and governments can create the largest changes and enforce safer practices to benefit the environment, we can also do our part to help the ecosystem. It really boils down to small differences and making changes that do not necessarily need to turn your everyday life around.

No, there are many ways to do your part and become part of an expanding conscious movement. But first, let's dive into the details and learn about all the nuances that this crisis can impact.

Impacts of Rising Temperatures

The global surface temperature of the world is a measurement that tracks the weighted average temperature across land and oceans. These measurements began back in 1850, which we now call the instrumental temperature record, and it is living proof that the world's temperatures have been steadily climbing.

This is most prominent in the 20th and 21st centuries. The global climate has risen to about 0.20° C per decade since 1982, more than three times faster than it had from 1850 when the global temperature rose by around 0.06° Celsius per decade.

This extra heat is driving the temperature extreme ranges up higher. This means hotter summers and warmer winters. It also melts the snow caps in the Arctic, making more water and intensifying the rainfall across the world.

Endangering Animal Species and Forcing Extinction

For indigenous species of animals and plants, the rising temperatures are devastating. It can change their ecosystem, making their natural homes inhabitable and forcing migrations. Or impact their access to water and vegetation, and as a result, a lot of species die out. It is not just something that affects land-based animals.

There have been many instances of dolphin or whale pods washing up on UK shores and dying. This is because they are forced out of their natural habitat as a result of the changes in water temperatures. The marine wildlife has been impacted greatly by climate change, and many species of freshwater and seawater fish, as well as whales, are drawing close to becoming endangered.

Effects of City Expansion

Urbanisation and the expansion of our cities happen as our population grows and the demand for homes and larger cities expands. But it causes terrible impacts on the environment. Deforestation, extraction of freshwater and altering the habitat decrease the biodiversity in the regions we build our cities on. It also creates huge volumes of waste and concentrated energy usage, not just in the cities themselves but in the way they are constructed.

As forests, wetlands, and grasslands make way for roads, buildings and agricultural developments, we are altering the ecosystem for the worse. It leaves native species with little area to survive and, in many cases, significantly diminishes their populations. Plus, the need for freshwater in cities often results in extraction from the surrounding natural environment. This can easily create barren wastelands, dry up rivers and lakes, and make whole regions uninhabitable.

This is not to say that we shouldn't expand cities and create homes for the expanding population. But there must be a conscious effort to create green spaces, use renewable energy sources, and create sustainable cities that will not harm the environment. Increased usage of wind and solar energy could help mitigate the impacts of urbanisation, as can creating more parks, planting trees, and planning urban developments in a way that reduces automobile traffic and commuting.

Losing Our Natural Environment and Habitat to Pollution

The beauties of nature are slowly fading as pollution from cities and the extraction of valuable resources dries them up. But the impacts are not limited to just sourcing water and changing the natural landscapes.

Light pollution, soil pollution and noise pollution are also affecting the natural environment around us. Pollution caused by our lights and emissions affects our health, as well as the wildlife's behavior. Through soil pollution, landscapes are losing their vegetation. Plant species are also getting contaminated, and some are dying out. Noise pollution similarly affects wildlife, increasing stress levels and creating behavioural issues in animals.

But all of these forms of pollution are not just affecting our ecosystem. They also have detrimental effects on us, affecting our general health and well-being.

Knock-On Effect on Our Ecosystem

As mentioned before, rising temperatures are changing the ways animals live, forcing migrations and endangering species that are dependent on specific habitational conditions. It also alters the seasons themselves, especially the timing of the seasons. When it feels like winter comes late and the summer temperatures last until September or even October, it is a direct result of the shifts in our ecosystem.

The rainfall frequency and balance are also changing, creating floods in some regions and droughts in others. The sea level is rising, and it can enhance weather and temperature extremes.

Habitat Loss and Altering Seasonal Cycles

And it all leads back to the natural habitat, which is diminishing all the time. Even without the expanse of cities or urbanisation of natural landscapes, the rising temperatures are still altering the conditions necessary for these habitats to thrive. We are losing forests, wetlands are disappearing, and deserts are slowly but surely expanding.

Coastlines are threatened by the rise of sea levels, and as the weather becomes more difficult to predict, it also impacts our agriculture. Without any proactive conservation efforts, we will only feel these impacts in greater measure.

How We Can Do Our Part

We are in this together, and the only way to make a real difference is as a united collective. Lawmakers and conservation groups advocate for sustainable practices such as using more renewable energy and enforcing environmental regulations and policies. But there are also things you can do in your everyday life that can help the global effort.

At the simplest and least intrusive level, you can reduce your waste and recycle as often as possible. Avoid using disposable items or products, reuse items when possible, and buy items with minimal packaging. Another way you can help is by using public transport or using a bicycle to get around instead of a car. Not everyone can do this, but every small conscious effort you make to cut down your carbon footprint can serve a greater purpose.

Using energy-saving household items is another way to contribute, and it also reduces your energy bills.

Conclusion

Our planet's future is really shaped by the decisions we make today. As we have mentioned, this doesn't just affect wildlife or nature but can also come back to hurt our own lives or the lives of our children. Spreading awareness and adopting sustainable practices are powerful tools that can be used to spread the effort and help protect our planet.

Slowing down the rising temperatures and helping to conserve the ecosystem will help reduce the trajectory of climate change and work towards making a more balanced and healthy world.