The world is changing all around us, so isn’t it time you learned just what’s going on out there? Take a look at these shocking facts about climate change and you’ll never think about it the same way again.
1. Global warming and climate change add up to the same problems.
Global warming is included under climate change which also encompasses all the broader changes we’re seeing.
2. Climate change is affecting plant life.
Shifts in the times flowers bloom are being seen at an increasing rate around the world.
3. Climate change is largely our fault.
Scientists believe human activity is the main cause of climate change. Climate change is being accelerated by continued burning of fossil fuels, for example.
4. The greenhouse effect is a major contributor.
The greenhouse effect is the way in which the atmosphere traps heat in due to the presence of gases that have resulted due to human activity.
5. Natural ice could be ‘extinct’ within a century.
It’s predicted that most of the ice in the world will be gone by as early as 2100.
6. The world’s never been warmer.
Current warming is thought to be 10 times faster than post-ice age warming.
7. Climate change is costing us HUGE amounts of money.
2060 is expected to be the year in which the cost of climate change reaches a staggering $44 trillion. 14 extreme climate events costing more than $1 billion each occurred in 2018 alone.
8. CO2 has never been higher.
CO2 concentration is at its highest level for 3 million years.
9. Diseases are aggravated by climate change.
Malaria, diarrhoea and exhaustion are expected to cause an extra 250,000 preventable deaths between 2030 and 2050 as a result of climate change.
10. Water is getting scarce.
By 2040 25% of the world’s population will have limited or infrequent access to water sources.
11. Built-up countries are to blame.
Industrialised countries produce 80% of global carbon emissions with the whole of Africa accounting for just 4%.
12. The ocean is rising.
Sea levels are set to rise by a shocking 23 inches by the year 2100! These rising sea levels will affect people living in low lying countries such as The Maldives, Tuvalu, Bangladesh and theoretically the Netherlands – threatening 200 million people!
13. The Earth is seriously hotting up.
The last two decades of the previous century were the hottest for more than 400 years. The average temperature in Russia is increasing at twice the global average rate, too.
14. Montana is melting.
125 of the 150 glaciers in the Montana National Park have melted away to nothing since 1910.
15. Seriously – watch the oceans.
The 7 inch rise in sea levels in the last century was more than the previous 2,000 years combined!
16. We’re due a new ice age.
If ocean currents continue to be distorted and disrupted this could cause a mini ice age right across Europe.
FAQs About Climate Change
Can we fix climate change?
Unfortunately, it is widely believed that we cannot stop climate change – however, it is possible for us to slow it down. To do this, nations must commit to reducing carbon emissions over the next few years. It’s why so many countries and companies commit to what’s referred to as “Net Zero” – which effectively means removing carbon emissions, period.
What are the main effects of climate change?
Climate change effectively heats up the temperature of the Earth’s surface, increases the risk of both storms and drought in disparate areas across the globe, and can even lead to reduced crops and potential famine. Climate change will also lead to the destruction of multiple habitats, thus putting many threatened species at risk.
How bad is climate change right now?
At the time of going to publication, it’s highly likely we’ll continue to see warmest years ever recorded. Experts for the NCEI predicted that 2024 would be the single warmest year since records began.
Do you know any interesting facts about climate change? Share them in the comments below!
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