What is Climate Change?
Climate change is the term used to designate the long-term changes in temperature, rainfall, wind patterns, and
other climate indicators that take place over a period of several decades or longer. It is mostly brought about
by human activities including agriculture, deforestation, and the combustion of fossil fuels. Increased
temperatures, rising sea levels, freak storms and changes to ecosystems are just a few of the effects of climate
change.
Our Objective
The objective of this site is to build an easily accessible database of the most impactful risks that climate
change will affect on cities globally.
We have focused on the 10 biggest impacts of climate change which you can read about below.
Our database was built by consolidating climate change data and research data across cities globally.
Simply navigate to your country and city to view the local impacts of climate change.
What are the Top 10 Impacts of Climate Change?
There are many different types of effects caused by climate change, including physical effects on the
environment as well as social and economic effects on local economies and companies.
Ten of the most significant impacts of climate change are as follows:
1. Rising Global Temperatures
Increased heat waves, droughts, coastal flooding, and ecological changes brought on by rising temperatures may
result in a loss of biodiversity and the extinction of several species. The health of people, agriculture, water
supplies, infrastructure, and natural ecosystems could all be adversely affected by these changes.
Additionally, it can worsen poverty and food insecurity in disadvantaged areas and cause the extinction of
numerous species.
Additionally, it can alter precipitation patterns, affecting water availability and intensifying storms, as
well as speed up permafrost thawing, which releases a lot of methane into the atmosphere, a powerful greenhouse
gas.
Read the full article on the
causes
and impacts of global temperatures.
2. Increase in Wildfires
Globally, rising wildfires may have a variety of detrimental effects on people's health, ecosystems, and
economies. They have the ability to spew massive volumes of smoke and other airborne particles into the
atmosphere, which can lead to respiratory disorders and other health problems.
They may also result in the destruction of infrastructure, companies, and houses. Additionally, they may
result in alterations to the carbon cycle, biodiversity loss, and harm to soil and water resources. Due to the
decline of the tourist, leisure, and other businesses, they may also result in financial losses.
Wildfires are on the rise as a result of climate change, which warms the world and makes forests and other
wildlands drier and more flammable.
Read the full article on the
causes and
impacts of increased wildfires.
3. Increase in Rainfalls
Increasing rainfall can have a variety of effects on ecosystems and human societies around the world. It may
result in landslides, flooding, and other natural disasters that cause property damage, human casualties, and
damage to infrastructure. Agriculture, fisheries, and other businesses may be impacted by changes in water
availability.
It can also alter ecosystems, which can alter biodiversity and result in the extinction of several species.
Increased rainfall can also lead to water contamination, soil erosion, and the emergence of alien species.
Changes in precipitation patterns might also result in altered water availability and stronger storms. In
some locations, the rise in rainfall and its variability is largely due to climate change.
Read the full article on the
causes
and impacts of increased rainfall.
4. Increase in River Flooding
Global human civilizations and ecosystems may be negatively impacted by increased river floods in a variety of
ways. It can result in destruction of infrastructure, houses, and commercial buildings as well as fatalities.
Agriculture, fisheries, and other businesses may be impacted by changes in water availability.
It can also alter ecosystems, which can alter biodiversity and result in the extinction of several species.
Additional effects of increased river floods include land erosion, water pollution, and the emergence of
invasive species.
Changes in precipitation patterns might also result in altered water availability and stronger storms. By
warming the earth, increasing the amount of heavy rain and snowfall, and raising the sea level, climate change
significantly contributes to the rise in river flooding.
Read the full article on the
causes
and impacts of increased river flooding.
5. Rising Sea Levels
Global human communities and ecosystems may experience a variety of detrimental effects as a result of rising
sea levels brought on by climate change. It can result in coastal flooding, erosive processes, and saltwater
intrusion, all of which can harm buildings, commercial establishments, and infrastructure, as well as take
lives.
It can also alter ecosystems, which can alter biodiversity and result in the extinction of several species.
Additionally, saltwater intrusion into freshwater resources, changes in water quality and availability, and the
disappearance of wetlands, beaches, and coral reefs are all effects of rising sea levels.
Additionally, it can make storm surge and tsunamis more likely, increasing the severity of coastal losses.
These effects are anticipated to worsen and spread over a longer period of time if sea levels continue to rise.
Read the full article on the
causes
and impacts of rising sea levels.
6. Increase in Freak Storms
Global human societies and ecosystems may have a variety of negative effects as a result of an increase in the
frequency and severity of extreme weather occurrences like freak storms. It can result in destruction of
infrastructure, houses, and commercial buildings as well as fatalities.
In addition to causing landslides, flash floods, and erosion, these storms can interfere with communication
and transportation infrastructure. In addition, they might harm infrastructure in other ways, such causing power
outages.
Extreme weather occurrences, such as freak storms, are becoming more frequent and more intense as a result
of climate change.
Read the full article on the
causes
and impacts of increased freak storms.
7. Water Scarcity
Water shortage, which is a result of issues including population expansion, urbanization, climate change, and
poor management, can have a variety of detrimental effects on ecosystems and human communities around the world.
It may cause economic losses in the agricultural, industrial, and other sectors, as well as a rise in energy
and food poverty. Due to the lack of water resources, it can also result in health problems and population
displacement.
It can also alter ecosystems, which can alter biodiversity and result in the extinction of several species.
Additionally, water shortage can make it more difficult for people to acquire clean water for drinking and
sanitation and exacerbate conflicts over water supplies.
Changes in precipitation patterns might also result in altered water availability and stronger storms. Due
to altered precipitation patterns and increased evaporation, climate change has a substantial impact on the
growth in water scarcity.
Read the full article on the
causes
and impacts of water scarcity.
8. Impacts on Wildlife
The habitat, food supply, and reproductive capabilities of wildlife can all be negatively impacted by climate
change on a worldwide scale. The distribution and number of species may be impacted by changes in sea level,
precipitation patterns, and temperature.
Some species would struggle to adjust to these changes, which could cause population decreases or
extinction. Additionally, it can alter the timing of seasonal occurrences like migration and reproduction,
making it more difficult for animals to locate food and mates.
In addition to making it more difficult for animals to thrive in a changing habitat, climate change can also
raise the danger of disease and predation. Additionally, it can alter ecosystems, which can alter biodiversity
and result in the extinction of several species.
One of the main dangers to biodiversity and the preservation of species is climate change.
Read the full article on the
climate change
impacts on wildlife
9. Impacts on Human Health
Changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and air and water quality are just a few of the detrimental
effects that climate change can have on people's health. Increased heat stress, respiratory issues, and
vector-borne illnesses like malaria and dengue fever can all result from it.
Additionally, it can worsen mental health due to displacement, loss of property and livelihoods, and an
increase in the likelihood of contracting food- and water-borne diseases. Asthma and heart disease are two
conditions that climate change can make worse.
Additionally, because climate change affects crop output and food security, it might result in hunger.
Natural catastrophes like floods, storms, and wildfires, which can have both direct and indirect health effects,
may become more likely as a result of climate change.
Read the full article on the
climate
change impacts on human health
10. Impacts on the Economy
Changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and sea level all contribute to climate change, which can
have a variety of detrimental effects on the economy. In addition to increasing expenditures for infrastructure
and property damage, it may result in economic losses in the agricultural, forestry, fishery, and other
industries.
In addition, it can alter the supply chains of numerous businesses and raise the cost of insurance, energy,
and health care. Reduced economic growth and job losses are further effects of climate change, particularly in
areas and industries that are already weak. It can also make poverty and inequality worse, as well as raise the
danger of financial instability and economic downturns.
In the transition to a low-carbon economy as well as in the development of new technologies and services,
climate change can potentially open up new business opportunities. It is anticipated that the cost of doing
nothing about climate change will be significantly higher than the cost of acting now.
Read the full article on the
climate change
impacts on the economy.