EEB 2244 Climate Change Summaryt

Mairead Dougherty Professor Turchin EEB 2244 November 15, 2016 Climate Summit Summary Recent studies have shown that the sudden changes in climate have caused impacts on both the natural and human systems of the world. One of the most apparent natural systems are the melting of glaciers and the rising of sea level as well as the diminishing ozone layer in the atmosphere leading to extreme heat and unhealthy UV rays. The change in climate also effects terrestrial, freshwater, and marine species in which they have begun to alter their interactions and traveling patterns. For example, over the past few years’ sharks have moved further North during the summer to places like Cape Cod because the water has become warmer. Crop production is also experiencing a struggle with the increase of heat. Drought, floods, waves, cyclones, wildfires and increased heat and precipitation have all had an impact on the production of crops as well as human interaction and health. There is an imbalance present on earth and this imbalance leads to natural disasters which in turn ruin ecosystems and disrupt a lot of the settlements and homes created by humans including taking the lives of people as well. Human interaction with the world has also created some negative impacts on climate change. Emissions and land-use have changed extreme weather events, the overall distribution of these impacts, the global aggregate impacts and most importantly, large-scale singular events. The increasing in global temperature leads to impacts on unique and threatened systems, substantial species extinction, large risks to global and regional food security and can even compromise daily human activities such as working in a field or fishing. There are various risks that correlate with climate change and people who tend to live in poorer parts of the world have less of an advantage and it shows. There is a major risk of death, injury, and mortality and morbidity levels with an increase in temperature and natural disasters. Extreme weather events lead to the breakdown of important structural networks such as health networks and electricity. Also with these natural disasters comes a wave of slow food production and insecurity which results in a decrease of income and the decrease of agricultural productivity. The constant acceleration of global warming and climate change can ultimately result in the complete destruction of our earth and can only be stopped if we limit the usage of fossil fuels that diminish the ozone layer and heat up the earth’s crust as well as the use of technology that gives off heat which also contributes to the warmth on the crust. If we limit the rate and magnitude of climate change, we can lessen the effect the risks of climate change will have on ecosystems, the community, the biodiversity and the overall global scale of life.