Global Context Issues
20 Global Context Issues relating to the Climate
Here are 20 global context issues relating to climate change, with hyperlink references to support each issue area:
1. Rising sea levels: Climate change is causing sea levels to rise, threatening coastal communities and infrastructure. https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level
2. Extreme weather events: Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts. https://www.c2es.org/content/extreme-weather-and-climate-change/
3. Food security: Climate change is affecting crop yields and food production, potentially leading to food shortages and price increases. https://www.ipcc.ch/srccl/chapter/chapter-5/
4. Water scarcity: Climate change is altering precipitation patterns and causing water scarcity in many regions. https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/climate-change/
5. Biodiversity loss: Climate change is contributing to the loss of biodiversity and the extinction of species. https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/biodiversity-and-climate-change
6. Human health: Climate change is affecting human health through heat waves, air pollution, and the spread of infectious diseases. https://www.who.int/health-topics/climate-change
7. Economic impacts: Climate change is expected to have significant economic impacts, including costs associated with adaptation and mitigation measures. https://www.nber.org/papers/w26167
8. Climate refugees: Climate change is displacing people from their homes, creating climate refugees. https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/climate-change-and-disasters.html
9. Arctic ice melt: Climate change is causing the Arctic ice to melt, which has far-reaching consequences for the global climate system. https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/arctic-meteorology/climate_change.html
10. Ocean acidification: Climate change is making the oceans more acidic, which is harmful to marine life. https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/ocean-coasts/ocean-acidification
11. Permafrost thaw: Climate change is causing permafrost to thaw, releasing greenhouse gases and altering landscapes. https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/permafrost-thaw
12. Wildfires: Climate change is increasing the risk and severity of wildfires. https://www.c2es.org/content/wildfires-and-climate-change/
13. Coral reef bleaching: Climate change is causing coral reefs to bleach and die. https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_bleach.html
14. Glacier retreat: Climate change is causing glaciers to retreat, which can affect water supplies and contribute to sea level rise. https://www.usgs.gov/centers/norock/science/retreat-glaciers-glacier-national-park
15. Desertification: Climate change is contributing to desertification, the degradation of land in arid and semi-arid areas. https://www.unccd.int/issues/desertification-land-degradation-and-drought-dldd
16. Impacts on indigenous communities: Climate change is disproportionately affecting indigenous communities, who often rely on natural resources for their livelihoods. https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/climate-change.html
17. Spread of invasive species: Climate change is enabling the spread of invasive species, which can disrupt ecosystems. https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/invasive-alien-species-and-climate-change
18. Impacts on tourism: Climate change is affecting tourism, particularly in coastal and mountain areas. https://www.unwto.org/sustainable-development/climate-change
19. Geopolitical tensions: Climate change is exacerbating geopolitical tensions, as countries compete for resources and grapple with the impacts of climate change. https://www.cfr.org/report/climate-change-and-national-security
20. Tipping points: Climate change may lead to tipping points, where the climate system undergoes irreversible changes. https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-nine-tipping-points-that-could-be-triggered-by-climate-change