The five exciting challenges of Life caused by Climate Change
Miguel Mansilla| Unsplash| Melting Ice
“Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth … these are the same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security, and women’s empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all.” Ban Ki-moon.
Climate Change
Many effects of climate change are apparent, but many results aren’t noticeable because they’re secondary effects. For example, one of the hidden effects that we aren’t talking about is climate change’s effect on individual nations. Some will fall, and governments will absorb some into others. A government won’t continue to exist unless it provides for its people’s needs. There are many nation-states on the African continent that are already having difficulty providing food and potable water. The availability of potable water will only worsen as the temperatures across the globe continue to rise.
The readily apparent effects of climate change include the ability to provide:
1. Potable water,
2. food to feed the populace,
3. Living conditions to offset the significant rise in ambient temperature,
4. migrations, and
5. immigration.
Potable Water
Hoover dam and lake mead| Unsplash .com
Providing safe drinking water is already a problem that we haven’t solved in many countries. Our two water sources are surface water (rain and snowfall) and underground aquifers or pools of water. In the US, when we don’t get enough surface water, underground aquifers are used to make up the differences. As you can see from the picture above, the dams we have built to save water for the drought are going dry. Hoover dam is at its lowest level since Hoover Dam first filled it in 1930.
Because of climate change, rainfall and snowfall patterns are changing, and without a return to old habits, the aquifers will dry up. As a nation and a world, we must find new solutions to these problems. In the US, we see more rainfall and severe weather in the north and east and a long-continued drought in the west and southwest.
Food Production
Food production uses water supplies (between 2–3% of our total use.) So, we must be aware of the effect of ongoing water shortages on our ability to produce enough food. Much of our current vegetable supply comes from Arizona and California, both areas where persistent droughts continue and long-term water supplies are in doubt. Although these areas mostly grow vegetables, I don’t like them. Maybe a blessing in disguise for some of us.
The rise in Ambient Temperatures
Similarly, as the temperatures continue to rise, they are currently predicted to rise 2.7 °C (approximately five °F) by 2050. Rising temperatures mean summers will be hotter for a more extended period, and winters will be warmer. I lived in Phoenix when the temperature reached 120 °F, and the airport had to be closed until it cooled off. Unfortunately, the flight manuals didn’t contain lift charts for that temperature level. One summer, we had over 100 days in a row of temperatures of 110 °F. Now those numbers can be expected to rise by five °F by 2050.
The warming temperature will cause the best places to farm and ranch to move, and we will see a displacement of food production and migration of our populace.
Living Conditions
Different parts of the US will be more livable than they’re now. Places that we now consider the most livable may become less habitable. So, it is safe to say that Phoenix, the 8th fastest growing city, will become less liveable. And Fairbanks, Alaska, the coldest city, is going to become slightly more liveable.
But, in any event, as the place we live becomes hotter, the demand for electricity and cooling systems will increase. Using more electricity for cooling will only cause a higher rise in our temperatures unless we take steps now.
We need to change building codes to require net-zero energy building materials, and we need to follow California’s lead and require all new construction to include solar panel installation.
Migrations and Immigrations
People that can migrate will migrate within our country and around the world as conditions change. For example, if fire or floods destroy your house, why should you rebuild it? Why should our government and insurance agencies allow a person to rebuild in the same place? The loss of a home is an ideal opportunity to build a replacement building so it will be able to sustain future disasters and be a net-zero energy home. Insurance companies need to change their policies.
California law now requires all new buildings to include solar panels, and other states should follow suit. In addition, building codes for new construction need to be changed to include structural materials and levels of Insulation that reflect the future temperature and severe weather patterns that we will experience.
Our immigration laws are inhumane and archaic. They need to be revised to consider the coming changing conditions worldwide. It shows a lack of concern for others to completely close our borders and ship people back to where they came from without a good reason.
Climate Change is changing the world.
And the final realization that we must come to is that the change is accelerating, and we can no longer hide our heads in the sand. The days of being an ostrich are over. We must accept and prepare to live in the new world: A world-changing because of Covid and climate change. The train is leaving the station. Get on board and help build the future world.
“We can’t take climate change and put it on the back burner. If we don’t address climate change, we won’t be around as humans.” Conrad Anker.
