Within the next decade, you may experience or witness the ramifications of extreme weather events, mass food shortages, economic and political unrest, flora and fauna extinction, as well as problems with access to water and health services.
The impacts of global warming are incredibly varied and dependent on location. However we do know that the impacts will be very unequally distributed, with the poorest nations and people to be the worst affected.
It’s important to be aware of the conditions in your region, and what is predicted over the next decade and beyond. Low lying coastal nations including Bangladesh will be the first to be forced to move elsewhere, and many areas of Africa will experience food shortages and severe crop losses.
Initially, Australians will experience:
- More frequent weather events such as heat waves, droughts and flooding
- Health and healthcare will also be impacted by rising heat and crop losses
- Reduced rainfall may affect urban water supplies
- Coastal flooding and bush fires may also damage homes and critical infrastructure, as well as causing economic problems for the country
- Food supply will be affected by changes in temperature and weather patterns.
- Some species of animal and plant life may behave differently or be at risk of extinction
- Travel plans will be affected, with some parts of the world off-limits
- Global economics and politics will become much more unstable
It’s difficult to determine exactly how each climate event will affect specific regions, however there is plenty of literature to study if you’d like to learn more.
Below are some helpful links:
- Interactive map of impacts (Carbon Brief)
- Climate Change Impacts on Australia (Australian Government)
- Impacts and Adaptations (Climate Change Australia)
- 5 Ways Climate Change Will Affect You (National Geographic)
- Ten Ways You Will Personally Notice the Effects of Climate Change (SMH)
Read next: What can I do?