Climate change and global warming have impacted the earth’s ecosystem negatively by disrupting the earth’s natural processes and causing destruction to plant, animal, and human life.
For example, unpredictable or more severe weather events such as earthquakes, wildfires, drought, hurricanes, etc., directly impact the ecosystem by destroying anything on its path, which includes forests, urban cities, and natural habitats.
Extreme weather events
Climate change has evidently increased the earth’s surface temperature. From increasing wildfire events, increase in mosquitoes, we can physically feel that the planet is getting warmer.
Furthermore, this constantly increasing temperature will mean that the earth is just getting hotter, and more severe consequences should be expected if we keep ignoring this matter.
Firstly, heatwaves will become more frequent and intense as global temperatures rise, resulting in more cases of heat exhaustion, heatstroke, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, even deaths.
Furthermore, heatwaves are dangerous for people with chronic conditions and can impact children’s growth or even cause stillbirths. In fact, research has found that climate change is responsible for 37% of all heat-related deaths worldwide.
Secondly, climate change causes precipitation (rainfall) extremes which leads to either flood from heavy rainfall or drought from extremely dry weather. Floods are one of the deadliest natural disasters because of their impact when the flooding occurs and after the flooding has passed.
During the flood, buildings and possessions are damaged from the water intrusion. And later, water intrusion inside buildings can form molds and contamination leading to air quality problems.
Additionally, floods can carry diseases and viruses, such as respiratory diseases, pneumonia, etc., which are especially dangerous to people living in damp environments.
On the other hand, drought from a dry summer and rainfall deficit also pose health risks, as it could lead to other weather events such as wildfires, dust storms, and degraded water quality for human consumption.
The next extreme weather event is wildfires. A high temperature and dry summer lead to wildfires, which has already happened a few times. Wildfires destroy some species' natural habitats.
Wildfires produce smokes that contain harmful gasses such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, etc. Exposure to these harmful gasses can result in cardiovascular and respiratory problems, lung diseases, and its most fatal impact is death.
A study has found that wildfires are associated with very harmful impacts to health as it is associated to hundreds to thousands of deaths annually.
Diseases from increased heat
Air pollution such as increasing ground-level ozone and carbon dioxide is exacerbated by climate change and harms human health. Pollution could also originate from wildfires and emissions from industrial activities.
Besides increasing the global temperature, it impacts human health by respiratory illnesses from the harmful airborne particles and poor air quality. Based on a US study, health-related costs of the current effects of ozone air pollution have been estimated at 6.5 billion dollars nationwide.
Next, vectors such as fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes can carry diseases and pathogens and cause illnesses. The distribution of these vectors varies geographically and seasonally, and they are usually attracted to humid and arid areas such as the tropical and subtropical areas.
An increase in global temperature impacts the geographical distribution of these vectors by expanding their habitable zones and distribution to areas that have never been exposed to this airborne organism.
As a result, new diseases from the viruses that these vectors can carry are spread. For example, the Zika virus or yellow fever, carried by mosquitoes, is now exposed to half of the world’s population.
Recovery from diseases caused by these pathogens can require months, and prevention strategies can be costly such as creating new vaccines and medications.
Water and food availability
As mentioned above, droughts can degrade water quality for human consumption, and groundwater drying leads to water shortage. As water is a sink source for some gasses, poor air quality containing toxic gasses could also result in water contamination.
However, climate change also causes a rise in sea levels, which can displace people living around the coastal areas due to permanent flooding.
Furthermore, intense heat is also harmful to livestock and the availability of crops. As the groundwater gets drier, lands for grazing are becoming less suitable for cropping, causing a decline in crop nutrients and micronutrients.
The result is an increase in food prices; thus, lower-income households struggle to retain their essential micronutrients, and some regions have risks of hunger.
It is predicted that at this current rate, more than 80 million people will suffer from hunger, and 150 million people to be at risk of protein deficiency by 2050.
As a result, climate change has a substantial impact on the food chain, potentially resulting in food crises, which could result in a major conflict including sickness and even death.
Mental health and stress-related disorders
Extreme weather events can cause mental illness by a phenomenon called “common reactions to abnormal events.”
This phenomenon usually occurs following a disaster, where there is an increase of mental health risk among those who have no history of mental illness and those who are. These could be short-term or long-term cases, such as anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD).
A study has also suggested that rising temperatures and impacts of climate change lead to an increase in short or long-term mental illnesses such as depression.
Furthermore, some diseases and mental illnesses are susceptible to intense heat. For example, schizophrenia patients are at risk at hotter temperatures as their medication may interfere with temperature regulations and can cause hyperthermia.
Unless drastic adjustments are made, climate change will continue to degrade our planet's health and reduce its ability to sustain human life. Multiple strategies have been made such as the Paris agreement and other sustainable movements, but now it is our responsibility to implement these changes to our lives to save our planet.
At least 37% of heat-related deaths are already caused by human-driven climate change. How much more will we allow that to increase in the future?
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Olivia Eugenia is an Environmental Science student at the University of Western Australia. She is also an activist and a content writer at the International Youth Organization for Peace and Sustainability.
Inputs and Edits by Aswin Raghav R.
Mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na ongezeko la joto duniani yameathiri mazingira ya dunia kwa kuharibu michakato ya asili ya dunia na kusababisha uharibifu wa mimea, wanyama, na maisha ya binadamu. Kwa mfano, matukio ya hali ya hewa yasiyoweza kutabiriwa au mabaya zaidi kama vile matetemeko ya ardhi, moto wa misitu, ukame, vimbunga, na kadhalika, huathiri moja kwa moja mazingira kwa kuharibu chochote kinachofuata njia yake, ambayo ni pamoja na misitu, miji ya mijini, na mazingira ya asili. Matukio ya hali ya hewa mbaya Kubadilika kwa hali ya hewa kwa wazi kumeongeza joto la uso wa dunia. Kwa sababu ya kuongezeka kwa moto wa mwituni, ongezeko la mbu, tunaweza kuhisi kimwili kwamba sayari inakuwa joto zaidi. Kwa kuongezea, ongezeko hili la joto litamaanisha kwamba dunia inakuwa moto zaidi na zaidi, na matokeo mabaya zaidi yanapaswa kutarajiwa ikiwa tutaendelea kupuuza jambo hili. "Mfano: ""Mavuno ya joto yatakuwa ya mara kwa mara na yenye nguvu zaidi kadiri joto la dunia linavyoongezeka, na kusababisha visa vingi vya uchovu wa joto, kiharusi cha joto, magonjwa ya kupumua na ya moyo, na hata vifo.""" Isitoshe, mawimbi ya joto ni hatari kwa watu walio na magonjwa ya kudumu na yanaweza kuathiri ukuzi wa watoto au hata kusababisha kuzaliwa kwa watoto wakiwa wamekufa. Utafiti unaonyesha kuwa mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa husababisha asilimia 37 ya vifo vinavyohusika na joto duniani kote. Mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa husababisha mvua nyingi sana, ambayo husababisha mafuriko kutokana na mvua nyingi au ukame kutokana na hali ya hewa kavu sana. Mafuriko ni moja ya majanga ya asili yenye kuua zaidi kwa sababu ya athari zao wakati mafuriko yanapotokea na baada ya mafuriko kupita. Wakati wa mafuriko, majengo na mali huharibiwa na maji. Na baadaye, kuingia kwa maji ndani ya majengo kunaweza kuunda kuvu na uchafuzi unaosababisha matatizo ya ubora wa hewa. Kwa kuongezea, mafuriko yanaweza kubeba magonjwa na virusi, kama vile magonjwa ya kupumua, nimonia, n.k., ambayo ni hatari hasa kwa watu wanaoishi katika mazingira yenye unyevunyevu. Kwa upande mwingine, ukame kutokana na majira ya kiangazi kavu na upungufu wa mvua pia huunda hatari za afya, kwani inaweza kusababisha matukio mengine ya hali ya hewa kama vile moto wa misitu, dhoruba za vumbi, na ubora wa maji uliodhoofika kwa matumizi ya binadamu. Tukio jingine la hali ya hewa kali ni moto wa misitu. Joto la juu na majira ya kiangazi kavu husababisha moto wa misitu, ambao umetokea mara kadhaa. Mioto ya mwituni huharibu makao ya asili ya spishi fulani. Moto wa mwituni hutokeza moshi unaojumuisha gesi zenye madhara kama vile kaboni monoksidi, oksidi za nitrojeni, na kadhalika. Kuambukizwa na gesi hizi zenye madhara kunaweza kusababisha matatizo ya moyo na ya kupumua, magonjwa ya mapafu, na athari yake mbaya zaidi ni kifo. Uchunguzi wa hivi karibuni unaonyesha kuwa moto wa mwituni una athari mbaya kwa afya na husababisha vifo vya mamia ya watu kila mwaka. Uchafuzi wa hewa kama vile ongezeko la ozoni ya chini ya ardhi na kaboni dioksidi huongezeka na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa na kuharibu afya ya binadamu. Uchafuzi waweza pia kutokea kutokana na mioto ya misitu na uzalishaji kutoka kwa shughuli za viwanda. Kwa kuongezea kuongezeka kwa joto la dunia, inaathiri afya ya binadamu kwa magonjwa ya kupumua kutoka kwa chembe zenye madhara zilizo angani na ubora duni wa hewa. Kulingana na utafiti wa Marekani, gharama zinazohusiana na afya za athari za sasa za uchafuzi wa hewa wa ozoni zimekadiriwa kuwa dola bilioni 6.5 nchini kote. Kisha, wadudu kama vile chawa, chawa, na mbu wanaweza kubeba magonjwa na vimelea na kusababisha magonjwa. Ugawaji wa vektor hizi hutofautiana kijiografia na msimu, na kwa kawaida huvutiwa na maeneo yenye unyevunyevu na kavu kama vile maeneo ya kitropiki na kitropiki. Ongezeko la joto duniani huathiri usambazaji wa kijiografia wa vektor hizi kwa kupanua maeneo yao ya kuishi na usambazaji kwa maeneo ambayo hayajawahi kufunuliwa na kiumbe hiki cha hewa. Matokeo ni kwamba, magonjwa mapya yanatokana na virusi vinavyoweza kusambazwa na vektor hizo. Kwa mfano, virusi vya Zika au homa ya manjano, vinavyosambazwa na mbu, sasa vimeambukizwa na nusu ya idadi ya watu ulimwenguni. Kupona magonjwa yanayosababishwa na vimelea hivyo kunaweza kuchukua miezi kadhaa, na mbinu za kuzuia zinaweza kuwa ghali kama vile kuunda chanjo mpya na dawa. Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ukame unaweza kuharibu ubora wa maji kwa ajili ya matumizi ya binadamu, na kukauka kwa maji ya chini ya ardhi husababisha upungufu wa maji. Kwa kuwa maji ni chanzo cha baadhi ya gesi, hali mbaya ya hewa yenye gesi zenye sumu inaweza pia kusababisha uchafuzi wa maji. Hata hivyo, mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa pia husababisha kuongezeka kwa viwango vya bahari, ambayo inaweza kuhamisha watu wanaoishi karibu na maeneo ya pwani kutokana na mafuriko ya kudumu. Isitoshe, joto kali pia huathiri vibaya mifugo na mazao. Kwa kuwa maji ya chini ya ardhi yanauka, ardhi ya malisho inakuwa isiyofaa kwa kilimo, na kusababisha kupungua kwa virutubisho na virutubisho vidogo vya mazao. Matokeo ni ongezeko la bei ya chakula, hivyo, familia zenye mapato ya chini hupambana kuhifadhi virutubisho vyao muhimu, na baadhi ya mikoa ina hatari ya njaa. Kwa kiwango hiki cha sasa, zaidi ya watu milioni 80 watateseka njaa na watu milioni 150 watakuwa katika hatari ya upungufu wa protini ifikapo mwaka 2050. Mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa yanaathiri sana mlolongo wa chakula, na yanaweza kusababisha mgogoro wa chakula, ambao unaweza kusababisha mgogoro mkubwa ikiwa ni pamoja na magonjwa na hata kifo. Matatizo ya akili na ya kihisia-moyo Matatizo ya hali ya hewa ya hali ya juu yanaweza kusababisha ugonjwa wa akili na jambo linaloitwa "matokeo ya kawaida kwa matukio ya kawaida" Matatizo haya hutokea baada ya msiba, ambapo kuna ongezeko la hatari ya afya ya akili kati ya wale ambao hawana historia ya ugonjwa wa akili na wale ambao wana. Hii inaweza kuwa kesi za muda mfupi au za muda mrefu, kama vile wasiwasi na matatizo ya mkazo wa baada ya majeraha (PTSD). Utafiti huo pia ulionyesha kuwa ongezeko la joto na athari za mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa husababisha ongezeko la magonjwa ya akili ya muda mfupi au ya muda mrefu kama vile unyogovu. Isitoshe, magonjwa fulani na magonjwa ya akili yanaweza kusababishwa na joto kali. Kwa mfano, wagonjwa wa schizophrenia wako katika hatari ya joto kali kwa sababu dawa zao zinaweza kuingilia kati na kanuni za joto na zinaweza kusababisha hyperthermia. """Isipokuwa marekebisho makubwa yatatolewa, mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa yataendelea kuharibu afya ya sayari yetu na kupunguza uwezo wake wa kudumisha maisha ya binadamu." """Mkakati mbalimbali umefanywa kama vile makubaliano ya Paris na harakati nyingine endelevu, lakini sasa ni jukumu letu kutekeleza mabadiliko haya katika maisha yetu ili kuokoa sayari yetu." Zaidi ya asilimia 37 ya vifo vinavyohusishwa na joto vinasababishwa na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa. Tutairuhusu hiyo kuongezeka zaidi kadiri gani katika siku zijazo? Tunasaidia kupambana na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa, pamoja na masuala mengine yote ya haraka ya ulimwengu wetu kwa kuchangia chochote unachoweza. Tunaitumia fedha hizi kutoa elimu ya ubora, mafunzo, na ufahamu kwa vijana kutoka jamii zisizo na huduma ili kuwasaidia kuwa viongozi bora wa kesho. Olivia Eugenia ni mwanafunzi wa Sayansi ya Mazingira katika Chuo Kikuu cha Australia Magharibi. Yeye pia ni mwanaharakati na mwandishi wa maudhui katika Shirika la Kimataifa la Vijana kwa Amani na Uendelevu. Maingizo na Marekebisho na Aswin Raghav R.