Impacts of Climate Change in the United States

Impacts of Climate Change in the United States

Introduction.

Human activities can explain climate change according to David Easterling, the director of the Technical Support Unit of NOAA. Global temperature is much higher and continues to rise more than any other forms of modernity or civilization.

Impact of climate change.

Climate change is costly. For instance, the US government report estimates that the Southeast region of the United States will lose labor hours amounting to a half a billion by 20100 due to extreme temperatures (Christensen and Nedelman, 2018). Changes in climate will significantly lower the quality and quantity of crops, and farmers will realize low output. In parts of Midwest according to the report, farmers will produce less than 75% of corn they currently provide, while southern regions would lose 25% of the soybean produced, the report states (NCA, 2018)

Dairy farming will be affected leading to a decrease between 0.60% and 1.35% of dairy products in the next 12 years. The effects will be experienced ten folds considering that heat stress led to a loss of $1.2 billion in 2010(Christensen and Nedelman, 2018). The report also indicates that there will be a loss of $230 million in shellfish caused by ocean acidification. Red tides deplete oxygen in water thus killing sea life (NCA, 2018). An example is the case of Florida, which is speculated to occur more frequently in the future.

Human health is not an exception. More people will succumb to high temperatures. An addition of 2,000 premature deaths will be experienced by the end of the century, especially in the Midwest of the United States faced by extreme temperatures. Mosquito- and tick-borne diseases such as chikungunya, Zika and dengue will be familiar. Allergies and asthma will worsen due to climate change. People will be exposed to water and foodborne diseases, and no one will remain immune to diseases predisposed by climate change(Christensen and Nedelman, 2018). Heat and flooding is another problem associated with climate change. Wildfire seasons have become rampant, more destructive and longer than before. The forest fires are estimated to rise to six times annually by 2050, especially in Southern Carolina. Dependable and safe water as well is affected by climate change. The Caribbean and Hawaii face safe water challenges due to high temperatures. Energy-related problems would occur due to high taxes, and the death of some sectors leading losses of billions of dollars annually(Christensen and Nedelman, 2018).

They are addressing climate change.

Based on the reports mandate to make specific recommendations to policymakers, among the strategies include reducing the use of fossil fuel, which in turn would lower the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. All governments should also take seriously unprecedented, far-reaching and rapid changes in the society to address impacts of climate change (NCA, 2018).

Conclusion.

In summary, climate change is affecting every sector of the United States in specific, and globally in general. Starting from the communities, economy, water, health, indigenous peoples, ecosystem services, agriculture, infrastructure, seas and oceans, and tourism, the list is endless. Changes in climate are associated with human activities, especially the use of fossil fuel, which release extreme amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Addressing water, air and foodborne diseases, allergies, floods, forest fires and the changes in the ecosystem requires both local and international efforts to reduce human activities that predispose climate to extreme changes.

 

Reference.

Christensen, J., and Nedelman, M. (2018). Climate Change Will Shrink US Economy And Kill Thousands, Government Report Warns.CNN. Available at https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/23/health/climate-change-report-bn/index.html[Accessed on 27 February 2019).

National Climate Assessment. (2018). Fourth national climate assessment. Available at: https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/#sf-1 [Accessed 27 February 2019).

 
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