Impacts of Climate Change on Societies (HL IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS))

Impacts of Climate Change on Societies

• Climate change impacts human societies at various scales and socio-economic conditions

  • This means that the impacts of climate change affect societies differently based on their:

    • Economic status

    • Resources

    • Social conditions

  • Socio-economic conditions include factors like:

    • Income levels

    • Access to resources

    • Quality of infrastructure

    • Education

    • Healthcare availability

• Impacts of climate change also affect the resilience of societies

Key impacts of climate change

• Key areas of societies that are impacted include health, water supply, agriculture and infrastructure

Health impacts

• Heatwaves:

  • Increased frequency and intensity

  • These can be especially dangerous for the young and elderly

  • E.g. the North American Heatwave 2021:

    • A severe and prolonged heatwave hit the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and Western Canada in June 2021

    • The extreme heatwave led to:

      • Hundreds of deaths across the region

      • Overwhelmed hospitals with cases of heat-related illnesses

      • Caused power outages as electrical grids struggled to cope with increased demand for air conditioning

• Diseases:

  • Warmer temperatures expand habitats for disease-carrying insects

  • Leads to spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue to new areas

• Air quality:

  • Poor air quality due to higher temperatures and pollutants:

    • Higher temperatures can enhance the formation of ground-level ozone, a harmful air pollutant

    • More frequent and severe wildfires release large amounts of smoke and particulate matter into the air

    • Climate change can lead to more frequent stagnant air conditions, which prevent pollutants from dispersing

Water supply impacts

• Droughts:

  • Longer and more severe droughts reduce water availability

  • E.g. Cape Town's Day Zero water crisis in 2018

• Melting glaciers:

  • Reduces freshwater availability for downstream communities

  • E.g. glaciers in the Andes are melting, threatening water supplies in South America

• Flooding:

  • More intense rainfall leads to flooding

  • Flooding can contaminate drinking water sources with pollutants, sewage and hazardous chemicals, making the water unsafe to drink

• Water Quality:

  • Combined with nutrient pollution (e.g. from agricultural runoff), warmer water temperatures promotes the growth of harmful algal blooms

  • These blooms produce toxins that can contaminate drinking water

  • E.g. algal blooms in Lake Erie in North America have repeatedly made the water unsafe for consumption

Agriculture impacts

• Crop yields:

  • Changes in temperature and rainfall affect crop production

  • E.g. reduced wheat yields in Australia and India due to heat stress

• Pest outbreaks:

  • Warmer climates increase the prevalence of agricultural pests

• Food security:

  • Less reliable food supply and higher prices

• Livestock:

  • Heat stress affects livestock health and productivity

  • E.g. heat stress in dairy cows decreases their milk yield

Infrastructure impacts

• Extreme weather:

  • More frequent hurricanes, floods and storms damage infrastructure

• Transportation:

  • Roads and railways damaged by extreme weather

  • E.g. UK railways have been disrupted by flooding and heat in recent years

• Buildings:

  • Increased costs for cooling

  • Increased cost of repairs from storm damage

  • Coastal erosion damages properties on seafronts

• Energy supply:

  • Power outages from extreme weather affecting grids

Resilience of societies

• Resilience refers to a society's ability to withstand, adapt to and recover from climate change impacts

  • Different factors contribute to the resilience of societies, including economic stability, social equity and adaptive capacity

• Economic stability:

  • Economic resources are crucial for repairing and rebuilding after climate-related disasters

  • E.g. the cost of rebuilding after hurricanes can strain local economies, but wealthier regions have more resources to recover quickly

• Social equity:

  • Vulnerable communities, such as low-income or marginalised groups, are often more severely affected by climate change

• Adaptive capacity:

  • The ability to adapt to climate change varies significantly between regions and countries

  • E.g. the Netherlands has advanced flood defences, while Bangladesh remains highly vulnerable to flooding due to limited resources

Perspectives on Climate Change

• Individual experiences, societal values, and policies all influence perspectives on climate change

  • These perspectives shape how people and societies respond to climate challenges

Individual perspectives

• People's own experiences with climate change shape their awareness and concern

  • For example, farmers noticing changes in growing seasons may be more aware of climate impacts than urban residents

• Individuals can take personal steps to mitigate their contributions to climate change

  • E.g. by reducing their carbon footprint, such as using public transport or reducing energy consumption

• Personal health concerns may influence perspectives on climate action

  • E.g. parents in polluted urban areas may be concerned about children's asthma

Societal perspectives

• Government policies play an important role in mitigating and adapting to climate change

  • E.g. UK's commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050

• Local communities often take initiatives to enhance resilience and reduce climate impacts

  • E.g. urban community gardens may help to improve food security and reduce heat island effects

• Cultural values and traditions influence how societies perceive and respond to climate change

  • For example, indigenous communities may incorporate traditional ecological knowledge into their adaptation strategies

  • This might include adjusting agricultural practices based on seasonal changes observed over many generations