Impacts of Climate Change (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

Increased temperatures and lack of precipitation may lead to the spread of diseases:

• Italy has experienced cases of malaria since 2017 when it was previously a malaria-free area

• An additional 280 million people may be affected by malaria

• Water-borne diseases are more likely to spread

Heat waves may become more frequent

Heatstroke, dehydration and sunburn increase during heat waves

Stagnant air during heat waves increases air pollution levels:

• Respiratory diseases increase and those suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma may be more affected 

Increased temperatures negatively affect people with cardiopulmonary diseases

Diets may be restricted by food shortages leading to malnutrition and famine

Loss of job opportunities due to changes in tourism and agriculture

Increased flooding due to sea level rise and increased frequency and severity of storms will lead to displacement of large numbers of people

Farmers may need to change the crop they grow if climate conditions become unsuitable

Coastal flooding may lead to salt intrusion

Reduced availability of water will mean that irrigation is limited or impossible

Food shortages will lead to malnutrition and famine

Job opportunities may change or decrease because:

• Tourism may decline in some areas for example ski resorts may close due to the lack of reliable snow

• Coastal resorts may be at risk of flooding leading to the closure

• Farmers may have to change the crop they grow or livestock they raise or leave farming

• In some areas agriculture may decline due to rising temperatures or changing rainfall patterns

Settlements in low-lying areas may have to be abandoned or need additional defences against sea level rise:

• Moving settlements or improving flood defences will be costly

Warmer temperatures cause the water in seas and oceans to expand, increasing the sea level

Melting ice is adding to the increasing volume of water:

• Average sea levels have risen 23cm since 1880

• Sea levels are forecast to increase a further 30cm by 2050

Low-lying coastal areas and islands are at higher risk of flooding:

• The Maldives may be uninhabitable by 2050 

Beach erosion will increase leading to greater coastal erosion 

Coastal ecosystems including coral reefs and mangrove swamps will be affected

Saltwater is contaminating freshwater supplies and affecting coastal agriculture

Changes in climate patterns are likely to increase the frequency and severity of storms:

• The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was the first most active season on record and 2021 was the third most active

The frequency and length of droughts are increasing

Dry conditions lead to the increased risk of wildfires:

• In 2021 Australia, Greece, South Africa, Brazil and USA were just some of the places to experience severe wildfires

• In September 2021 the USA National Fire Centre reported 44.647 wildfires which had burned 5.6 million acres

Rising sea levels together with increased storms lead to increased flooding risk

The location of biomes may shift to the north (Northern Hemisphere) and south (Southern Hemisphere) as they rely on specific climate conditions:

• Polar and tundra biomes are at risk of becoming extinct as they cannot shift any further north/south

Increasing sea temperatures and ocean acidification have resulted in coral bleaching

Migration and behaviour patterns of animals affected by changing temperatures:

• Fish species are moving north and south of their usual habitats to seek cooler water

• Reduced hibernation due to warmer winters

Mangrove swamps and coral reefs are threatened by rising sea levels