Impacts of Climate Change (Cambridge International IGCSE Geography)

Specification link

This page covers section 5.2.1, 5.3.1 and 5.3.2 of the CIE IGCSE specification .

• 5.2.1- The present day and predicted future impacts of climate change. For example, rising sea levels, and changes to global temperature, weather patterns, and food production.
• 5.3.1 - The strategies (including national and international agreements) and techniques used to manage the impacts of climate change.
• 5.3.2 - An evaluation of mitigation (including international agreements) and adaptation strategies and techniques used to manage the impacts of climate change.

Impacts of climate change

Health

• 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
  • Waterborne diseases are more likely to spread

• Heat waves may become more frequent

• Heat stroke, 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

Homes and settlements

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

• 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

Agriculture

• 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
• Food prices may rise

Employment

• Job opportunities may change or decrease for the following reasons:

  • 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

Sea level rise

• 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 23 cm since 1880
  • Sea levels are forecast to increase a further 30 cm by 2050

Bangladesh sea level rise predictions

• Low-lying coastal areas such as southern Bangladesh 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

Ecosystem change

• 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 behavioural 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

• Melting of ice caps/glaciers leading to changing ocean currents

• Mangrove swamps and coral reefs are threatened by rising sea levels

• Loss of habitats through flooding, drought and wildfires

• Food webs breaking as species numbers are reduced and food sources are decreased

• Loss of plants and vegetation

Natural hazards

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

  • The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was the first most active 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 the USA were just some of the places to experience severe wildfires
  • In September 2021, the USA National Fire Centre reported 44,647 wildfires that had burnt 5.6 million acres

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

Worked Example State one reason for each of the following impacts of climate change.

• rising sea levels
• prices of food may rise
• shortage of water

[3]

The command word for this question is 'state' this means that no explanation is needed in the answer.

Answer

• Rising sea levels - due to melting of the ice caps/increased sea temperatures [1]
• Prices of food may rise - drought/lower crop yields [1]
• Shortage of fresh water - drought/more evaporation of rivers/lakes [1]

Responses to climate change

Spec point — The present day and predicted future impacts of climate change. For example, rising sea levels, and changes to global temperature, weather patterns, and food production.

• Global warming and climate change require an international response because they affect the entire globe

• Responses can involve either adaptation or mitigation

  • Mitigation includes ways that people try to reduce or eliminate greenhouse emissions
  • The aim is to halt global warming and therefore climate change
  • Mitigations can include international agreements as well as national and individual actions

International agreements

• In 1988 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up to assess the 'risks of human-induced climate change'
• This was followed by several international agreements

Earth Summit, Rio 1992

• In May 1992 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established

• It was then signed by 166 countries at the Earth Summit in Rio or at the UN headquarters

• The Earth Summit also set out:

  • Twenty seven principles aimed at guiding countries towards more environmentally sustainable development
  • Aims to stabilise greenhouse gas levels
  • Principles for the management, conservation and sustainable development of all forests

Kyoto Protocol 1997

• Delegates from 150 countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• It stated that industrialised countries would reduce emissions to below the levels in 1990
• Developing countries, including China and India, were exempt from the agreement
• The USA did not sign up for the treaty
• Canada withdrew in 2011, stating that without China and the USA, the treaty would not work
• The Kyoto Protocol was the first legally binding international treaty to set emissions targets

Marrakech Agreement, 2007

• It was agreed that funding would be provided to less developed countries to support them in adapting to the effects of climate change

Paris Agreement 2015

• Global agreement to limit global warming to 2°C (preferably 1.5°C) above pre-industrial levels

• The agreement also includes **reducing CO₂ emissions by at least 60% **by 2050

• Signed by 196 countries, including the USA and China (the USA withdrew in 2020 and rejoined in 2021)

• Introduced** Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)**

  • These are climate action plans submitted by each country outlining their commitments
  • Currently these are not sufficient to meet the 2^oC target (projections show 2.6-2.7^oC warming by 2100)

Conference of the Parties (COP)

• The United Nations (UN) holds an annual (every year) meeting to discuss climate change.

• COP29 was held in Baku, Azerbaijan

• All nations agreed to:

  • Continue to take action to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  • Triple financial aid to developing countries

Reducing emissions

• Emissions can be reduced in several ways, including:

  • Reducing deforestation
  • Increasing afforestation
  • Improving energy efficiency in industry and domestic appliances
  • Reducing emissions from industry
  • Improving public transport
  • Electric vehicles
  • Use of renewable energy and nuclear power
  • Carbon capture and storage
  • Reducing meat consumption
  • Alternative feed for cattle to reduce methane emissions

Exam Hint Remember, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases is achieved by either:

• reducing the sources of emissions, for example by reducing the use of fossil fuels

OR

• Increasing the stores of greenhouse gases, for example, by planting more trees

Adaptations

• Climate change is already impacting many countries

• Mitigation strategies will take time to have an impact

• Adaptations are needed to help populations cope with the impacts which are already being felt

• Examples of adaptations include:

  • Improved building design to withstand flooding and increased storm intensity
  • More efficient use of freshwater resources and desalination
  • Coastal and river defences to reduce the impact of flooding
  • Changing the types of crop grown
  • Relocation of vulnerable communities
  • Extreme weather plans

Effectiveness of mitigation and adaptation strategies

Spec point — An evaluation of mitigation (including international agreements) and adaptation strategies and techniques used to manage the impacts of climate change.

• Climate change is a global issue

• It requires international cooperation and collaboration

• The effectiveness of both strategies depends on various factors, including:

  • Political willingness to implement the strategies
  • Availability of finance and economic resources
  • Technological advancements

Mitigation strategies

• Mitigation strategies are important in the long term to reduce the rate or even halt global warming
• Their effects can be gradual and may take time to have an impact

Challenges of mitigation strategies

• Implementing mitigation strategies changes can be expensive

• They rely on international cooperation and may be politically challenging to implement

  • Even if countries sign up to agreements, they may not be able to achieve the changes outlined

• There may be resistance from industries reliant on fossil fuels

• Not all mitigation strategies are equally effective

Adaptation strategies

• Adaptation strategies can help reduce the short-term negative impacts of climate change

Challenges of adaptation strategies

• Adaptation measures can be expensive and require significant infrastructure changes
• Some adaptation strategies may not be effective when there are extreme climate events
• Adaptation efforts may be more effective if combined with mitigation efforts