Consequences of Climate Change: Facts and Myths

The world has finally reached a point where the consequences of climate change are no longer a controversial topic. We now know that we must act faster than ever to counteract the effects of climate change. Completely denying that the Earth is warming is now a rare occurrence. But what exactly are the consequences of climate change?
There is still some confusion about what climate change actually is and what constitutes myths versus facts. That’s why we’d like to help you understand by taking a closer look at a number of common beliefs.

1. Climate change is nothing new—the Earth has always been changing

When we talk about climate change today, we are referring to changes caused by humans. It is true that the climate has changed dramatically over the last 4 billion years. However, what concerns us now are the consequences of climate change caused by humans through deforestation and the burning of coal, oil, and gas.
There have always been cycles of warming and cooling, but in the past these always lasted thousands of years. What we’re seeing now is that the same changes are occurring in just a few decades. Rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere correspond to rising temperatures on Earth. In fact, 17 of the 18 warmest years ever recorded have all occurred since 2001.
As temperatures rise, ice caps begin to melt and sea levels rise as well. One of the consequences of climate change is that sea levels have risen by 27 centimeters over the past 20 years.

2. Plants need carbon dioxide. The more we produce, the better

Carbon dioxide in and of itself isn’t that bad, but there is simply too much of it on Earth. Yes, plants and forests need carbon dioxide to survive and absorb large amounts of it. Since the Industrial Revolution, however, we have been producing more and more, and we are cutting down forests for food production. The result of this drastic change is that the carbon dioxide now has nowhere to go and actually traps the heat that is trying to escape from the Earth.

3. Animals will adapt to the new conditions

It's true that animals and plants are good at adapting to changes in their environment, but in the past, they had hundreds or even thousands of years to do so. Now they have to adapt quickly, which is a huge challenge for some species. If they cannot adapt, they will have to look for a different habitat. That, too, is a challenge, since many habitats are being destroyed to grow food, build roads, or construct houses.
As a result of climate change, it is expected that Polar bears will be extinct by 2100. They need the ice to come ashore in the fall and to feed their cubs in the spring. However, the ice doesn’t form until later, and it’s also melting earlier and earlier each year. Polar bears cannot adapt to this rapid pace and, as a result, their habitat is shrinking.

4. Renewable energy costs more

This may come as a surprise to many, but generating electricity using renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines is much cheaper than producing energy using fossil fuels and natural gas. Yet natural gas and fossil fuels are still widely used.

5. There is no need to worry about the consequences of climate change

This is one of the biggest misconceptions. We can no longer bury our heads in the sand. After all, we don’t want to burden future generations with the consequences of climate change, do we? It’s time to take action NOW. Climate scientists have warned that we have only 12 years left to limit the effects of climate change to a maximum of 1.5 degrees Celsius and prevent a complete collapse.

The consequences of climate change are significant

We can no longer deny the consequences of climate change. It is a major environmental crisis, and we must do everything we can to stop it and limit the damage. Climate change is causing disease, migration, and poverty across our entire planet—a home we want to preserve for ourselves and future generations.