Our future with climate change

This is what it will look like if we do not actively act against the current environmental crisis.

It’s been three weeks now that COP26 is over. The last hope and chance for the world to change for the better- as many people referred to. The outcomes of the conference have been overall viewed critically. Some celebrated that for the first time the sustainability plan included concrete goals while others claimed that those goals are still not specific enough and will also not be met. One of the goals, for example, includes to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C. Another one aims for the end of deforestation until 2030. Furthermore, methane emissions should be cut by 30% and generally the collaboration between countries should be further promoted whereby developed countries should increasingly help developing countries. But what if the critics of COP26 are right and the goals of the agreement will still not be met until 2030? So far, only a small part of the sustainable development goals that were established in 2015 have been achieved. Therefore, it might be possible that also again in 2030 the goals will not be met. So, what kind of influence would have that? How would our future look like in 2100 with unstopped climate change?

First and foremost, our temperatures would rise even further, and heatwaves would become more frequent. Summer temperatures above 40°C or in some tropic areas even up to 50°C would become the new normal and with it probably also for some people €100 worth of spending on ice-cream. Second, increasing temperatures would equally make the number of wildfires climb up. This would additionally lead to a decrease in the air quality. Third, global warming further supports the melting of glaciers causing sea levels to rise above one metre. Fans of Miami, Amsterdam or the Maldives would then have to look for new dream holiday destinations. Or they would have to turn their planned city trips and relaxing beach stays into scuba diving holidays as their beloved cities will have taken an example from the storied Atlantis and be completely under water. Also, other cities close to the ocean or rivers will be in danger. Nevertheless, maybe those scuba diving holidays would not even be worth it. The reason for that is that the rising amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will enter the oceans and increase their acidity. This will have a dramatic effect on numerous marine species causing, for example, corals, shellfish, and plankton to go extinct. Equally, on land the misery will continue. Countries will fight extensive droughts causing world hunger to increase even further. Also, water shortage will become a more severe problem. Roughly 3.5 billion people would not have enough water to cover their demands. Additionally, not only human lives will be in danger. Animals and plants as well will have it difficult to withstand the immense temperatures and droughts. Especially the overpopulation makes this even more challenging. And if you thought that the corona virus pandemic will be over soon, the worldwide increased poverty and vulnerability of people due to climate change will lead to further deadly diseases to spread.

Therefore, it is of utmost importance that we all now do our best to act more environmentally friendly and make sure that sustainability goals will be fulfilled. By the end of next year, every country will have to present their plan on how they want to decrease their personal emissions. After that, it will be their own responsibility to take care of keeping these promises. In 2022 the world leaders will then again meet in Egypt for COP27 to discuss the progress of the fight against climate change. Until then let’s all do our best and inform ourselves what we can do to help our planet.

You can also find more information on the climate crisis and ideas on how you can create a sustainable lifestyle in our other blog posts. Check them out here.

Sources:

BBC, "COP26: What deal has been made at the climate change conference in Glasgow?", BBC, November 15, 2021, https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/59279773, accessed 4 December 2021.

Maslin, M., "Climate change: how bad could the future be if we do nothing?", The Conversation, May 6, 2021, https://theconversation.com/climate-change-how-bad-could-the-future-be-if-we-do-nothing-159665, accessed 4 December 2021.

Trencher, G., "Climate Change: What Happens after 2100?", Our World, 2021, https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/climate-change-impacts/predictions-future-global-climate, accessed 4 December 2021.

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