Effects of Climate Change in Coastal Areas
During the International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance, Mark Little MD, lectured on the effects of climate change, specifically in coastal areas.
Dr. Little began his lecture by reaffirming that climate change is very real. Those in Asia-Pacific, and specifically, countries like China, Myanmar, and Australia, are most likely to be impacted. More people are expected to die of heat waves than dehydration, and by 2030, there is projection that there will be upwards of seven million deaths due to pollution and climate change.
Some of the deadliest effects that we will see from climate change are the increasing numbers of deadly natural disasters. As more carbon dioxide floods into the atmosphere, we can see the global temperature slowly rising due to the greenhouse gas effect; this leads to the oceans in turn also becoming hotter and even more acidic as they absorb carbon dioxide. This process has several unintended impacts on coastal regions, such as:
Jellyfish thrive in warm and acidic environments. The warming and acidification of the oceans result in an increase in the jellyfish population, which disturbs the natural food chain. Smaller fish are being eaten by jellyfish, meaning that there are less for larger fish such as tuna, which are disappearing. Jellyfish have also flooded beaches, causing them to close down for extended periods and disrupting coastal economies. Additionally, some power plants on the coast that use seawater as part of their cooling systems have had to shut down temporarily as a result of these jellyfish obstructing these systems.
Warm air moves over the oceans, and water vapor rises into the atmosphere. The water then cools, resulting in more rain in some areas. This water movement produces more significant cyclones, typhoons, hurricanes, etc. and ultimately more damage, displacing a lot of people who live in coastal regions. Natural disasters have displaced more people today than by war.
A large population of the world lives in coastal regions, especially in Asia-Pacific, which, as mentioned, is the area that will most disproportionately feel the effects of pollution and climate change. It feels overstated, but we need to make more of an effort to cut back on pollution before it is too late and make strides to help those from coastal areas that are displaced by climate change. The UN does not currently recognize those displaced by climate change as refugees, opening a whole slew of legal issues concerning the rights of those displaced. The next step is to change this.
Written by Alexandra Huelbig, Innovation and Design Intern, Summer 2019
About the IIHA The Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs (IIHA) prepares current and future aid workers with the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively in times of humanitarian crisis and disaster. Our courses are borne of an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines academic theory with the practical experience of seasoned humanitarian professionals. The IIHA also publishes on a wide range of humanitarian topics and regularly hosts a number of events in the New York area, including the annual Humanitarian Blockchain Summit and Design for Humanity Summit.
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