Secondary Effects of Climate Change
As the world’s carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are going up, sea levels are rising. Climate change is one of the most crucial topics right now. Currently, estimates show that the Asian Pacific will be the largest population affected, as islands like Kiribati are disappearing and people are forced to flee the country.
By 2055, hundreds of millions will be affected by drought, while others will receive a drastic increase in rainfall. There has been a rise in the number of people dying from hunger, a sharp turn from previous decreasing figures. More people are dying of heat waves than dehydration. The change in climate is set to also bring about more disease breaks and a full spread for such diseases. Food production is going down in Sub Saharan Africa, Australia, and India: this will affect some of the most vulnerable population.
These facts and point of the debate are some of the many inquiries students in the International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance delve into. Hydroelectric power, which is essential to many countries, especially in Sub Saharan Africa, will face massive problems as there is now a decrease in river flows in Africa. The increase in warm temperatures in areas over the globe has led warm air to rise into the atmosphere. When this air cools down, it brings more rain in some areas. This process has led to the production of more significant cyclones and typhoons, causing extreme damage to the people that live in these areas.
These changes in the environment may not have a direct effect. Nonetheless, they do sometimes have secondary effects. An example given in class was the thriving Jellyfish population. Due to the hotter and more acidic oceans, there has been an increase in the jellyfish population as they thrive in such conditions. The jellyfish eat small tuna leading to the shrinking tuna populations in the Mediterranean Sea. This depletion has led to certain countries closing their beaches for a while. In Israel, power plants take in seawater to cool them down, Israel had been forced to shut them down these cooling plants, as jellyfish were blocking the vents.
The problems that are brought about by climate change are severe and widespread. Governments and humanitarian organizations must work together to tackle these current problems and prevent any further ones.
Written by Aninwaa Anin-Yeboah, Innovation & 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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