Climate change is when the Earth’s natural systems become disrupted by human activity. This includes the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas to produce energy. It also includes the loss of ice and snow as temperatures rise. The impact of climate change affects everyone. But it’s harder for poorer countries to cope with its impacts. They have emitted fewer greenhouse gases than wealthier nations and depend more on a healthy, thriving natural world for their food and income. As a result, they’ll face greater risks and have less time to adapt.
The Earth has changed over its history, but the scale and pace of the change now happening is unprecedented. It can’t be explained by natural factors like solar and volcanic activity or internal climate variability. The only way to explain it is that we’ve added too much heat energy to the atmosphere and oceans through our emissions of heat-trapping gases.
Warmer summer temperatures increase the risk of health-related illnesses, especially for older adults, pregnant women, and young children. They can also worsen underlying medical conditions and increase stress levels. In addition, higher temperatures can expand the range of ticks that carry Lyme disease or other bacteria and viruses and the activity of mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus.
The climate crisis exacerbates existing inequalities. Rich nations, such as the United States, owe the lion’s share of historical greenhouse gas emissions. But they have the resources to shield themselves from its impacts, and can pay for adaptations. Billions of others, however, cannot afford to do so.
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