The effect of climate change may be viewed by many as almost insignificant in the grander scheme of things. However, the effects of climate change are in fact exponential and affect much more than that which they touch directly. That is the reason that the world economy is facing tremendous damage and loss due to climate change. Some of these effects include:
- Reduction in sea food is a result of rising sea temperatures that have changed the oceanic habitat and caused an increase in parasites
- Shorter and milder winters result in reduced snow, causing snow and mountain based businesses greater difficulty in obtaining loans and lack of business
- Lake levels are being lowered which has led to an altered shoreline, affecting the habitat and living conditions of all water species that live in such lakes and requiring relocation of shore infrastructure such as ports which can cost millions
- Greater damage caused by harsher hurricanes and storms result in much greater economic loss to governments and organizations who require to rebuild the required infrastructure
- Higher temperatures and increased droughts and flooding leads to lower crop yields, which destroys livelihood, displaces families, causes death due to starvation, and causes inflation globally
The above mentioned points include only some of the effects that climate change has had on the global economy. The fact remains that climate change, if allowed to continue at the pace as it does today, will have exponential effects which will be felt by everyone in rural and urban regions including businesses, communities, nations, families, and individuals; while geographical boundaries will play no role in abating these effects.