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Asked by anon-376396 on 27 Nov 2023.
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Ian McKinley answered on 27 Nov 2023:
If we don’t take care, the environment will be very seriously degraded by climate change and pollution. This will result in a lot of the planet being uninhabitable and a lot of people will die or live in misery. It is probably fair to say that your life will be very unpleasant if we don’t take much more care than in the past.
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Paula McMahon answered on 27 Nov 2023:
It will get worse if we do nothing. Caring will not solve anything on its own – action needed.
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Ollie Thomas answered on 28 Nov 2023:
This is hard to say as we can’t know the future for certain. It is probable that climate change will continue leading to mass extinctions and severe loss of human life. The most important thing to avoid this is that big industries change how they work. Each individual can of course make a difference but the only way we will change is if big industries and governments commit to less environmentally damaging practices (so we need to do what we can to persuade them to do this, though the disruptive actions of groups like just stop oil and extinction rebellion are not, in my opinion the best way to do this).
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Jonathan Allen answered on 28 Nov 2023:
The climate change emergency that we are currently in has been created by past and current generations of humans not caring about the planet and trying to do whatever is easiest/cheapest to develop their industry/economies for their own benefits. These people did not prioritise looking after the planet so that there would be one left able to be lived in for future generations. If we do not care either then the problem will continue to get worse and worse which would lead to much more severe climate change and things like these happening to a much larger scale: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/climate-change/effects-of-climate-change. If we don’t care then we will lose the fight against climate change and, ultimately, the planet will not be suitable for humans to continue to live in it in the future.
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Andrew Lyon answered on 29 Nov 2023:
We don’t know exactly what will happen but we are already seeing increased temperatures are causing sea level rise and changing weather patterns with more extreme weather events such as heatwaves, drought and flooding happening much more frequently. If we don’t take action then it’s likely that these impacts will continue to increase.
Fortunately there are lots of people across the world who do care and are working really hard to reduce the impacts of climate change.
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Octavia Brayley answered on 29 Nov 2023:
Unfortunately, nothing good!
1. The places where we live and work
Climate shifts like heat waves could restrict the ability of people to work outdoor, and, in extreme cases, put their lives at risk. Under a 2050 climate scenario developed by NASA, continuing growth of the greenhouse emission at today’s rate could lead to additional global warming of about 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050. People will likely be forced to work indoors or to take frequent breaks to prevent heatstroke, while extreme hot weather could also lead to changes in the disease vectors which ultimately impact human health.2. Food production
A changing climate is likely to both improve and degrade the performance of food systems. Some regions may become more productive under a warming climate, whilst others may see a significant drop in food production. A McKinsey study found that by 2050 while soy would benefit from higher temperatures, rice and wheat could become increasingly volatile. In another scenario analysis, it is estimated that by 2050, food production will be inadequate to feed the growing global population because of one-fifth decline in crop yields. It is clear that the food production will be heavily impacted by climate change.3. Infrastructure assets
Extreme hot weather could significantly lower the efficiency of the power systems around the world. According to McKinsey, up to 185,000 airline passengers per year may be grounded due to extreme heat (48 degrees Celsius), approximately 23 times more than today. Other extreme weather events like hurricanes will likely impact infrastructure that serves both individuals and corporations.4. Physical assets
Physical assets in general are highly exposed to climate risks. For example, offshore structures and transportation systems are exposed to variability in ambient environmental conditions, whilst excessive flooding or forest fires may damage or even destroy buildings. It is projected that the amount of physical capital that could be damaged as a result of riverine flooding by 2050 will rise to $1.6 trillion globally and $1.2 trillion in Asia.5. Natural capital
Natural systems are prone to significant risks as climate change is worsening, which could further exacerbate existing challenges such as water scarcity. It’s projected that by 2050, glacial loss will reach 70 percent in the Andes; the summer monsoons in China will fail, and water flows into the great rivers of Asia will be severely reduced by the loss of more than one-third of the Himalayan ice sheet.6. Outdoor air quality
By 2050, outdoor air pollution particulate matter and ground-level ozone is projected to become the top cause of environmentally related deaths worldwide. A study showed that with no change in emissions by 2050, 1,126,000 premature mortalities are expected each year due to ozone7. Precipitation risks
Precipitation extremes, such as heavy rainfalls and droughts are becoming far more frequent and intense in some regions. According to a McKinsey report, the likelihood of extreme precipitation events could increase three or fourfold by 2050 in Asian regions.8. Water management
Water utility operation is another area that is subject to climate risks, which threatens to affect water quality in rivers, lakes, and streams. By 2050, more than half of the global population (57%) will live in areas that suffer water scarcity at least one month each year.9. Waste management
The World Bank estimates global waste will grow by 70 percent by 2050 as urbanisation and populations rise11, requiring better collecting, recycling of trash, as well as expertise clean-up efforts from public and private sectors.10. Public health
A rise in temperature could pose a serious threat to public health as it affects the quality of drinking water and the way chemicals and debris are disposed of. The World Health Organisation projects that between 2030 and 2050, climate change impacts will cause 250,000 more deaths globally each year, mainly from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and heat stress.And here’s a video to watch:
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