The Societal Effects of

Climate Change
Michael Bosser

Introduction
Climate change is accelerating and temperatures
are rising to record highs across the world.
Rising temperatures will cause difficulty in day to
day life for future generations.
What can be done to repair the damage and limit
future difficulties?

Causes of Climate Change

Human industrialization
over the last few centuries
has put enormous
amounts of pollutants into
the atmosphere
These pollutants,
including Carbon Dioxide,
are greenhouse gases
and are produced both
naturally and by human
activity.

Greenhouse Effect

Light from the sun

comes to Earth in the
form of solar
radiation.

Solar radiation is
necessary for plant
growth and sustained
life on Earth.

Naturally occurring greenhouse gases like

Co2 and ozone are produced in mass
quantities by human industry.

Rising Temperatures

An overabundance of greenhouses gases in

the atmosphere cause a larger than safe
amount of solar radiation to become trapped.

With nowhere to go, the excess solar radiation

elevates temperatures on Earth.

Effects on Health

Higher temperatures
around the globe can
have a detrimental
effect on a persons
physical health.

Infectious disease
such as Malaria
spread to new areas.
Elevated risk of skin
cancer.
Loss of fresh water
supplies and difficult
in growing crops.

Weather

Increased frequency
of hurricanes and
floods.
Severe weather
causing flooding in
major population
centers. (Hurricane
Katrina.)

Hurricanes in areas
unaccustomed to
inclement weather.
(Hurricane Sandy.)

Economic Damage

Extreme weather can

damage power
plants. (Fukushima)

Oil platforms
damaged during
Katrina caused a
supply shortage.

Financial aspects of damaged oil platforms, job

loss, and money spent on recovery.

Possible Solutions

Despite the myriad of problems causes by

rising temperatures, there are several ways in
which we can minimize the amount of damage
done and potentially reverse it for future
generations.

Stopping Deforestation

Trees and the rain

forest provide a filter
for excess carbon
dioxide.

The amount of trees

lost can filter nearly
20% of carbon
emissions.

Replanting lost tress and monitoring the growth

of the rain forest is one of the easiest ways to
combat rising temperatures.

Greener Architecture

Poorly insulated
buildings contribute to
43% of all carbon
emissions in the
United States.

Investing in heavier
insulation would
greatly reduce the
use of fossil fuels.

Greater use of mass

transportation in
suburban areas
would reduce smog
from vehicles.

Conclusion

Warming
temperatures since
the Industrial
Revolution are
impacting the planet
in a way we may
make it uninhabitable
for humans.

To slow and
eventually reverse
warming trends, we
need to focus on
cleaner sources of
energy and rethink
out current way of life.

References

Biello, David. "10 Solutions for Climate

Change." Scientific American Global RSS.
N.p., 26 Nov. 2007. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.
Global Warming Solutions, Stop Global
Warming - National Geographic." National
Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2015.