.png){kind=logo}
.webp)
Although climate change might seem like a distant or gradual issue, its effects are already impacting daily life in numerous ways. Depending on the region you live in or household income, however, you may be experiencing these changes differently.
Rising temperatures are leading to an increase in heat-related deaths, heat stroke, and dehydration. There has been a 117 percent increase in heat-related deaths over the past 24 years, with a significant upswing since 2016. Rising temperatures not only contribute to heat stroke and dehydration, but also exacerbate long-term health conditions, such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular problems, and kidney issues, especially in vulnerable populations. Certain geographic regions such as South Asia, Northwestern Europe, and the Southern US are more likely to experience intense heatwaves. Outdoor workers, athletes, and the homeless are disproportionately affected due to long-term exposure to heat, as well as low-income families and individuals that cannot afford to run air-conditioning or improve older infrastructure.
A poll in 2023 found that 87% of Americans have experienced at least one extreme weather event. Climate change is directly contributing to humanitarian emergencies from wildfires, floods, tropical storms and hurricanes and they are increasing in scale, frequency and intensity. These extreme weather events are heavily impacting economies and infrastructure. In 2024, there were 27 confirmed weather or climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect the United States. The disasters are also displacing approximately 21 million people annually since 2008. Areas with weak health infrastructure, mostly in developing countries, will be the least able to cope without assistance to prepare and respond. The direct damage costs to health from the increase in weather-related events is estimated to be between up to $4 billion per year by 2030. Poor air quality due to higher temperatures, wildfires, and industrial emissions leads to respiratory issues, allergies, and other health problems. Not to mention, insurance coverage in high-risk areas such as California due to wildfires or Florida due to hurricanes are being denied.
Climate change and its weather effects are not just directly affecting health through natural disasters. It has increased the spread of infectious diseases sensitive to including waterborne, foodborne, soil-and dust-associated, zoonotic, and vector-borne. The World Health Organization indicates 2 billion people lack safe drinking water and 600 million suffer from foodborne illnesses annually. Climate stressors heighten waterborne and foodborne disease risks as higher temperatures can lead to increased growth and survival rates of pathogens in water and food. Temperature and precipitation changes also enhance the spread of vector-borne diseases. Warmer climate has allowed for agents such as mosquitoes or ticks to expand their habitat regions and their breeding season to extend. Over the last two decades, the number of annual reported cases approximately doubled. Climate change threatens to undo decades of health progress, leaving us more at risk for epidemics or pandemics once more.
Climate change is a significant driver of rising costs of living, impacting energy costs, insurance premiums, and housing costs. Rising temperatures are increasing the number of days with extreme heat, leading to demand for air conditioning. More frequent extreme weather events strain the power grid, causing more blackouts and leading to higher electricity bills. Energy systems themselves are in danger as flooding from hurricanes and sea levels rising affect the coasts and melting permafrost sink fuel pipelines. Energy transportation, such as powerlines, railroads, pipelines, and storage facilities are also at risk to extreme weather. Rent and insurance are increasing as climate-related disasters damage rental properties, leading to increased repair costs, potential displacement of renters, and ultimately, higher rents or even eviction. Higher insurance premiums are a result of these increasing disasters. Nationally, home insurance rates have shot up 33.8% from 2018 through 2023 with insurance companies actually losing money in states at higher risks.
13.5 percent (18.0 million) of U.S. households were food insecure at some time during 2023. Food prices are hiking up because increasing extreme weather events damage crops, shifting weather patterns that disrupt farming seasons, and water scarcity that impacts agricultural productivity. Crop yields decline in areas affected by drought or flooding, fishing declines due to rising sea temperatures and acidification, and livestock declines from heat stress and reduced food intake during feeding. Prices increase with reduced supply and difficulty transporting goods with disrupted supply chains. Climate change can also create conditions that favor the spread of pests and diseases, further impacting crop yields and food security. For low-income families who spend most of their income on food, this will be challenging.
In conclusion, climate change is not a distant threat but an ongoing reality that touches various aspects of our daily lives in surprising ways. From extreme heat that affects health and increases mortality rates, to the intensification of natural disasters that disrupt economies and displace millions, the impacts are far-reaching. The rise of infectious diseases, the soaring cost of living, and the challenges to food security are all linked to a warming planet. These changes disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including low-income individuals and those living in high-risk areas. As we continue to face these climate-induced challenges, it becomes clear that climate change is not just an environmental issue but a pressing social, economic, and health issue that requires immediate and coordinated action to mitigate its effects.