The Climate Crisis, for beginners

The past few years, climate change has been a primary focus on a national scale. As the temperatures of the planet began to increase at an alarming and unnatural pace, the effects of this growing concern have become more and more visible. The environmental consequences are almost as harrowing as the societal outcomes that occur as well. Attention for climate change is growing, but so are the tragic results. Recent investigations have found that not only our natural environments are affected, but also the actions of our human population and race. In trying to change policies and find solutions to prevent the issue, it’s essential to acknowledge how different countries and communities are targeted more than others.
The environmental effects of climate change spur from an increase in greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. These gases are natural but in the event of deforestation, pollution, or other negative anthropogenic effects, the increase in greenhouse gases throws the biosphere off balance and results in rising oceans, temperatures, and many other drastic changes to the environment.
Less privileged people are a main target of climate change. A study found that rich countries become wealthier and poor countries became poorer as global warming enhanced. Stanford University recorded that the economic gap became 25% larger in terms of income, than it would have without climate change. Countries that are facing an increase in temperatures, such as India or Nigeria, are finding less economic growth, while cooler countries, such as Canada and the UK, have an increase in their economic growth. This difference was most noticeable between Sudan and Norway — Sudan lost 36% of their gross domestic product while Norway gained 34% more than before (Enking 2019). In these countries, the average income will decrease 75% by 2100 (Worland 2019). And after the UN Science Body concluded the possibility of temperatures rising over 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century, direct links can be made to millions of premature deaths. Although poorer countries suffer the most from climate change, it’s often the wealthiest countries that are releasing the most greenhouse gases.
In the United States, all geographic locations will face changes. In mountain ranges, water shortages and wildfires have been occurring (especially in California where ongoing wildfires have been constant). Coastal areas will see an increase in population and therefore have more demands of resources. And even arctic areas are victims of thawing permafrost. In rural areas, agricultural changes with crops with put a burden on farmers. Urban cities will face a drastic increase in the cost of living — the cost of energy, water, comfort, insurance, and health will go up.
Additionally, Indigenous people, women, immigrants, and low-income families will be the primary victims of global warming. Native American communities will find it harder to rely on natural resources for cultural practices and living in rural areas where the effects of climate change are the greatest (EPA 2017).
Nitya Rao, professor of gender and development at the University of East Anglia, studied the effects climate change has on women.
“What we found is that climate change and environmental stress are common factors that intensify pre-existing disadvantages or gender and developmental inequalities. That’s especially true in poorer parts of the world, where families depend on agriculture and labor jobs to make money, and where male migration, male-dominated labor markets, and patriarchal institutions already put stresses on families, mostly women, that are struggling to survive” (Park & Rao 2019).
These same difficult situations apply to low-income families and people of color. The increase in the price of living, loss of jobs, and discrimination are intensified.
Around the world, immigration rates rise as climate change hotspots become uninhabitable. Like many species that are changing their natural migration patterns, this is occurring for humans. A 2018 World Bank Group Report recorded that regions with larger populations, such as sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America, could result in displacement and internal migration of over 140 million people by 2050 (Turrentine 2019). This would not only strain resources of other countries but also become a significant focus in political systems and societies.
With this continuous research advancing, many places around the world are beginning to take action. California is one of the few states to pass a bill that mandates zero carbon emission (for electricity) by 2045. This came after the Paris Climate Agreement set a goal of a constant two degrees Celsius for the climate and concluded that in order for humans to survive, the world must be carbon neutral by 2060–2070. California started with electricity — which makes up 16% of greenhouse gases produced by the state. Transportation releases the greatest amount, 41%, while industrial and agriculture follow (Nuccitelli 2018). As the fourth largest oil producer, California is taking major steps to meet the climate target. Becoming carbon neutral will decrease the amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and reduce greenhouse gases overall.
The effects of climate change boil down to a simple formula: There are contributors to climate change and victims of climate change. Amongst these different categories of countries, environments, and people — little action is being taken because of the constant question of who is to blame. Much of the stigmas around climate change come from a misunderstanding of the issue and its significance to our world and future. Climate change is caused by a want to maximize profits with anthropogenic acts, so it’s only right that the human population, specifically those with wealth and power, must take tangible steps for resolving the state of our climate.

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Los Angeles Youth Climate Activism is a youth-led team fighting for climate justice and intersectional activism. @la.yca