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Studnet Name
English 102-200
Amanda Carlson
December 9, 2023
Disproportionate Effects of Climate Change
Human activity has been affecting the climate since the start of the Industrial Revolution.
Decades have passed since climate scientists have linked human activity to increased greenhouse
gasses in the atmosphere, leading to global temperatures rising slowly. Climate change has
varying effects throughout all parts of the world. The impact of climate change can manifest as
more prolonged periods of droughts, floods, severe storms, rising sea levels, and extreme heat
waves. All the issues created by climate change affect the entire human population and even less
developed areas. This creates an issue of less developed regions needing more resources to
lessen the effects of climate change. The EPA recognizes the environmental concerns regarding
climate change by sponsoring grants and partnerships and supporting regulations to safeguard
ecological and public health that will help with the disproportionate effects of climate change.
Transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy is the key to winning the fight against climate
change. As the global community struggles with climate change, there is an urgent need to
consider alternatives that can sustain our energy needs. Utilizing natural resources, clean energy
produces power that does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and renewable energy is
one method of producing sustainable energy. As a result, climate change disproportionately
impacts vulnerable populations, with the least developed regions bearing the brunt of
environmental shifts, even though they contribute the least to global carbon emissions. Building
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community resilience, international cooperation, equitable climate policies, and other
strategies through the EPA can all help lessen the disproportionate effects of climate
change, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities and ultimately resulting in a
more sustainable and just future for all.
The effects of climate change are global and affect our whole world, but certain scientific
information suggests it needs to be more generalized. Climate change disproportionately affects
some of the poorest countries on different continents, such as Sudan in Africa, Bolivia in South
America, and Cambodia in Asia. They are more exposed and more vulnerable to the impact of
climate change (Guivarch et al). The livelihoods of indigenous peoples and disadvantaged
communities rely on natural resources, and their dwellings are situated in vulnerable settings,
making them more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The consequences of climate
change are particularly severe for some vulnerable people, such as indigenous communities, tiny
island nations, and economically deprived areas. These populations face a scarcity of resources,
more frequent and intense natural disasters, and sea levels at their highest points in years
(Wildcat, Daniel). The United States also feels the effects of climate change. Hurricanes and
tornados are more potent, and more of them cause devastation to towns and flooding to lower
areas. The winter storms are more intense, which causes areas to shut down for days, and the
extreme heat that has been going on in the south affects low-income neighborhoods where they
may have fewer trees and green spaces. All this creates economic issues in low-income
communities.
Economic Growth is a critical issue in these communities. When agricultural, forestry, and
fisheries sectors are compromised due to fires, earthquakes, droughts, floods, and water levels in
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lakes and rivers are impaired by some natural disasters, it hinders the community's growth. Some
of the poorest economies are affected by this because they depend on resources that are provided
by nature (Guivarch et al.). “While inequality refers to differences in income or wealth across the
whole range distribution, poverty concerns individuals below a given income threshold or
lacking access to basic needs. By hitting the poorest hardest, climate change risks increasing
existing economic inequalities and causing people to fall into poverty” (Guivarch et al.).
Increasing temperatures are widening gaps in access to affordable food and clean water
(Guivarch et al.). As Climate change increases the extreme levels of acute food insecurity and
access to clean water worldwide, health issues in populations with lower resources increase. This
creates a secondary health crisis in communities worldwide that lack the resources to offset the
effects of climate change.
Health issues are a big topic with the disproportionate effect of climate change. “Climate
Change effect is already increasing the severity or frequency of health threats occurring in some
areas. In other areas, the effect of climate change on land, water, and air quality can cause new
health problems where they hadn't previously occurred (“Climate Change”). Climate change
issues such as heat waves can lead to more heat-related illnesses and deaths from heart issues and
worsen cardiovascular disease. Air quality can aggravate lung diseases, such as asthma, and
severe weather can cause injuries, illnesses, and death and harm mental health due to poverty
damage, loss of loved ones, displacement, and chronic stress (“Climate Change”). Warmer
temperatures worldwide can cause exposure to infectious diseases such as Zika, Dengue, and
Chikungunya. In the U.S., disease cases from mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas have all increased,
causing significant effects on poorer communities that do not have access to medical care. If they
do, they do not have health insurance and can not afford it (“Climate Change”). The lack of
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water, food safety, and nutrition from the effects of climate change can also cause serious health
issues.
Food safety and nutrition are things that we take for granted. Only some worldwide have
access to it, let alone have climate change involved. “Climate change and the direct impacts of
higher concentration of Caron dioxide in the atmosphere are expected to affect food safety and
nutrition.” (“Climate Impacts”). Numerous effects of climate change threaten the stability of the
world's food systems by lowering food security and the standard of diets and exposing
vulnerable populations to various malnutrition types (“The Impact”). There are many ways for
this to happen. Climate change exacerbates untenable food systems by directly affecting the soil
quality, rainfall patterns, productivity of crops, food-nutrient and anti-nutrient composition, and
intake of nutrients (“The Impact”). We need to learn to adapt and figure out ways to protect our
food and water from the effects of climate change to help the more vulnerable populations and
poorer nations.
One way to do that is to learn about energy from natural sources that refill faster than they
are used up. That is known as renewable energy, and it is present everywhere. Such sources as
sunlight and wind are continually being replenished. Emissions from burning fossil fuels are
significantly reduced when renewable energy is generated. Resources known as fossil fuels are
non-renewable and require hundreds of millions of years to create. When fossil fuels are used to
produce energy, they release dangerous greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, contributing to
climate change. As of 2010, China and the United States are the two largest economies in the
world and the top energy consumers. As a result, they will be crucial to the global transition to
clean energy. Developing renewable energy is an essential strategy with broad implications, as
both countries are driven by related goals such as job creation, energy security, pollution
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reduction, and diversified energy portfolios. Any significant advancements in renewable energy
that the two nations make will benefit the world through improved technological understanding,
lower costs through increased deployment, and lower greenhouse gas emissions because of the
size of their respective energy markets (“The Power”). Some familiar renewable energy sources
are Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Geothermal Energy, Hydropower, Ocean Energy, and
Bioenergy (“What Renewable”). In most nations, renewable energy is less expensive than fossil
fuels and creates three times as much employment.
Out of the different types of renewable energy, the ones known mainly by everyday people
are solar and wind energy. They are the ones that you can find most often by driving through
neighborhoods and driving down interstates. The amount of electricity generated globally from
solar and wind power is rising significantly (Rubio-Licht). Solar energy is the most plentiful of
all energy sources and can even be used while overcast outside. The pace at which the Earth
absorbs solar radiation is around ten times higher than the rate at which people use energy. Solar
technologies have a wide range of uses in which they may provide fuel, power, heat, cooling, and
natural lighting. Photovoltaic panels or mirrors that focus solar radiation are two ways solar
technologies convert sunlight into electrical energy (“What Energy”). Even though the amount of
solar energy available varies, each nation may use direct solar energy to contribute significantly
to its energy mix. In the past ten years, there has been a significant decline in the cost of
producing solar panels, which makes them not only accessible but frequently the least expensive
source of power. Depending on the material used in production, solar panels may be made in a
range of hues and have a lifespan of around thirty years. Wind energy has a more significant
technological potential than electricity generation globally. Wind energy captures the kinetic
energy of flowing air using massive wind turbines on land, freshwater, or the ocean. Although
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wind energy has been utilized for thousands of years, in recent years, onshore and offshore wind
energy technology has advanced to produce more power by building higher turbines and bigger
rotor diameters. Even though typical wind speeds vary significantly between locations, most
parts of the world have enough capacity to support a sizable wind energy deployment (“What
Renewable”). There are claims that if solar and wind power continue to rise at their current rate
of 20% annually until 2030, the increase might keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius
(Rubio-Licht). That is why there is a need to put more effort into renewable energy so we can
enjoy the benefits for future generations.
The benefits of renewable energy are bountiful. Some of the benefits are economical, energy
independence, and sustainable growth. Financial benefits can vary. Renewable energy is a laborintensive industry that creates a wide range of high-wage, highly-skilled professions, unlike
traditional fossil fuels. Renewable energy technologies provide more jobs for every average
megawatt of power generated per dollar invested in manufacturing, installation, and construction
than coal or natural gas (“Economic Benefits”). There are different definitions and ideas for
energy independence. There is energy independence on a global level, and then there is on a
personal level. Being energy-independent as a homeowner might liberate you from overly high
electricity costs and volatile market changes.
Although it costs a lot up front, becoming energy-independent pays off in the long run
(“What Energy”). On a global level, there are two definitions of energy independence. If a
nation imports more commodities than it exports, it is considered a net importer. On the other
hand, if a nation exports more commodities than it imports, it is regarded as a net exporter
(“Today In”). First, it is a net exporter of energy commodities, such as coal, natural gas, and
petroleum products, instead of a net importer. Second, some define energy independence as the
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state where a nation produces all the energy it requires internally and does not require imports of
energy products(“What Energy”). The last benefit is sustainable growth/development.
Sustainable growth/development strikes a balance between social, economic, and environmental
factors. Sustainable growth/development aims to satisfy the needs of the present without
compromising those of future generations. Unlike fossil fuels, it can provide a long-term energy
solution and won’t run out. Wind and solar, the two primary energies, will provide the resources
needed to make this work and help fix the problem. Research shows that increasing our wind and
solar renewable energy by 20% by 2030 can keep global warming to a certain degree (“What
Energy”). While renewable energy has numerous benefits, some challenges go with it. Those
challenges may include intermittent solar and wind energies, infrastructure, and initial costs, and
there are different solutions for all those challenges.
There are many opinions regarding the challenges of renewable energy. Renewable energy
sources will only partially solve all environmental issues. While the production and
transportation of renewable energy sources generate some emissions and pollutants, their overall
greenhouse gas emissions and conventional air pollution are still relatively low. For example,
specific photovoltaic (PV) cell manufacturing processes produce hazardous materials that could
contaminate water supplies (“The Power”). Some argue that accessing renewable energy
materials in remote areas is challenging. Installations of renewable energy may also interfere
with wildlife habitat and land use, and certain technologies use a lot of water. Transportation of
renewable energy materials to remote locations can be expensive and complex. The cost of
shipping and transporting heavy equipment, such as wind turbines or solar panels, to remote
areas may outweigh the benefits, particularly when considering the difficulties of navigating
challenging terrains. Some remote areas may need more natural resources for certain types of
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renewable energy. For instance, geothermal energy generators require access to underground
heat sources, which may only be readily available in some remote locations. This can limit the
types of practical renewable energy in such areas. In many remote areas, land ownership and
usage are often intertwined with cultural and indigenous considerations. Engaging with local
communities and obtaining consent for renewable energy projects can be a complex process that
requires sensitivity to cultural and environmental concerns (“The Power”). As time passes and
technology continues to improve, some of these concerns will lessen. We will then have to come
to terms with the fact that the benefits outweigh the risks and what we gain in the long run
outweighs those challenges.
If we don't reduce our carbon footprint, the environmental impact of climate change will
continue to increase. This will worsen economic inequalities and hinder development and
poverty eradication efforts, as the most vulnerable populations are the ones most affected by
climate change despite contributing the least to global carbon emissions. Poorer nations may
require more infrastructure, technology, and financial resources to address the challenges of
climate change. Climate change also has a significant impact on health, as people who are
already struggling with sickness, malnutrition, and poor living conditions are the most affected.
Natural disasters can also destroy homes and leave people without resources to rebuild.
All of these factors contribute to economic inequalities and increase the number of people
living in poverty, who are disproportionately affected by climate change. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has been instrumental in addressing climate change and preserving
human health and the environment. To achieve its goals, the EPA collaborates with researchers,
lawyers, and educators to gather data, draft regulations, and educate the public about the
importance of protecting the planet. The EPA's efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions,
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promote scientific research, and inform public policy underscore the importance of government
agencies in leading the fight against global environmental challenges.
However, the EPA's effectiveness in battling climate change depends on ongoing support,
open communication, and collaboration with other sectors and countries to achieve long-lasting
results. Using renewable energy is wise and necessary to protect our planet and secure our
children's future. The transition to renewable energy is a multifaceted and compelling solution to
address environmental, economic, and societal challenges. As technology advances and
awareness of the importance of sustainability grows, the case for renewable energy becomes
even more compelling. We are investing in a cleaner, more sustainable future by investing in
renewable resources. It's exciting to see what we can achieve when we work together globally to
combat climate change and its disproportionate effects.
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Works Cited
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