How Will Climate Change Continue to Affect Us?: Crash Course Climate & Energy #8

Our warming planet isn’t just a threat to future generations; it’s a threat to us right now. If we don’t mitigate it, the continued rise in global temperature will have ripple effects throughout ecosystems and communities. In this episode of Crash Course Climate and Energy, we’ll look at how climate change has already affected our planet, and what the future might hold.

Chapters:
Introduction: Climate Change 00:00
Global Warming 1:03
Extreme Weather Events 2:08
Climate Models 4:29
Climate Change's Ripple Effects 6:54
Feedback Loops 10:22
The Future of Climate Change 11:16
Review & Credits 12:43

Sources:

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Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?

[terryH]

anyone saw the 1hr documentary made by BBC Earth about the change that happened during 2020 lockdown: CO2 dropped, beach suddenly became empty -- penguins were able to dive in get food several times daily to feed their babies (normally they avoid humans and wait til sunset to feed ONCE daily)... anyone saw the movie "Snowpiercer" post-apocalyptic wintery world where remaining people live in a huge train -- of course 1st class cabins eat and live normally, and everyone else have to eat jello meals (made of bug powder!) 😱

[austinc]

It would be really cool if I could enter my zip code into a site which would tell me when my elections are, who’s running, and what are their records and positions on climate change

[teen-at-heart]

Actually, every 0.1 degree saves lives and helps (as scientists have calculated and shown in recent years). So it’s worth keeping up the fight, even if we don’t manage the 1.5 degree goal.

[WeAreShowboat]

8:17 “Experts estimate that global GDP will be 10% less in 2050 than it is today” You got this really wrong. The prediction is how much less the GDP would be in 2050 with climate change compared to 2050 without climate change. The GDP is predicted to be larger in 2050 than today, the only question is how much larger.

[lyleblue]

warming here in texas is hyper noticeable with significantly rarer winter precipitation outside of the destabilized polar vortex making it here

[adrianpiper]

I HATE people who dont care about their climate change because they think they won't live that long

[TheOldBlackCrow]

I love your frankness. I wish someone had done this 50 years ago.

Thank you!

[benwasserman]

I mean it definitely shouldn’t. But as long as half of Congress acts like climate change doesn’t exist, it very well could be.

[philippebrehier]

"Supply and demand"
It should be "Demand, then supply" in order to produce (almost) only what we need (less stress, no waste and so much less trash).

[CitiesForTheFuture]

Thanks for this critical and very well done series. You really packed a lot of info into a very succinct episode - very impressive.
You alluded to the close inter-connected links between ecological, environmental, socio-cultural, political & economic systems. It should be stressed that ALL human systems occur within the ecological system - and not the other way round. ALL human systems rely heavily on ecological systems, processes, services & goods. Saving the Earth is NOT a "radical leftist tree-hugger hippy" thing, it's a "saving humankind and everything we hold dear" thing!

While there are many many many hurdles, global efforts are occurring behind the scenes to try and restore the climate, natural systems, biodiversity AND human welfare - ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Such international efforts includes (among MANY international agreements)
- the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development to achieve healthy ecological, socio-cultural & economic systems (for all)
- Habitat III and the New Urban Agenda (it's estimated that around 80% of humans will live in cities & towns by 2050'ish - so making cities work for everyone is absolutely critical!)
- Sendai Framework for Hazard Risk Reduction to make the world a safer place
- UNCAC to reduce incidence of international crime & corruption
- Beijing Declaration on gender equality

Think global, act local! While dirty corporations & individuals try to pass the responsibility for climate restoration onto individuals (don't fall for it), individuals can make a contribution via citizenship (make a difference in your community and your country), career (make a different where you work) and as a consumer (be mindful of the products you buy and the companies you support with your buying power).

Individuals, businesses & governments at all levels must work together to create communities, cities, regions & countries that are sustainable, green, integrated, inclusive, safe, healthy, beautiful, gender-sensitive, child-friendly, resilient and climate-ready. Tactical urbanism is a way that communities can implement local projects that benefits everybody. Other great new strategies for community development includes "new urbanism" and "strong towns".

Vested interests seek to maintain the status quo and horde wealth & privilege for the minority. Remaining quiet is no longer an option for the majority of us - get involved in local community groups to find solutions to local challenges. Many issues we face are global ones - whatever they are - so chances are good someone somewhere has figured out and implemented a solution. Where there's a will, there's a way.

You can't negotiate with nature - it sets limits & describes consequences. The Earth is telling us that limits are being reached and we will not like the consequences unless we do things differently. So it's time for all of us to do our part to make the world a more equitable place. It's time to reflect on what's really important (family & friendships and community - i.e. healthy social relationships) and ditch the things that we're actually much better off without. It's also not just about us but the generations that come after us. Our responsibility is not just with the present, but to the future as well.

[emu]

This couldn't have come at a more perfect time. Working towards my BS in Environmental Sciences and my current course in climate change requires us to examine an article or video discussing what effects climate change will have over the next century. I'm so thankful to be able to use Crash Course for this, as it is so easy to digest and have confidence in the source material <3

[Argacyan]

9:50 The effect of higher sea levels will also worsen the intrusion of saltwater into freshwater reserves near coastal communities, leading to a reduction in available ground water and loss of soil fertility.

[kaytobe]

See Willow project. We are very very unlikely to stop at 1.5, we will be immensely lucky if we can stop at 2. I want to see a contrast of 2 vs. 3 C - where we are headed currently and how much we can still avoid in that scenario.

[bradleedenney]

When people get money in politics for a cause, the crisis will never stop because the money will stop.

[kikidee]

These videos are incredibly educational and important, more people need to be aware than ever. But It’s hard to shake the hopelessness and helplessness these messages keep reminding of us that’s it’s not changing. Like children being warned about their parents irresponsible behavior, what can we do if it hasn’t been changed yet. The ones who care don’t hold the power.

[Rugged-Mongol]

Recent Cyclone Freddy is already the longest extant tropical storm recorded so far at 5 weeks and 4 days :o

[mironricardo]

Times like these, I wouldn't be surprised if someone released a Captain Trips surprise.

[adpirtle]

I think it's clear that it will be around for centuries. We just get to decide how bad it will get.

[RavenFilms]

Unrelated, but at first, I thought she might have been the woman who played Andrea on the Walking Dead like 10 years ago.

[scottkidder]

Great video! There’s this terrible line we have to walk between making sure the most vulnerable aren’t taken out by economic stagnation due to over aggressive climate policies and making sure that they don’t get taken out by a lack of action to do anything to stop climate change. I think like with anything, we’re learning as we go and we’ll get better at crafting climate policy that straddles this line well and be something that all of us can agree to. I really hope we limit climate change to 1.5 degrees, but I’m not sure it’s possible. Even if we fail to limit it to 2 degrees it cannot be overstated that we still must try. We need to take all of the problems seriously and we need all the ideas we can get our hands on to try and solve this. I think what I’m trying to say is not to despair. Despair is the same thing as giving up, and we need to keep trying even when the odds are very much stacked against us.