Impacts of Climate Change

Adapting to Climate Change

Adaptation helps us prepare for some of the likely effects of climate change by reducing their impacts on ecosystems and people's well-being. Examples of adaptation include strengthening water conservation programs, upgrading stormwater systems, developing early warning systems for extreme heat events, and preparing for stronger storms through better emergency preparation and response strategies.

¹Hayhoe, K., D.J. Wuebbles, D.R. Easterling, D.W. Fahey, S. Doherty, J. Kossin, W. Sweet, R. Vose & M. Wehner. (2018). Our changing climate. In: Impacts, risks, and adaptation in the United States: Fourth national climate assessment, volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Mayco*ck, and B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, p. 76. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH2

²Vose, R.S., D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, A.N. LeGrande & M.F. Wehne. (2017).Temperature changes in the United States. In: Climate science special report: Fourth national climate assessment, volume I [Wuebbles, D.J., D.W. Fahey, K.A. Hibbard, D.J. Dokken, B.C. Stewart, and T.K. Mayco*ck (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, pp. 197–199. doi: 10.7930/J0N29V45

⁵Lall, U., T. Johnson, P. Colohan, A. Aghakouchak, C. Brown, G. McCabe, R. Pulwarty & A. Sankarasubramanian.(2018). Water. In: Impacts, risks, and adaptation in the United States: Fourth national climate assessment, volume II[Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Mayco*ck & B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, pp. 145–173. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH3

⁶Lipton, D., M.A. Rubenstein, S.R. Weiskopf, S. Carter, J. Peterson, L. Crozier, M. Fogarty, S. Gaichas, K.J.W. Hyde, T.L. Morelli, J. Morisette, H. Moustahfid, R. Muñoz, R. Poudel, M.D. Staudinger, C. Stock, L. Thompson, R. Waples & J.F. Weltzin. (2018). Ecosystems, ecosystem services, and biodiversity. In: Impacts, risks, and adaptation in the United States: Fourth national climate assessment, volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Mayco*ck, and B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, pp. 268–321. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH7

⁷Ebi, K.L., J.M. Balbus, G. Luber, A. Bole, A. Crimmins, G. Glass, S. Saha, M.M. Shimamoto, J. Trtanj & J.L. White-Newsome. (2018). Human health. In: Impacts, risks, and adaptation in the United States: Fourth national climate assessment, volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Mayco*ck, and B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, pp. 544, 551–552. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH14

Vose, R.S., D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, A.N. LeGrande & M.F. Wehner. (2017). Temperature changes in the United States. In: Climate science special report: Fourth national climate assessment, volume I [Wuebbles, D.J., D.W. Fahey, K.A. Hibbard, D.J. Dokken, B.C. Stewart & T.K. Mayco*ck (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, pp. 197–199. doi: 10.7930/J0N29V45

Gowda, P., J.L. Steiner, C. Olson, M. Boggess, T. Farrigan & M.A. Grusak. (2018). Agriculture and rural communities. In: Impacts, risks, and adaptation in the United States: Fourth national climate assessment, volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Mayco*ck & B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, pp. 399–403. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH10

Hayhoe, K., D.J. Wuebbles, D.R. Easterling, D.W. Fahey, S. Doherty, J. Kossin, W. Sweet, R. Vose & M. Wehner. (2018). Our changing climate. In: Impacts, risks, and adaptation in the United States: Fourth national climate assessment, volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Mayco*ck & B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, pp. 88–90. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH2

Wehner, M.F., J.R. Arnold, T. Knutson, K.E. Kunkel & A.N. LeGrande. (2017). Droughts, floods, and wildfires. In: Climate science special report: Fourth national climate assessment, volume I [Wuebbles, D.J., D.W. Fahey, K.A. Hibbard, D.J. Dokken, B.C. Stewart & T.K. Mayco*ck (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, pp. 237–240 and 240–242. doi: 10.7930/J0CJ8BNN

Fleming, E., J. Payne, W. Sweet, M. Craghan, J. Haines, J.F. Hart, H. Stiller & A. Sutton-Grier. (2018). Coastal effects. In: Impacts, risks, and adaptation in the United States: Fourth national climate assessment, volume II [Reidmiller, D.R., C.W. Avery, D.R. Easterling, K.E. Kunkel, K.L.M. Lewis, T.K. Mayco*ck & B.C. Stewart (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, p. 339. doi: 10.7930/NCA4.2018.CH8

FAQs

Impacts of Climate Change | US EPA? ›

More frequent extreme weather events such as droughts, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires will not only put people's lives at risk, but can also worsen underlying medical conditions, increase stress, and lead to adverse mental health effects.

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What are the impacts of climate change USA? ›

Southwest. Climate change has caused increased heat, drought, and insect outbreaks. In turn, these changes have made wildfires more numerous and severe. The warming climate has also caused a decline in water supplies, reduced agricultural yields, and triggered heat-related health impacts in cities.

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What are the impacts of climate EPA gov? ›

The changing climate impacts society and ecosystems in a broad variety of ways. For example, climate change can alter rainfall, influence crop yields, affect human health, cause changes to forests and other ecosystems, and even impact our energy supply.

What are 5 potential impacts of climate change? ›

Climate impacts are already harming health, through air pollution, disease, extreme weather events, forced displacement, pressures on mental health, and increased hunger and poor nutrition in places where people cannot grow or find sufficient food.

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What does the EPA report shows disproportionate impacts of climate change? ›

WASHINGTON (Sept. 2, 2021) — A new EPA analysis released today shows that the most severe harms from climate change fall disproportionately upon underserved communities who are least able to prepare for, and recover from, heat waves, poor air quality, flooding, and other impacts.

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What are the 4 main impacts of climate change? ›

But we must also prepare for the significant and unavoidable consequences of carbon emissions such as increasing temperatures, shifting precipitaton patterns, ocean acidification, sea level rise and the increasing intensity and frequency of extreme weather events.

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What are the 5 ways climate change affects us? ›

Trauma from floods, droughts, and heat waves can lead to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and suicide. More heat can mean longer allergy seasons and more respiratory disease. More rain increases mold, fungi, and indoor air pollutants.

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What impact has the EPA had? ›

Environmental Impacts

EPA's climate partnership programs have prevented more than 6 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from entering our atmosphere, while helping American consumers and businesses save more than $500 billion.

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Does the EPA actually help the environment? ›

We don't protect the environment on our own. We work with businesses, non-profit organizations, and state and local governments through dozens of partnerships. A few examples include conserving water and energy, minimizing greenhouse gases, re-using solid waste, and getting a handle on pesticide risks.

What is the 7 impact of climate change? ›

Symptoms of climate change are all around us: extreme weather, diminishing sea ice, year after year of record-breaking warmth, drought, fires, and stress to ecosystems. Many of these consequences will create hardship for humans.

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How bad is climate change in 2024? ›

According to NCEI's Global Annual Temperature Outlook, there is a 22% chance that 2024 will rank as the warmest year on record and a 99% chance that it will rank in the top five. January saw a record-high monthly global ocean surface temperature for the 10th consecutive month.

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How bad is climate change right now? ›

According to NOAA's 2023 Annual Climate Report the combined land and ocean temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.11° Fahrenheit (0.06° Celsius) per decade since 1850, or about 2° F in total. The rate of warming since 1982 is more than three times as fast: 0.36° F (0.20° C) per decade.

What has EPA done for climate change? ›

EPA's Clean Air Act protections for the oil and natural gas industry help combat climate change and reduce emissions of other harmful air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds that contribute to ground-level ozone (“smog”) and hazardous air pollutants such as benzene.

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What is the EPA dramatically reducing? ›

Pollution from vehicles, engines, and fuels dramatically reduced while achieving economic growth. Over forty years of clean air policies have improved air quality and improved the health of Americans, and the environment.

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What has the EPA done? ›

From regulating auto emissions to banning the use of DDT; from cleaning up toxic waste to protecting the ozone layer; from increasing recycling to revitalizing inner-city brownfields, EPA's achievements have resulted in cleaner air, purer water, and better protected land.

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What does the US contribute to climate change? ›

Human activities are responsible for almost all of the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the last 150 years. The largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from human activities in the United States is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation.

Impacts of Climate Change | US EPA (2024)

Adapting to Climate Change

FAQs

Impacts of Climate Change | US EPA? ›

What is the 7 impact of climate change? ›