Written by Akshitha Yekkirala (Sem. II)
Time passes by really quick, doesn’t it? There’s something that is changing just as fast — our world. The earth’s average temperature has risen by over 1.2°c since 19th century. The year 2024 so far is the hottest one on record.
But climate change doesn’t mean just soaring temperatures. The effects are far-reaching — from a cup of coffee to women’s menstrual cycles.
One of the most noticeable effects of climate change on your life is impact on your health. Rising temperatures have led to longer and more intense allergy seasons. Higher pollen counts exacerbate your allergies, causing frequent sneezing, congestion, and discomfort. Increased air pollution from vehicle emissions and industrial activities will worsen your asthma, making it harder to breathe on particularly hot and polluted days.
Climate change has also affected your finances. It is taking a toll on your purse as heatwaves and droughts are connected to rising food prices. The cost of living has increased due to disruptions in supply chains caused by extreme weather events. For example, the the price of fresh produce has risen because of droughts and floods affecting agricultural output.
Climate change is also connected to your electricity bill: the hotter the temperature outside, the more you tend to use fans and ACs. Higher energy costs have made it more expensive to cool your home during heat waves. During droughts, you will have to pay more for water the moment there’s a shortage in supply.
The cost of living has increased due to disruptions in supply chains caused by extreme weather events.
If you want to travel using flights, you have to fear for death because climate change can cause more violent turbulence.
It often results in episodes of gender-based violence, particularly physical, sexual and domestic abuse of women. The loss of crops or houses being washed away puts the future of young girls in danger. They are forced into marriage a lot earlier and even way before a legal age to marry, because this means one mouth less to feed.
Women end up suffering more in droughts like situation, because they are treated as caregivers of the family and have to provide water, going miles to serve the family. Climate change will effect women’s menstrual cycles too.
From health issues to economic challenges and psychological stress, the impacts are tangible and significant.