Today, climate change is already transforming natural systems around the world. Sea levels and average temperatures are rising. Still, unless you’re caught in a big storm or a major drought, you may not even notice those changes. In the future, we will start seeing much bigger changes.

Our Health

The warming of our planet is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events like major floods and storms. Still, there is good news: In the last 100 years, deaths from natural disasters have fallen by more than 75 percent compared to the world’s total population. This steep decline is the result of two things: better warning systems and infrastructure improvements. Infrastructure includes things like buildings, roads, bridges, and power lines.

This trend is promising. But we also know that disaster prevention and relief are often expensive. Wealthy countries like the United States will be well-equipped to deal with natural disasters. On the other hand, the world’s poorest nations are not as lucky. They lack the resources to prepare for disasters and to respond effectively to them. They will continue to suffer the most extreme impacts of climate change.

Climate change will likely increase the spread of disease. Warmer temperatures are pushing species into new areas, and these species bring disease with them. Tropical bats seeking cooler temperatures may introduce a new virus to animals hundreds or even thousands of miles away. It’s not just bats. Scientists predict climate change will cause thousands of animals to shift their ranges, and many will bring new diseases with them.

We know that climate change will make most places hotter. Today, around 8 million Americans experience temperatures above 125 degrees Fahrenheit (51.7 degrees Celsius) at least once a year. Scientists predict that by 2050, over 100 million Americans will see that level of extreme heat.¹ That level of heat affects human health and will cause more illness and death. It also will change the types of plants and animals we can raise for food. Extreme heat can lead to crop failure and food shortages, which increases the price of food. High food prices will be bad for everyone. But they will be particularly bad for those with less money. Hundreds of millions of people may face starvation. We may be able to avoid this terrible outcome. New kinds of seeds that can survive extremely hot weather could make it easier to grow food.

Our Jobs

Climate change will affect nearly every part of our economy. Already, it has created new job opportunities. Of course, some companies and jobs will go away. The burning of carbon-based fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas primarily causes climate change. As a result, there will be many job losses in the fossil fuel industry as we move away from these fuels. On the other hand, we will see more jobs in renewable energy. There also will be more jobs for scientists in climate-related fields.

Other jobs, like business leaders and lawyers, will also play a key role in helping the economy adapt to climate change.

Our Systems

Climate change will have a major impact on the complex human systems that govern our modern world. It will require a complete rethinking of our energy, transportation, infrastructure, and food systems. They will have to change so they can operate without creating carbon pollution. As we respond to climate change, we will transform our energy systems. You’ve probably seen signs of this change in the form of renewable energy sources, like solar and wind power. We still need to increase our ability to produce zero-carbon electricity. This will mean expanding renewables like wind and geothermal power. We will likely increase the use of nuclear energy, too.

As we electrify industries that previously ran on fossil fuels, we will see major changes. Take electric vehicles (EVs), for example. Today, EVs make up around 18 percent of all the new cars sold globally. Experts predict that by 2030, they will make up two-thirds of new car sales.²

Climate change will affect where people live. We have already discussed how animal species are migrating in search of more livable habitats. Humans will move for the same reason. By 2050, scientists predict sea-level rise will push 150 million people from their homes.³ These people are being called “climate refugees”. The majority of them move within their own countries. However, climate change increasingly pushes people across international borders.

Our Role In Shaping The Future

This article has laid out some of the challenges the future may bring. It is important to remember that our future is not set in stone. Our planet has already warmed enough to cause serious changes in our environment. Yet the future doesn’t have to be terrible. The impacts of climate change are just one part of the story. The other part is our response — the ways we adapt, innovate, and cooperate to build a livable future. Climate change presents some of the biggest challenges humanity has faced, but history has shown that we can solve hard problems. If we work together, we can create the world we want to see.

1 First Street, “2022 Heat Model Launch,” 2022 (press release). https://firststreet.org/press/2022-heat-model-launch
2 RMI, “EVs to Surpass Two-Thirds of Global Car Sales by 2030, Putting at Risk Nearly Half of Oil Demand, New Research Finds,” 2023 (press release). https://rmi.org/press-release/evs-to-surpass-two-thirds-of-global-car-sales-by-2030-putting-at-risk-nearly-half-of-oil-demand-new-research-finds/
3 New York Times Magazine, Jul. 23, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/07/23/magazine/climate-migration.html