Major Statement

Climate Changes and Social Human Organization

Will humanity live to see the next decade? Will humankind continue to rule and alter nature for our benefit, or will nature take back its dominance and rule us? The outcome of this question is still blurry, but overwhelming evidence points to the presumption that nature will soon overwhelm our man-made restraints, turning the social congruency and functionality of our modern time upside down. Planet Earth’s weather patterns are changing and there is no argument about it, the only argument is whether it is occurring naturally or is man-made. If man-made, something overwhelmingly confirmed by experts in this field, do we change our quality of life to lessen these climate impacts, or rapidly expand our technology and weather control patterns to fight it? While the world is focused on assessing the gains and losses of each of these decisions, the intricate web of our modern social organization is at risk of collapse. Climate change is an unprecedented global challenge and will have far-reaching and various consequences on the functionality of current human leadership, structure, and cohesion. While the conversation of how to combat climate change takes a front seat in the worldwide agenda, proper analysis and approach to how global social organizations will be impacted as a result of these changes must be conducted in order to avert potential civilization collapse. Current and historic climate conditions are the basis of daily human structure and success, and human life is extremely sensitive to minimal changes in its relationship with these conditions. Those in power must explore the multifaceted impacts of climate change on social organizations. Changes in historical weather patterns will have a direct effect on our current society, causing mass migrations, economic restructuring, food and water scarcity, mental health declines, and changing political dynamics. While the human response to climate change is pending, climate change's effect on the human species' functionality is not, and our ability to adapt to these changes will directly reflect the longevity of our species.

Climate-induced human migrations and displacement will occur on an astronomical scale in many areas around the world as climate change continues to show its force. As weather events become more extreme, regions formally habitable with thriving economies will become economically unsustainable and regionally uninhabitable. Factors such as rising sea levels, prolonged droughts, heat waves, and wildfires will all exacerbate these migrations and force millions out of their homes. Due to location and infrastructure development, some areas of the world will be more climate-sensitive than others. Latin America, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa are all considered to have the most vulnerable populations to climate change, with nearly half of the developing world living in these regions. The World Bank estimates that nearly 143 million internal climate migrants could leave these areas in search of habitable land by 2050, putting pressure on surrounding nations and destabilizing the broader region. Furthermore, small island nations are increasingly at risk, with rising sea levels and loss of arable land, thousands of refugees will be moving off islands in search of a new livelihood. As these displaced populations seek refuge elsewhere, many will be drawn to local urban areas in search of new economic opportunities. This will place more stress and demand for resources on already overpopulated urban areas and continue the growth of megacities. The UNHR states that megacities are the most popular destination for climate refugees, and the UN estimates the world population living in megacities will rise from 3.5 billion people to nearly 5 billion by 2030. This creates new challenges for areas like San Salvador, which saw an increase in nearly 30% population growth of rural to urban migrants, largely due to food insecurity and drought in the surrounding area. If cities are not correctly prepared for this influx in population, it can strain existing infrastructure, force the development of informal settlements, and exacerbate issues related to poverty. Climate-induced displacement also disrupts social networks for both the migrant and host communities. Migrants are uprooted from their homes, losing cultural traditions, identities, and land, and host communities in mega cities see a collapse in the city's infrastructure resulting in a new migrant population. This can often lead to social unrest and resentment from host communities, further alienating those displaced and creating further tension. The legal status of climate refugees is also still undeclared leaving migrants alienated. Currently, international refugee law does not qualify climate refugees under refugee status, leaving climate refugees in political limbo. The lack of legal definition gives these refugees no support and with an estimated 143 million refugees expected from just Latin America, South Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa alone it is imperative for legal mechanisms to be implemented to protect the rights and well-being of these internally displaced peoples. Our societies will need to change and adapt in order to house these displaced peoples and continue to find solutions to incorporate this new wave of migrants into our broader social organizations.

With all change comes opportunities. Climate change is no different, and a varying climate will no doubt disrupt our traditional economic sectors and employment patterns. Industries historically and heavily tied to climate phenomenon will find either heightened success or significant decline with the altered weather patterns expected from climate change. These industries will be forced to asses these changes and make a decision on whether to pivot or persevere into the future. Agriculture will be one of the first industries humankind must address worldwide in order to prevent complete chaos, famine, and civilization collapse. Unpredictable rainfall, increased pest pressures, and shifting weather patterns all threaten crop yield productivity. However, these same environmental pressures force crops to adapt, creating new opportunities for humankind to act on. As oceans absorb excess heat in the atmosphere and warm, many fish and shellfish will move north to find cooler waters. Marine life in the Northeast US has moved an average of 119 miles northward since 1960, and European fishermen have seen nearly 20 new species enter their waters. This creates new opportunities for coastal communities to boost their economies. Optimal growing conditions will also continue to shift as the climate changes and certain latitudes become more fertile than others. It is crucial for humankind to capitalize on these opportunities and work hand in hand with farmers and locals to identify these new hotspots and implement changes within communities to both build jobs in new agricultural markets and transition jobs from old agricultural markets to avoid collapses in historically agricultural communities. Climate change will also spark a major disruption in the world energy sector. Currently, global superpowers have pledged to limit their fossil fuel reliance in hopes of lessening the effects of climate change. With this commitment, governments have rapidly begun to invest in renewable energy sources, opening a new economic market. This transition has triggered and increased investment in solar, wind, and hydroelectric technologies, creating thousands of new jobs along the way. Renewable energy is significantly more labor-intensive than fossil fuel technologies, requiring more manual technicians and maintenance. As of today, the United States wind energy industry alone employs nearly 100,000 full-time jobs in a variety of specialties, and the solar industry employs nearly 260,000. Furthermore, increased legislation for renewable energy will continue to see the sector grow with a 2009 study from the Union of Concerned Scientists finding renewable energy will continue to create nearly three times the amount of jobs as fossil fuels would. Capitalizing, normalizing, and encouraging this growing industry is vital to the success of our continued quality of life and existence as a modern world. As climate extremes increase having the technology to harness extreme climate energy cost-effectively and sustainably is key to our species' continued resiliency and success.

One of the biggest disruptions climate change poses to our current social organizations is the effects extreme climates will have on the health and well-being of humans. For hundreds of years, humans have more or less lived under the same climate conditions and physical environment. However, now as the planet warms and weather events become more frequent and intense, Mother Nature's harsh elements threaten to reverse massive leaps in health progress worldwide achieved in the modern area. The World Health Organization estimates nearly 3.6 billion people live in climate-sensitive regions and expects nearly 250,000 additional deaths per year as a result of heat stroke and weather-induced illnesses. Furthermore WHO estimates direct damage to human health directly from climate change will cost an additional 2-4 billion USD to properly address. Heatwaves will be the most common destructive climate phenomenon as rising global temperatures increase and become more severe. Humans cannot healthily endure temperatures over 108°F without acclimatization, and as 2023 continues to be the hottest year in recorded history, temperatures around the globe will continue to hit the triple-digit mark posing significant and deadly threats like heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Along with these physical health consequences extreme heat exerts on the body, it also creates a large range of mental health impacts. Extreme heat is proven to be associated with irritability, depression, increased violence, and suicide. Extreme heat has also been found to have a direct correlation with memory loss, reaction time, and sleep difficulties. Vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, children, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions will be in significant danger as these strong and quick rises in temperature will continue to alter their environment. A study from Climate Central found that in 2023, 3.8 billion people were exposed to extreme heat between the months of June through August, and of that number, nearly 1.5 billion people experienced it every day between those months. These colossal numbers cannot be ignored, and research shows that not only does extreme heat significantly affect the well-being of humans, but it is being felt today. Along with rising temperatures, natural disasters, and displacement will contribute to heightened levels of anxiety, and depression. Children are increasingly more affected by natural disasters than adults and these traumatic experiences can incur lifelong post-traumatic stresses. As natural disasters become more frequent healthcare infrastructure must adapt and grow or they will continue to be stretched and eventually ineffective. To support the health and well-being of humans around the globe and uphold basic social organizations, adaptive health policies, and early warning systems to avoid weather-related health risks are essential and must be developed worldwide. Without this, billions of humans will be constantly exposed to physically and mentally damaging climates.

Due to the issues discussed above and countless others, the stress climate change is expected to cause to the current globalized synergy and quality of life will be colossal. However, those impacted by climate change will vary disproportionately. Climate change will almost certainly exacerbate existing inequalities and further widen the split in collective human organization and structure. Great strides have been accomplished worldwide in trying to close the global wealth gap and bring opportunity to all, however, climate change risks wiping that all away. The World Bank estimates that direct results of climate change will force nearly 68 to 135 million people into poverty by 2030 and this number is only expected to grow. Vulnerable and marginalized communities will see more roadblocks when attempting to bounce back from climate change compared to wealthy nations because they on average don't have the same resources. Furthermore, higher latitude areas could benefit and become more productive from a warming climate, somewhat offering major climate impacts. However tropical regions with poor populations will see the most risk and increased poverty. Children, the elderly, and low-income communities will continue to face to most risk from climate change and if not addressed correctly we may begin to see climate change spark the irreversible scenario of a world filled with ultra-wealthy and ultra-poor. To avoid this dystopian future governments and international communities must promote and work together on policies that prioritize the needs and rights of marginalized communities. They must also help include the same climate mitigation projects within both developed and developing nations and recognize the social inequalities climate change furthers. If climate change does indeed significantly widen the wealth gap, it is likely to see heightened conflicts worldwide. Dominance over remaining arable land, water, and spaces will become of utmost importance, and fighting within nations and between nations to control these hotspots will likely rise leading to increased loss of human life. While currently not a threat, this could be the dark reality of climate-related security risks and wars if humans do not adapt their current social structures and leadership ideology to counter the variables climate change brings to our current social livelihood.

In Conclusion, while climate change is often considered strictly for its environmental issues, it poses significant impacts on the social congruency and functionality of our modern time. Its challenges face every level of our society. From forcing individuals to leave their homeland, restructuring entire economies, decreasing both the physical and mental health of humans, and increasing the global wealth gap, climate change touches on each corner of our human social organization. By recognizing these connections while there is still time, those in power must implement systems acting now to help the transition into the future reflect closest to the modern world we have today. Climate change is inevitable and already in motion, it is our ability and effectiveness to react that will steer the history of mankind into the next century.

Works Cited

25, R. C. |July, Cho, R., Boyd, B., Boyle, E., Add, Kawasaki, S., Brown, B., Stephanie, Maria, There, T. G. O., Annie, Fisher-Bradley, J., Walt, Bncs, Trevor, Davids, E., Eddiie, The Other Other Guy Over There, Koetsier, S., … browne, A. (2022a, August 31). How climate change will alter our food. State of the Planet. https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2018/07/25/climate-change-food-agriculture/

Benefits of renewable energy use. Union of Concerned Scientists. (n.d.-a). https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/benefits-renewable-energy-use#:~:text=Using%20more%20renewable%20energy%20can,when%20fossil%20fuel%20prices%20spike.

Climate migration and cities: Preparing for the next mass movement of people. New Security Beat. (n.d.-a). https://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2020/10/climate-migration-cities-preparing-mass-movement-people/#:~:text=Cities%20across%20the%20world%20are,the%20effects%20of%20climate%20change.

Cross-border displacement, climate change and disasters: Latin America and the Caribbean. UNHCR US. (n.d.). https://www.unhcr.org/us/media/cross-border-displacement-climate-change-and-disasters-latin-america-and-caribbean

Extreme heat can take a toll on Mental Health. Psychiatry.org - Extreme Heat Can Take a Toll on Mental Health. (2023, July 20). https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/apa-blogs/extreme-heat-can-take-a-toll-on-mental-health#:~:text=Heat%20waves%20and%20extreme%20heat,with%20an%20increase%20in%20suicide.

How extreme weather events affect mental health. Psychiatry.org - How Extreme Weather Events Affect Mental Health. (n.d.). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/climate-change-and-mental-health-connections/affects-on-mental-health

No refuge for “climate refugees” in International Law - Tyler Bergeron. No Refuge for “Climate Refugees” in International Law - Tyler Bergeron • Environmental, Natural Resources, & Energy Law • Lewis & Clark. (n.d.). https://www.lclark.edu/live/blogs/200-no-refuge-for-climate-refugees-in-international#:~:text=Under%20current%20international%20refugee%20law,displacement%20by%20climate%20change%20grows.

Rigaud, K. K., de Sherbinin, A., Jones, B., Bergmann, J., Clement, V., Ober, K., Schewe, J., Adamo, S., McCusker, B., Heuser, S., & Midgley, A. (n.d.). Groundswell: Preparing for Internal Climate Migration. Open Knowledge Repository. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/2be91c76-d023-5809-9c94-d41b71c25635

Summer 2023: The hottest on record. Copernicus. (n.d.). https://climate.copernicus.eu/summer-2023-hottest-record#:~:text=The%20global%20temperature%20anomaly%20for,the%20warmest%20year%20on%20record.

Thompson, A. (2023, September 7). Half the world’s population faced extreme heat for at least 30 days this summer. Scientific American. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/half-the-worlds-population-faced-extreme-heat-for-at-least-30-days-this-summer/

United Nations. (n.d.-a). Climate change and security - the challenge of internal displacement in Small Island Developing States | office of the high representative for the least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and Small Island Developing States. United Nations. https://www.un.org/ohrlls/news/climate-change-and-security-challenge-internal-displacement-small-island-developing-states

United Nations. (n.d.-b). World urbanization prospects - population division. United Nations. https://population.un.org/wup/

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Climate change. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health