This Statista series of reports covers the following climate change effects:
The era of global boiling has arrived
Global warming is one of the most widely known effects of climate change, with the two terms used interchangeably by the general population. However, climate change – which refers to changes in climate patterns over a long period of time – encompasses not only global warming but also the side effects of a warming climate. As of 2022, the global temperature had increased by 1.2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average. Even in the most optimistic scenario, a warming of 1.8 degrees Celsius is expected by the end of the century.With warmer temperatures, more soil moisture is lost to the atmosphere, increasing drought conditions across the planet. For example, regions of the United States are abnormally dry, with 85 percent of the country’s continental area exposed to drought conditions in October 2022. The U.S. West is experiencing the worst megadrought on record. In turn, prolonged heat waves and droughts create perfect conditions for wildfire outbreaks. Even when these wildfires are sparked by human activities – such as clearing land for agriculture – dry and warm conditions often make them more extreme or cause them to get out of control. In 2021, the tree cover area loss due to wildfires worldwide surpassed seven million hectares. Higher temperatures and habitat degradation through wildfires also threaten global biodiversity.
While on the one hand a warming climate increases the likelihood of droughts and wildfires, on the other hand, the increase in evaporation and ocean water temperatures intensifies the frequency and strength of devastating storms and tropical cyclones. With more water pouring down in shorter intervals, the risk of floods is also raised. In 2022, more than 170 flood disasters were recorded worldwide. Flood risk in coastal areas is also aggravated by rising sea levels, which is caused by melting glaciers and thermal expansion – water taking up more space as it warms.