The severity of climate change is no joke, and thanks to new science conducted in a recent study, the impact it'll have on today's children is grimmer than a lot of people realize. There are countless issues humanity's dealing with in 2021. Between poverty, homelessness, distrust in vaccines, dangerous world leaders, or various other things, it's a miracle we get through each day without everything crumbling at a moment's notice.
Among everything happening in the world, one of the most pressing issues is the climate crisis. The Earth is getting warmer, natural disasters are happening at an increased rate, and too little is being done to stop it. This year alone, the effects of climate change have been undeniable. There have been record-setting heatwaves, wildfires on an unparalleled scale, and devastating hurricanes. These things are already causing serious issues today, and unfortunately, things will only worsen for younger generations.
The idea of a worsening climate isn't necessarily new. However, a study published on Science.org (reported on by The Washington Post) has made it abundantly clear just how dangerous things will get as the years go on. At its simplest level, the study looks at today's 6-year-olds, assumes the planet will keep warming up at the current rate, and uses that data to estimate how much worse the climate will become. As some might expect, the numbers aren't good. In fact, they're extremely worrying. As lead author Wim Thiery explains, it's "intergenerational inequality."
How Much Worse Climate Change Will Be For Younger Generations
Exactly how much worse are things going to get? A 6-year-old kid is likely to experience 2x the amount of wildfires that are present today. They'll also encounter around 1.7x more tropical cyclones, in addition to a 3.4x increase in flooding rivers. Furthermore, they'll experience a severe lack of water, including 2.3x the number of droughts and 2.5x more crop failures. These numbers are all compared to someone born during the 1960s — just about a 50-year difference for such dramatically worse conditions. This all averages out to children facing about 3x more climate disasters than an adult born in the 60s, and around 5x the amount for someone born 150 years ago.
If we don't want our children living through such a harsh and dangerous planet, it's entirely up to today's adults to work together and find real solutions. As Thiery says, "Young people are being hit by climate crisis but are not in position to make decisions. While the people who can make the change happen will not face the consequences." This has always been the harsh reality for kids, and unfortunately, people in positions of power still aren't doing enough to get the planet off this harmful trajectory.
Will a study like this be the kick in the butt certain individuals need to change their attitude towards climate change? Maybe not directly, but publicizing this grim future and making it clear how bad things may get is a step in that direction. If enough people take this matter to heart, make their own changes, or contact those in power to do the same, that's how things get better. There's still time to create a safe and peaceful future for generations to come, but that time is quickly fading with every day that passes.
Source: Science, The Washington Post