Climate change has hit these 10 countries hard, turning their worlds upside down in ways you wouldn’t believe.
The Maldives
The Maldives is an island nation that’s the poster child for climate change’s impact on rising sea levels. Most of the country sits just about 1.5 meters above the ocean, so the threat of being submerged is real & imminent.
If that happens, the country will lose a lot of farmland and the freshwater will become salty. The tourism industry, which the country heavily relies on will also suffer.
Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, climate change has caused the rivers to swell and the seas to expand. Melting glaciers in the Himalayas and seriously heavy rains have made floods the norm rather than the exception.
People have lost their homes & farms have been wrecked, so people have to move away from the places they’ve lived all their lives.
Australia
Australia’s dealing with disastrous wildfires that turn the skies red and forests to ashes.
These massive blazes have become more destructive thanks to drought and heatwaves.
The toll has been heavy and not just on humanity. Unique ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef are dealing with unprecedented stress.
Brazil
While the Amazon Rainforest might be our planet’s lungs, it’s currently gasping for breath. Deforestation & fires are destroying this greenery, and climate change is only making things worse.
As temperatures get hotter and drier, the Amazon is seeing more fires. The forest should be a carbon-absorbing powerhouse but it is burning and creating emissions.
Syria
Syria’s story is a bit different. Before the war even started, more and more people moved into the cities due to draughts and destroyed farmlands.
This contributed to the tensions erupting within the country.
Of course, you can’t pin the war solely on climate change but it’s clear that environmental stress can exacerbate issues. It’s something we really cannot ignore.
Kiribati
Even though Kiribati’s not a household name, it’s on the front lines of climate change. Parts of this Pacific Island nation are already underwater and the government has gone so far as to buy land elsewhere.
Climate change is forcing communities to consider things that would’ve seemed unthinkable just generations ago.
Greenland
Greenland’s ice sheet is melting at rates that have shocked scientists and this only makes the problem of rising sea levels even worse.
This is also messing with the natural habitat of local wildlife and the indigenous Inuit communities. People’s ways of life are completely changing.
Philippines
The Philippines is no stranger to typhoons yet climate change has made these storms stronger.
Take Typhoon Haiyan, which hit in 2013. It caused widespread destruction and killed over 6000 people, becoming the most expensive natural disaster in Filipino history.
Sudan
Sudan’s dry lands are getting drier and it’s hardly a subtle change. Desertification has made it harder to grow crops & find water, which is a recipe for conflict as people compete for the dwindling resources.
In Sudan, climate change is driving wedges in communities that are only going to get worse.
Italy
No amount of iconic cities and rich history can save Italy. The greatest threats are rising sea levels & fierce storms, which are threatening Venice’s canals along with the country’s coasts.
Beyond the postcard scenes, farmers are suffering too as changing weather patterns are causing crop damage.