Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2025

First exams 2027

Impacts of Climate Change (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Geography): Revision Note

Exam code: 0460 & 0976

Bridgette Barrett

Written by: Bridgette Barrett

Reviewed by: Jacque Cartwright

Updated on

Impacts of climate change

Health

  • Increased temperatures and lack of precipitation may lead to the spread of diseases:

    • Italy has experienced cases of malaria since 2017, when it was previously a malaria-free area

    • An additional 280 million people may be affected by malaria

    • Waterborne diseases are more likely to spread

  • Heat waves may become more frequent

  • Heat stroke, dehydration and sunburn increase during heat waves

  • Stagnant air during heat waves increases air pollution levels:

    • Respiratory diseases increase and those suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma may be more affected 

  • Increased temperatures negatively affect people with cardiopulmonary diseases

  • Diets may be restricted by food shortages leading to malnutrition and famine

Homes and settlements

  • Increased flooding due to sea level rise and increased frequency and severity of storms will lead to the displacement of large numbers of people

  • Settlements in low-lying areas may have to be abandoned or need additional defences against sea level rise

    • Moving settlements or improving flood defences will be costly

Agriculture

  • Farmers may need to change the crop they grow if climate conditions become unsuitable

  • Coastal flooding may lead to salt intrusion

  • Reduced availability of water will mean that irrigation is limited or impossible

  • Food shortages will lead to malnutrition and famine

Employment

  • Job opportunities may change or decrease for the following reasons:

    • Tourism may decline in some areas; for example, ski resorts may close due to the lack of reliable snow

    • Coastal resorts may be at risk of flooding leading to the closure

    • Farmers may have to change the crop they grow or livestock they raise or leave farming

    • In some areas, agriculture may decline due to rising temperatures or changing rainfall patterns

Sea level rise

  • Warmer temperatures cause the water in seas and oceans to expand, increasing the sea level

  • Melting ice is adding to the increasing volume of water:

    • Average sea levels have risen 23 cm since 1880

    • Sea levels are forecast to increase a further 30 cm by 2050

Map of Bangladesh and India showing areas submerged by 1m to 5m sea level rise, affecting 15-18 million people. Major cities and Bay of Bengal labelled.
Bangladesh sea level rise predictions
  • Low-lying coastal areas such as southern Bangladesh and islands are at higher risk of flooding:

    • The Maldives may be uninhabitable by 2050 

  • Beach erosion will increase, leading to greater coastal erosion 

  • Coastal ecosystems, including coral reefs and mangrove swamps, will be affected

  • Saltwater is contaminating freshwater supplies and affecting coastal agriculture

Ecosystem change

  • The location of biomes may shift to the north (Northern Hemisphere) and south (Southern Hemisphere) as they rely on specific climate conditions:

    • Polar and tundra biomes are at risk of becoming extinct as they cannot shift any further north/south

  • Increasing sea temperatures and ocean acidification have resulted in coral bleaching

  • Migration and behavioural patterns of animals affected by changing temperatures:

    • Fish species are moving north and south of their usual habitats to seek cooler water

    • Reduced hibernation due to warmer winters

  • Melting of ice caps/glaciers leading to changing ocean currents

  • Mangrove swamps and coral reefs are threatened by rising sea levels

  • Loss of habitats through flooding, drought and wildfires

  • Food webs breaking as species numbers are reduced and food sources are decreased

  • Loss of plants and vegetation

Natural hazards

  • Changes in climate patterns are likely to increase the frequency and severity of storms:

    • The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was the first most active on record and 2021 was the third most active

  • The frequency and length of droughts are increasing

  • Dry conditions lead to the increased risk of wildfires:

    • In 2021, Australia, Greece, South Africa, Brazil and the USA were just some of the places to experience severe wildfires

    • In September 2021, the USA National Fire Centre reported 44,647 wildfires that had burnt 5.6 million acres

  • Rising sea levels together with increased storms lead to increased flooding risk

Worked Example

State one reason for each of the following impacts of climate change.

  • rising sea levels

  • prices of food may rise

  • shortage of water

[3]

The command word for this question is 'state' this means that no explanation is needed in the answer.

Answer

  • Rising sea levels - due to melting of the ice caps/increased sea temperatures [1]

  • Prices of food may rise - drought/lower crop yields [1]

  • Shortage of fresh water - drought/more evaporation of rivers/lakes [1]

Responses to climate change

  • Global warming and climate change require an international response because they affect the entire globe

  • Responses can involve either adaptation or mitigation

    • Mitigation includes ways that people try to reduce or eliminate greenhouse emissions

    • The aim is to halt global warming and therefore climate change

    • Mitigations can include international agreements as well as national and individual actions

International agreements

  • In 1988 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up to assess the 'risks of human-induced climate change'

  • This was followed by several international agreements

Earth Summit, Rio 1992

  • In May 1992 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established

  • It was then signed by 166 countries at the Earth Summit in Rio or at the UN headquarters

  • The Earth Summit also set out:

    • Twenty seven principles aimed at guiding countries towards more environmentally sustainable development

    • Aims to stabilise greenhouse gas levels 

    • Principles for the management, conservation and sustainable development of all forests

Kyoto Protocol 1997

  • Delegates from 150 countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

  • It stated that industrialised countries would reduce emissions to below the levels in 1990

  • Developing countries, including China and India, were exempt from the agreement

  • The USA did not sign up for the treaty

  • Canada withdrew in 2011, stating that without China and the USA, the treaty would not work

Marrakech Agreement, 2007

  • It was agreed that funding would be provided to less developed countries to support them in adapting to the effects of climate change

Paris Agreement 2015

  • Global agreement to limit global warming to 2°C (preferably 1.5°C) above pre-industrial levels

  • The agreement also includes reducing CO₂ emissions by at least 60% by 2050

  • Signed by 196 countries, including the USA and China (the USA withdrew in 2020 and rejoined in 2021) 

Conference of the Parties (COP)

  • The United Nations (UN) holds an annual (every year) meeting to discuss climate change.

  • COP29 was held in Baku, Azerbaijan

  • All nations agreed to:

    • Continue to take action to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions

    • Triple financial aid to developing countries

Reducing emissions

  • Emissions can be reduced in several ways, including:

    • Reducing deforestation 

    • Increasing afforestation

    • Improving energy efficiency in industry and domestic appliances

    • Reducing emissions from industry

    • Improving public transport

    • Electric vehicles

    • Use of renewable energy and nuclear power

    • Carbon capture and storage

    • Reducing meat consumption

    • Alternative feed for cattle to reduce methane emissions

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Remember, reducing emissions of greenhouse gases is achieved by either:

  • reducing the sources of emissions, for example by reducing the use of fossil fuels

OR

  • Increasing the stores of greenhouse gases, for example, by planting more trees

Adaptations

  • Climate change is already impacting many countries

  • Mitigation strategies will take time to have an impact

  • Adaptations are needed to help populations cope with the impacts which are already being felt

  • Examples of adaptations include:

    • Improved building design to withstand flooding and increased storm intensity

    • More efficient use of freshwater resources and desalination

    • Coastal and river defences to reduce the impact of flooding

    • Changing the types of crop grown

    • Relocation of vulnerable communities

    • Extreme weather plans

Effectiveness of mitigation and adaptation strategies

  • Climate change is a global issue

  • It requires international cooperation and collaboration

  • The effectiveness of both strategies depends on various factors, including:

    • Political willingness to implement the strategies

    • Availability of finance and economic resources

    • Technological advancements

Mitigation strategies

  • Mitigation strategies are important in the long term to reduce the rate or even halt global warming

  • Their effects can be gradual and may take time to have an impact

Challenges of mitigation strategies

  • Implementing mitigation strategies changes can be expensive

  • They rely on international cooperation and may be politically challenging to implement

    • Even if countries sign up to agreements, they may not be able to achieve the changes outlined

  • There may be resistance from industries reliant on fossil fuels

  • Not all mitigation strategies are equally effective

Adaptation strategies

  • Adaptation strategies can help reduce the short-term negative impacts of climate change

Challenges of adaptation strategies

  • Adaptation measures can be expensive and require significant infrastructure changes

  • Some adaptation strategies may not be effective when there are extreme climate events

  • Adaptation efforts may be more effective if combined with mitigation efforts

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Bridgette Barrett

Author: Bridgette Barrett

Expertise: Geography, History, Religious Studies & Environmental Studies Subject Lead

After graduating with a degree in Geography, Bridgette completed a PGCE over 30 years ago. She later gained an MA Learning, Technology and Education from the University of Nottingham focussing on online learning. At a time when the study of geography has never been more important, Bridgette is passionate about creating content which supports students in achieving their potential in geography and builds their confidence.

Jacque Cartwright

Reviewer: Jacque Cartwright

Expertise: Geography Content Creator

Jacque graduated from the Open University with a BSc in Environmental Science and Geography before doing her PGCE with the University of St David’s, Swansea. Teaching is her passion and has taught across a wide range of specifications – GCSE/IGCSE and IB but particularly loves teaching the A-level Geography. For the past 5 years Jacque has been teaching online for international schools, and she knows what is needed to get the top scores on those pesky geography exams.