Over the last 30 years, the temperature of the Earth has been rising over time, more rapidly than before, which has caused a chain of effects on the planet. This is called climate change.
What is it?
To talk about climate change, we must first define climate. Climate is the weather patterns of an area over a long period of time. Climate change is the shift of these patterns, which have many effects such as increased global temperatures, rising sea levels, drought, changes in precipitation, and more. The effects of climate change vary from location to location, but can have grand consequences on our planet.
“Climate change is the change in weather patterns over many centuries, and we get places in the world experiencing different climate conditions in the world than they are accustomed to,” stated Ankeny High School (AHS) science teacher Taylor Hubbard.
Climate change has become a more pressing issue as the changes in temperature, sea level, and other factors have become apparent.
“There are visible signs of climate change both in Iowa and globally. We’ve noticed a rise in temperature, changes in sea level, but also in our warming winters. Comparing 1950 to 2025, we have 10 inches less snowfall now than in 1950 every winter in Iowa,” stated Madelynn J Wuestenberg, Iowa State University’s Weather and Climate Extension Specialist.
Cause
So why is it happening? The leading cause of climate change is the burning of fossil fuels, which releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases become trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to the warming of the planet, which leads to climate change and global warming.
Difference from global warming
A common misconception of climate change is that it’s the same as global warming; this isn’t true. Global warming is the rise in temperatures due to greenhouse gases. Global warming is a part of climate change, but they are not the same, and it’s important to know the difference when addressing the two.
“Global warming is the actual warming of the Earth mainly due to greenhouse gases, while climate change is a broader term used to describe the changes in the Earth’s climate patterns,” stated Ankeny High School senior Sally Hanley.
How does it affect Iowans?
The impact of climate change has already started in Iowa. Farmers, who are a cornerstone of Iowa, have faced the brunt of the impact. Less frequent and heavy rainfall and drought have affected crop production for farmers. The inconsistent rainfall also affects cattle for farmers, as it leads to muddy conditions for the animals, which can cause harm and spread diseases.
“Iowa is considered a rain-fed region, which means most crops are produced using rainwater, and we have this precipitation variability where we are getting heavier storms, but less frequently. This variability causes problems in the cropping system and leads to extended periods of drought,” Wuestenberg stated.
The changing weather can lead to changes in our ecosystem as weeds and pests survive through winter, which leads to them overtaking native species and disrupting the ecosystem. These weeds surviving through winter can come and take over native plants, which hurts biodiversity.
The economy is also being affected by climate change as weather influences crop and food production, and ocean shipping prices are going up due to the weather, air conditioning, availability of drinking water, and more.
“Climate change is going to affect the economy in many ways. We are going to have to spend more money on air conditioning, watering your lawn, and drinking water. A lot of people rely on well water in Iowa, and climate change can impact how much is available for drinking,” stated Wuestenberg.
Everyone’s health is affected by climate change as rising temperatures can lead to heatstroke, heat exhaustion, and more pollen in the air, which leads to people’s allergies earlier and for longer.
What can you do?
There are currently ongoing efforts to combat climate change around the world, from new technologies to individual actions. Multiple types of energy have been on the rise , such as solar and wind, due to decreasing costs.
People have started switching over to electric vehicles, which don’t burn fossil fuels. You can also use public transportation and carpool to reduce carbon emissions. Eating less meat and switching to plant-based alternatives. Recycling is also another important way to reduce emissions
“There are so many ways we can reduce the impact of climate change. We can start using more renewable energy, reducing fossil fuel emissions, and eating less meat,” stated Hubbard.
One big way to help combat climate change is to educate others. The more people who are knowledgeable about climate change are likely to take action for the future.
“Education plays a huge role in raising awareness about climate change. I think the more people exposed to the data or facts come to understand that it is an issue and are more likely to make improvements related to climate change,” stated Hubbard.
There needs to be action about climate change because it affects facets of our lives, our future, but also future generations.
“If we as humans continue with our destructive behavior, cutting corners and destroying the Earth we live on, I believe we will be hit with the unfortunate reality in the future when we see all the damage we’ve done and it truly is too late,” stated Hanley.