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Heatwaves also stress ecosystems, livestock, and infrastructure. Dairy cows produce less milk and crop
growth can slow during periods of intense heat, and paved roads can buckle. Energy systems are
strained during heat waves when electricity demand for air conditioning rises, sometimes leading to
brownouts and blackouts. These power disruptions in turn put a strain on communications and
emergency response systems. Heatwaves combined with drought can increase the likelihood of
wildfires.

In the urban areas, the prolonged periods of heat cause buildings, roads, and infrastructure to absorb
heat, leading to an increase in the temperature compared to outlying areas – a phenomenon known
as the urban heat island effect. This impact is most intense during the day, but the slow release of heat
overnight can keep cities much hotter than surrounding areas.

Food insecurity

Climate change affects agricultural systems in complex ways. Rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations,
higher temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, extreme weather events, flooding, and
droughts affect the quantity, quality and stability of food production. Farming, more than many other
industries, is feeling the effects of changing weather patterns with more frequent and severe weather
events. Many farmers around the world have suffered increased flooding which ruins their crops and
soil or faced wildfires that wiped out not only crops and livestock but businesses, homes and wildlife
too. Increased temperatures and lack of rain can result in severe droughts. In all these cases, the food
supplies are threatened and food becomes more expensive and not so readily available.

Wildfires

These are fires that burn large amounts of forests and brush. When they are not controlled, wildfires
can destroy homes and be deadly. The number of large wildfires and the length of the season when
they’re most likely and threatening have been increasing in recent years.

Conflict and climate migrants

Climate change is a stress multiplier – it can take existing problems, such as lack of food or shelter, and
make them worse. This can cause people to fight over resources (food, water, and shelter), or to
migrate.

If our climate continues to change, many parts of the world will become more challenging places to
live. People may have to leave their homes. Climate is just one of many factors that influences human
migration, but it will play an increasing role in the future.

6. What are the solutions to climate change?

Even though climate change sounds scary, we still have time to avoid some of the worst impacts.
Everyone can act to combat climate change, including the government, businesses, and you.

There are two main things we need to do:

1) We need to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change (mitigation)
2) We need to prepare for life in a changing climate (adaptation)

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the
views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the

information contained therein.