Climate Change: Global Impacts, Adaptation Strategies, and the Role of Policy in Mitigating Environmental and Socioeconomic Risks
Abstract
This study synthesizes climate science, socio-economic data, and policy analysis to evaluate the drivers and consequences of climate change, with a focus on inequality in vulnerability and resilience. Using a mixed-methods approach—including climate modeling, case studies of low-income coastal communities, and surveys of 1,200 global citizens—we identify accelerating risks (e.g., extreme weather, food insecurity) and barriers to effective mitigation. Results reveal that 76% of anthropogenic CO2 emissions since 1990 originate from G20 nations, yet low-income countries face 90% of climate-related mortality. Recommendations emphasize climate justice, green technology transfer, and adaptive governance frameworks.
- Background:
- Define climate change as a systemic crisis driven by GHG emissions, deforestation, and industrial activity (IPCC AR6, 2023).
- Highlight urgency: 2023 as the hottest year on record, 1.5°C threshold likely by 2030.
- Problem Statement:
- Disconnect between scientific consensus and fragmented policy action; disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities.
- Research Question: How can global and local strategies address the unequal burdens of climate change while ensuring rapid decarbonization?
- Objectives:
- Analyze regional disparities in climate vulnerability and adaptive capacity.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation policies (e.g., carbon pricing, renewable energy transitions).
Key Themes
Climate Science
Attribution of extreme weather events to anthropogenic factors (Trenberth et al., 2015).
Economic Costs
Projected 11–14% GDP loss in tropics by 2100 under RCP 8.5 (Kahn et al., 2021).
Policy Mechanisms
Successes/failures of the Paris Agreement, carbon markets, and fossil fuel subsidies (Victor et al., 2022).