Climate change is going to affect how and where we live. It
is also going to disrupt these industries which many people aren’t that aware
about -
1.
Aviation
Flying is going to get more expensive and a
little less safe. To over-simplify the science, the rising temperatures will
lead to more hot air which is thinner. Consequently, it will create less lift
for the airplanes and therefore they may have to either reduce the weight they
carry or spend more on fuel (and thus burn more fossil fuels leading to further
emissions; it’s a vicious circle).
2. Shipping
The shipping industry is notorious for the
amount of greenhouse gases it emits and its resistance to transition to greener
technologies. However, Norway is leading the way with electric powered vessels
which will go a long way to curb the emissions. (Fun fact – A mid-sized cruise ship’s emission are as much as that
of a million cars). Although, the shipping industry stands to benefit from the
melting ice as new routes directly over the North Pole might open up soon.
3. Internet
Yes, our beloved internet is under attack!
Critical infrastructure in places such as Miami, NYC etc. might be submerged in
fewer than 15 years. It is estimated that thousands of miles of fiber
optic cables might be underwater and it would cause havoc on the global
internet. That’s probably when many people might begin to notice how real
climate change is as they won’t be able to access their social media.
4. Tourism
A lot of tourism is generated by coastal cities
and towns. With rising sea levels and fierce storms, these places might be too
dangerous for tourists and locals alike. Moreover, countries such as the
Maldives that rely heavily on tourism are already suffering from the impact of
climate change.
5. Insurance
Hurricanes aren’t good for business (or people),
especially for insurance companies. The industry paid out an estimated $41
billion after hurricane Katrina hit. The global catastrophe related payouts for
2017 was $136 billion in 2017.
In Canada, severe hailstorms, flooding and wildfires have increased in frequency and the damage is affecting the insurance sector.
The irony of it is that with rising costs the
most vulnerable will not be able to afford insurance and will be exposed
to the rising risks.
6. Breweries and wineries
Yes, beer and wine won’t taste the same in the
future. Climate change is adversely affecting the quality of barley which is a
major component in producing beer.
In case of wines, the impact is much more
adverse because the quality of the grapes is heavily dependent on the weather and
rainfall.
Climate change was terrible enough, but soon you won't even get to drink and forget your pain. That's rough.
