ECoNomIA CLIL - Economic Impact of Climate Change CLIL - ECONOMIC IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE 361 AUDIO Climate change is one of the biggest threats to global economic stability. Various reports show that climate change will not be uniformly distributed across the globe, and developing countries are more likely to experience its negative effects. However, economies do not operate in isolation, and climate impacts in one region will affect the economy in other regions as well. Global warming is expected to increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events that affect the economy in different ways. Sea level rise could wipe out half of the world s sandy shorelines, damaging property and critical infrastructure near the coast. Heatwaves impact on human health, productivity and regional energy demand. Hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons devastate millions of communities, increasing the number of environmental migrants. Droughts shrink harvests, further complicating the arduous task of feeding the world population, which is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050. Besides the changes described above, there is a high risk associated with political conflicts and instability. UN forecasts estimate that, if we do not do something immediately, climate change could push 100 million more people into poverty by 2030 and generate between 25 million and 1 billion environmental migrants by 2050. Climate change calls for a collective effort from governments, firms, shareholders and individuals to both adapt and implement measures to mitigate its effects such as: clean energy systems, smarter urban development, sustainable land use, smart water management, and circular economy. 1. Answer the following questions. 2. Internet search. Search the Internet and answer the following questions. 1. What does global warming mean? 2. What s the economic impact of global warming? 3. How does climate change affect the food supply? 4. What can you do to stop climate change? 5. What can businesses do about global warming? 1. 2. 3. 4. What is the current world population? What are the top five countries with the largest population? What countries are most affected by climate change? How many people live in poverty in the world?