Climate Change

Climate Change IN: Seattle, WAshington

Its effect globally

Impacts on Animals

Impacts to Humans

Impacts on the Environment

Mini-Research Project by Amy

Background/Fun facts:

Surrounding Seattle are beaches, meadows, view of mountains, and a wide range of trees.

Founded in 1851, Seattle has a temperate climate and is known for its beautiful environment.

What is being done to stop it?

References

What are the impacts in the areas around it?

Whats being done to help?

Current actions to combat it

With greenhouse gas emissions being a proponent of global climate change, the local governments have seemingly not made much progres to prevent it. There has been evidence that "indicates that many of the policies enacted do not significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions." One explanation could be that the polices are difficult to enforce as the environment can only be affected if the communities help as well.

Impact: Humans

• Due to evironmental events, there have been "fewer resources and lower capacity to withstand climate-related hazards and extreme events."
• Floods can prevent or cease transportation which severely staggers human life in various ways.
• Hotter summers can cause hazards as the city is underequipped to handle heat as opposed to cold

Current remedies

Currently there are various laws and policies in place in other to prevent increased global warming. Improvements in communal transportation have been made such as buses and trains.

Impact: Environment

• Coastal areas and shorelines have had more frequent and intense coastal flooding
• Summers have been significantly hotter and longer
• Mountains near the city and in the state have had decreased snow and glaciers
• Increased moisture from heat has effected both plants and animals

Impact: Animals

• Increasing sea levels can contribute to habitat loss and displacement of local species along the coastline.
• Reduced water availability for marine life
• Increased mortality of animals due to heat

References used:

1. Rice, Jennifer L. “Climate, Carbon, and Territory: Greenhouse Gas Mitigation in Seattle, Washington.” Annals of the Association of American Geographers, vol. 100, no. 4, 2010, pp. 929–37. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40863612. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024. 2. "Findings from Seattle University in Climate Change Reported (Taking Control To Do More: How Local Governments and Communities Can Enact Ambitious Climate Mitigation Policies)." Global Warming Focus, 28 Mar. 2022, p. 136. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A698414378/AONE?u=orla57816&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=6c3012d2. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024. 3. https://seattle.gov/documents/departments/opcd/seattleplan/seattleclimatevulnerabilityassessmentjuly2023.pdf

Effects in surrounding regions

• The large forests around Seattle are being effected by higher temperatures and increased moisture
• The large mountains such as Alpine are having the snow melt and disrupting both the habitat and high-elevating communities

Global Effects

• Sea levels are rising all across the planet causing similar issues globally
• Increased heat disrupts environment both on land and in the oceans/waters
• Some areas of land are being predicted to be submerged in the water causing both human and animal/plant life to be effected