We often think about human-induced climate change as something that will happen in the future, but it is happening now. Ecosystems and people in the United States and around the world are affected by the ongoing process of climate change today.
Climate change affects the environment in many different ways, including rising temperatures, sea level rise, drought, flooding, and more. These events affect things that we depend upon and value, like water, energy, transportation, wildlife, agriculture, ecosystems, and human health.
Our changing climate
NOAA monitors weather and climate around the world. Here are some of the ways that climate change is affecting our planet. You can explore more at NOAA’s Global Climate Dashboard.
Global temperatures increased.
Temperature increased about 2°F (1.1°C) from 1850 to 2023. Updated January 2024.
Sea level rise has sped up.
Global average sea level has risen 8–9 inches (21–24 centimeters) since 1880. Updated April 2022.
Glaciers are shrinking
Climate reference glaciers tracked by the World Glacier Monitoring Service have lost ice for the past 36 years in a row. Updated May 2024.
Arctic sea ice is decreasing.
Between 1979 and 2021, the Arctic Ocean lost sea ice at an average of 31,100 square miles, an area the size of South Carolina, per year. Updated October 2022.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide is increasing.
There is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is 50% higher than it was before the Industrial Revolution. Updated April 2024.
Snow is melting earlier.
Snow is melting earlier in the Northern Hemisphere. Between 1967 and 2022, late spring (April-June) snow cover decreased. Updated August 2022.
A complex issue
Climate change impacts our society in many different ways. Drought can harm food production and human health. Flooding can lead to spread of disease, death, and damage ecosystems and infrastructure. Human health issues that result from drought, flooding, and other weather conditions increase the death rate, change food availability, and limit how much a worker can get done, and ultimately the productivity of our economy.
Climate change affects everyone, but the impacts are uneven across the country and around the world. Even within one community, climate change can affect one neighborhood or person more than another. Long-standing differences in income and opportunity, or socioeconomic inequalities, can make some groups more vulnerable. Communities that have less access to resources to protect themselves or cope with impacts are often the same communities that are also more exposed to hazards.
Hope for the future
There is still time to lessen the impacts and severity of climate change. We already know many of the problems and solutionsoffsite link, and researchers continue to find new ones. Experts believe we can avoid the worst outcomes by reducing emissions to zero as quickly as possible, which will limit warmingoffsite link. To meet this goal, we will have to invest in new technology and infrastructure, which will spur job growth. For example, we will need to continue improving technology and facilities that capture and process renewable energy. Lowering emissions will also benefit human health, saving countless lives and billions of dollars in expenses related to health.