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We’re always talking about how climate change will affect the world by 2050, but what about the United States specifically?
The United States is a vast country with different climates, cultures, and topography – none of which will make any area less immune to the current and future effects of climate change.
In this article, we’ll discuss how the U.S. currently works to fight climate change, how it will affect the U.S. by 2050, and what the country could do to mitigate further damage from global warming.
For younger generations, the United States may not appear to be in deep peril – but older generations can remember a time when the United States was not approaching the impending doom of 2050 predictions by any means.
👉 One of the best examples is the city of Los Angeles – which was once sunny and clear nearly every day of the year, only to now be replaced by consistent smog, smoldering temperatures, and deteriorating air quality.
As of today, the United States is still functional in the midst of climate change, but the waters are getting shakier by the minute – especially seeing as 2023 brought about numerous natural disasters that have wreaked havoc on the country’s economy and overall spirit.
Daily life is starting to change in the U.S., as summers become hotter and winter storms grow unpredictable – Americans are beginning to realise that the effects of climate change are here to stay, and will only get worse as we inch towards 2050.
Here are just a few of the incidents that occurred as a result of climate change in 2023:
2050 is known to be a pivotal year in the world of climate change, as numerous sectors of the world are set to be drastically impacted by 2050.
Examples of what could occur by the year 2050 if no action is taken to mitigate the current effects of climate change include the following:
👉 Climate change will most certainly have a profound impact on developing countries and vulnerable communities around the world, but how will climate change impact a country as resourceful and economically powerful as the U.S. in 2050?
According to the city of Chicago, changes specific to the United States will include a warmer atmosphere, more acidic oceans, erratic precipitation patterns, and continued rising sea levels – with some cities even being partially underwater by 2050 such as Miami and New Orleans.
Here are just a few examples of the day-to-day things that could change in the U.S. by 2050:
Flooding and droughts will become the new norm in cities that have previously been averse to this negative impacts of global warming – such as Baltimore and Washington D.C., located in the mid-Atlantic and known for being less prone to natural disasters.
However, what will most notably change in the U.S. is that by 2050 – the country will all around be noticeably warmer. Summers will be unbearably longer and winters will be shorter, and while that sounds like a dream for those suffering from seasonal depression – it isn’t good news for the United States as a whole.
Floods will spread toxic waste, cities will attract deleterious air pollutants, and American cult favorites like corn won’t be as easy to grow across the country anymore. Once gorgeous hikes in California will be nothing but a display of ash after a wildfire, and a snow covered New York City during Christmas could cease to exist.
While all some of these things may seem trite, they aren’t – as each of these circumstances will slowly chip away at the sense of adventure across the country, taking the joy out of classic American right-of-passages such as road trips. Cross-country adventures like these will lose their spark if everywhere in the United States eventually looks the same: dried up, brown, and lifeless.
👉 However, it is important to note that these negative changes aren’t surefire by 2050 – we can still change the course of climate change in the United States if we implement the appropriate actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Many countries around the world are drawing up treaties to work together in the fight against climate change, such as with the Paris Agreement – which works to help participating countries work towards net-zero emissions by 2050.
Often penned as, “Net Zero” – this global movement was implemented to help motivate countries to reduce their emissions by 45% from 2010 levels before 2030, ultimately reaching balanced emissions or “net zero” by 2050.
👉 It is important to note that while not all countries may be able to officially achieve net-zero, it is still worth the effort to work towards this goal – as it could still make a difference on where we will stand on climate change by 2050.
The United States has made its own individual efforts to take climate change more seriously, too. For instance, the new SEC Climate Disclosure Rule will require companies to report their environmental impact – similar to Europe’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, or the CSRD. In addition to this, there have been new efforts to pass more sustainable fashion laws and state legislation such as the Global Warming Solutions Act.
However, despite current president Biden being adamant on the “existential threat” that is climate change – many young Americans have been dissatisfied with how the country is handling climate change.
Are there any solutions to prevent some of our favorite cities in the U.S. from becoming obsolete in 2050?
There are many things the United States could do to preserve its beloved cities.
However, the current issue is that many Americans are reluctant to phase out the use of fossil fuels entirely, as it could have an impact on the economy – with up to 68% of Americans believing that a mixed-energy approach is the best solution. While it’s good to be open to the production of renewable energy, the problem is that as long as emissions are being produced at all – global warming will persist, as will the negative effects we are already experiencing today.
👉 Evidently, the country is in dire need of serious reform – seeing as the United States continues to be the second largest emitting country in the world when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions.
However, some of the most effective solutions will require time and money on behalf of the United States, many of which the country continues to stall – such as building effective railroad travel and public transportation in major metropolitan areas across the country.
On that note, more federal action will be necessary over state-wide efforts – and while it isn’t bad for individual states to develop their own climate policies, teamwork is imperative for constructive progress in the fight against climate change.
Dissipated beaches and barren forests don’t have to be our reality in the United States by 2050, but in order to prevent it from becoming a reality – we will need to methodically prioritise our actions moving forward.
If reading this article about what the United States will look like in 2050 has made you interested in reducing your carbon emissions to further fight against climate change – Greenly can help you!
It can be difficult to adjust your business model to our changing world in the midst of climate change, especially as many businesses join the net-zero by 2050 movement, but don’t worry – Greenly is here to help! Click here to book a demo and get personalised expertise on how you can start to reduce your own emissions and decrease your environmental impact.
Greenly can help you make an environmental change for the better, starting with a carbon footprint assessment to know how much carbon emissions your company produces.
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