In Bangladesh, the effects of climate change and pollution have increased greatly in recent years. The weather is changing drastically, with many more extremely hot days and the average temperature rising each year.

Not only is there more rainfall, resulting in flooding of rivers and coastal areas, but the frequency of devastating cyclones in the Bay of Bengal also has increased. Some places in the country are facing extreme flooding, which leaves many people homeless.

Due to this flooding, there is now an agricultural and food crisis, too.

Additionally, national exams for students in Bangladesh have been suspended because of the horrible natural disasters we are facing. The climate crisis is impacting many aspects of our everyday lives.

The impacts of human-caused climate change have already led to loss and damage to people and ecosystems in Brazil. These impacts are most severe among marginalized urban populations, such as those living in slums and in under-resourced areas.

In Brazil, the climate crisis poses risks to: water security; health, due to growing epidemics; coral reef ecosystems, which are degrading daily; food security, due to frequent or extreme droughts; life and infrastructure, due to damage from flooding, landslides, sea level rise, storms and coastal erosion.

In the Amazon, the impacts of climate change and deforestation are extremely severe with irreversible losses of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Science leaves no room for doubt: Climate change endangers the well-being of people and the planet. The next few years are crucial for slowing or reversing current trends.

Ghana is facing a lot of challenges with climate change brought on by environmental degradation and pollution. In the last decade, the weather patterns and duration of the rainy season and dry season have changed drastically due to climate change.

Additionally, trees are being cut down for timber and firewood and for use as charcoal. Due to excessive tree-cutting and deforestation, there are no windbreaks during heavy storms, which can wreak havoc on structures and whole communities. Creatures who depend on the trees for shelter and food also suffer. And bush burning, firewood and charcoal use also are causing air pollution.

During the 2022 rainy season, areas that historically have never flooded became flooded because of litter-clogged drains. The large drainages connecting to the sea are commonly choked by plastic waste as Ghana uses lot of plastics but recycles very little.

As a result, marginalized people and those living in poverty suffer the most because they rely on natural resources the most—yet they can’t afford to buy good land. Many end up in the slums and in the streets, where there is poor sanitation. Waterborne diseases are rampant in these flooded areas, too. It is not a good situation.

The region of Northeast India, where the Sisters of the Holy Cross serve, is the greenest in the country, as more than 80% of it is covered in forests and trees. However, between the effects of climate change and environmental degradation, our country is suffering.

The once beautiful hills are being destroyed to use the trees, stones and coal for profit. As our forests thin, areas of neighboring Bangladesh receive excess water during the monsoon season, resulting in floods, and then face water scarcity during the winter.

Drastic changes in rainfall have also seriously impacted Northeast India’s crops. 

The monsoon rains are now unpredictable and impacting agriculture. According to local residents, the fruit is less sweet and extremely small. In addition, the average temperature is rising. The local tribes know how to conserve the forests, hopefully they can receive the support and action they need to be successful.

Most of Mexico is going through a serious drought. Water scarcity is a very big issue because of this. In addition, limited water access and elevated temperatures are negatively impacting the agriculture in our country.

In addition to all these natural situations resulting from climate change, the pollution in the main cities has increased and is causing many health concerns, including respiratory diseases.

Also, the government is funding projects that are destroying natural landscapes and habitats. And there is little to no plan for restoring the ecosystems that have been negatively impacted.

Overall, environmental degradation is giving rise to many serious issues in Mexico, and every day we try to raise awareness about caring for our common home.

Due to climate change and environmental degradation, Peru has seen an increase in flooding, droughts and water scarcity, which negatively impact agriculture, migration, conflict and economic growth.

One contributing factor is that the government makes contracts with mining companies that do not use practices to protect the cleanliness of water or to prevent contamination of the soil. Also, oil companies do not comply with cleanup requirements.

Already, many of Peru’s towns and neighborhoods are without water, and Peru’s glaciers are melting. In the near future, the capital city of Lima will not have water due to scarcity and contamination.

Peru’s more than 3,000 kilometers of coastline and varied ecosystems are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, so the issues of natural disasters and migration are strongly connected in Peru.

Uganda is experiencing significant impacts of climate change, including changing weather patterns, lower water levels, and increased frequency of extreme weather events, like floods and droughts. The social and economic ramifications of these impacts make communities very vulnerable. Climate change is affecting a wide variety of sectors: Agriculture, water, health and human settlements have been particularly impacted.

The environment and natural resources are also threatened by man-made drivers of change. These include poverty, rapid population growth, unplanned urbanization, expansion of informal settlements, poor disposal of garbage, especially plastic bags, and industrialization.

The fragile ecosystems of the mountains, lakeshores and rangelands are facing encroachment and degradation. Pollution is increasing, and the country is contending with environmental issues arising from electronic waste, unsound use of chemicals, oil and gas development, and the impacts of climate change, such as droughts, floods, storms, heat waves and landslides that have had serious effects on agricultural production, food security, nutrition, incomes, health and livelihoods.

The United States (U.S.) is facing the hottest decade on record. As a country, the U.S. has emitted more greenhouse gases than any other country on the planet.

Because the geography across the U.S. is vastly different, the impacts of climate change are vastly different in every region. The country has faced heat waves, cold waves, droughts and flooding (and more frequent coastal flooding).

The Southwest has been hit the hardest with droughts, while Alaska, in the upper northwest, has seen much warmer temperatures, causing glaciers to melt and sea levels to rise.

In addition to these extremes, the entire country is faced with an alarming crisis that Pope Francis identifies as a combination of environmental and social crises. Not only is the environment affected by climate change, but the economy and health, as well.

Due to impacts on labor and coastal properties, infrastructure, ecosystems and air quality, elder, minority, and low-income populations are truly suffering.