*5.3.3 Migration, breeding, and gender determination*

Warmer springs have promoted advanced timing of migration and breeding in most avian species in the last decades (**Figure 13**) [26]. Rising sea levels threaten the sea turtle eggs as most turtles lay their eggs on beaches. Climate change can affect sex determination in several animals [27, 28]. The sex of the sea turtles is determined by the nest temperatures. Cool temperatures produce more males while warm temperatures produce more females. Climate change alters the sea turtles' gender population (females outnumbering males). Certain areas could end up producing only female turtles, with the possibility of local species extinction since there will be no mating partners for female turtles (**Figure 14**).

**Figure 13.** *Climate change promotes early avian migration.*

**Figure 14.** *Climate change leads to female sea turtle overpopulation and domination.*

#### **5.4 Humans**

Climate change is a major threat to human existence. It has multiple deleterious health consequences leading to increased morbidity and mortality [1–3, 5, 8, 29–37].

#### *5.4.1 Temperature*

The human core temperature averages 37.0°C and is tightly controlled within a range of 33.2°C and 38.2°C to ensure optimal physiological function. Extreme deviations from the normal core temperature, i.e., a decrease below 27.0°C (hypothermia) or an increase above 42.0°C (hyperthermia) can be fatal [5]. Climate change is resulting in increased exposures to intense heat in many parts of the world. With increase temperature, there are physiological reactions in humans creating risks for some organs and exposing individuals to increased morbidity and mortality (e.g., reduced performance and work productivity, behavioral changes, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, respiratory failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, and death) (**Figure 15**) [5, 29–31]. The reduced work productivity (up to 10% in some hot areas) has large economic consequences. Without adaptation, the economic losses of reduced work productivity could be more than 20% of the gross domestic product by 2100. Children, elderly people, poor people, outdoor workers, workers required to wear protective clothing and/or personal protective equipment, and subjects with chronic health conditions are at higher risk when facing heat stress. In the USA, the annual heat-related death is approximately 1,500. The European heat wave during the summer of 2003 caused as many as 70,000 deaths.

On the upside, increased temperatures by allowing milder winters can lower the incidence and mortality of some winter-related events such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Also, hotter and drier conditions can reduce the incidence of some infectious diseases (e.g., malaria).

**Figure 15.** *Climate change through heat wave can cause increased morbidity and mortality.*

#### *5.4.2 Nutrition*

Climate change creates water and food insecurity/shortage with significant impact on hygiene, nutrition, and food safety in several countries (**Figure 16**) [1, 8, 32, 33]. In the absence of proper desalination of drinking water impacted by increased salinity following sea-level rise (especially in low-income countries

**211**

**Figure 17.**

*Climate change favors spread of infectious diseases.*

*5.4.3 Infection*

*Climate change can create human undernutrition.*

**Figure 16.**

(**Figure 17**) [3, 34].

*Impact of Climate Change on Life*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94538*

like Bangladesh), the high exposure to salt through drinking water, food, and bathing can lead to several health problems (e.g., hypertension and skin diseases) [8]. In many regions, food production systems are negatively impacted by climate change [1]. According to the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, 1.0°C rise in night-time temperature can reduce rice yields by 10%. With the ocean temperature rise, several fish populations may move to higher

Climate change through variations in temperature, precipitation/humidity, wind, and solar radiation influences the spread of some infectious diseases since these variations may impact the survival, reproduction, and distribution of disease pathogens and vectors/hosts as well as their transmission environment. Several infectious diseases are involved including malaria, dengue, and Lyme disease

latitudes, affecting dietary protein supplies of millions of people.

### *Impact of Climate Change on Life DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94538*

*Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development*

Climate change is a major threat to human existence. It has multiple deleterious health consequences leading to increased morbidity and mortality [1–3, 5, 8, 29–37].

The human core temperature averages 37.0°C and is tightly controlled within a range of 33.2°C and 38.2°C to ensure optimal physiological function. Extreme deviations from the normal core temperature, i.e., a decrease below 27.0°C (hypothermia) or an increase above 42.0°C (hyperthermia) can be fatal [5]. Climate change is resulting in increased exposures to intense heat in many parts of the world. With increase temperature, there are physiological reactions in humans creating risks for some organs and exposing individuals to increased morbidity and mortality (e.g., reduced performance and work productivity, behavioral changes, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, respiratory failure, myocardial infarction, stroke, and death) (**Figure 15**) [5, 29–31]. The reduced work productivity (up to 10% in some hot areas) has large economic consequences. Without adaptation, the economic losses of reduced work productivity could be more than 20% of the gross domestic product by 2100. Children, elderly people, poor people, outdoor workers, workers required to wear protective clothing and/or personal protective equipment, and subjects with chronic health conditions are at higher risk when facing heat stress. In the USA, the annual heat-related death is approximately 1,500. The European heat wave during the summer of 2003 caused as many as

On the upside, increased temperatures by allowing milder winters can lower the incidence and mortality of some winter-related events such as myocardial infarction and stroke. Also, hotter and drier conditions can reduce the incidence of some

Climate change creates water and food insecurity/shortage with significant impact on hygiene, nutrition, and food safety in several countries (**Figure 16**) [1, 8, 32, 33]. In the absence of proper desalination of drinking water impacted by increased salinity following sea-level rise (especially in low-income countries

*Climate change through heat wave can cause increased morbidity and mortality.*

**5.4 Humans**

*5.4.1 Temperature*

70,000 deaths.

infectious diseases (e.g., malaria).

**210**

*5.4.2 Nutrition*

**Figure 15.**

like Bangladesh), the high exposure to salt through drinking water, food, and bathing can lead to several health problems (e.g., hypertension and skin diseases) [8]. In many regions, food production systems are negatively impacted by climate change [1]. According to the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, 1.0°C rise in night-time temperature can reduce rice yields by 10%. With the ocean temperature rise, several fish populations may move to higher latitudes, affecting dietary protein supplies of millions of people.

**Figure 16.** *Climate change can create human undernutrition.*
