How Climate Change is Drastically Changing All Life on Earth and It's Bad News

A new study reveals that human-induced climate change, which results in temperature changes worldwide, have drastically affected the genes and ecosystems of lifeforms on Earth.

According to a study published in the journal Science, the study from the Wildlife Conservation Society, found that from the 94 ecological processes that serve as the foundation of healthy ecosystems on earth -- from sea to land -- 80 percent of which shows signs of distress due to climate change.

“There is now clear evidence that, with only a ~1oC of warming globally, very major impacts are already being felt. Genes are changing, species’ physiology and physical features such as body size are changing, species are rapidly moving to keep track of suitable climate space, and there are now signs of entire ecosystems under stress," said study lead author Dr Brett Scheffers of the University of Florida, in a press release.

The study notes that this distress in ecosystems and species could greatly affect humans. These impacts from climate change include disease outbreaks, reduced fish and agricultural harvests, as well as increased pests.

“The level of change we have observed is quite astonishing considering we have only experienced a relatively small amount of climate change to date," said Dr. James Watson from the Wildlife Conservation Society and University of Queensland, lead author of the study. "It is no longer sensible to consider this a concern for the future. Policy makers and politicians must accept that if we don’t curb greenhouse gas emissions, an environmental catastrophe is likely.”

However, despite the shocking revelations of how climate change has affected life on Earth, the study says that these responses or distress in nature could be observed and used to create ways on how nature could adapt to the warming climate.