Explore the Impacts of Rising Temperature on Ecosystems

By Climate Interactive
August 20, 2024

Two new graphs have just been added to the En-ROADS Simulator that visualize the impact of changing temperature on our natural environment.

Arid Land Expansion from Warming

This graph showcases the global land area at risk of experiencing insufficient moisture conditions in the Baseline and a 1.5°C scenario. Increased aridity can reduce plant cover and change an area’s capacity to supply ecosystem services or support biodiversity.

Ecosystem Shifts from Warming

This graph highlights the global land area in jeopardy of transforming into a different ecosystem due to temperature change in the baseline and a 1.5°C scenario. An ecosystem shift can cause changes in animal interactions and impact the people that rely on the ecosystem.

These graphs emphasize the urgent need to reduce global warming to avoid significant environmental change. Create your own scenarios to see how these impacts can be avoided.

We explored these new graphs and more in our webinar on August 29, that focused on preventing climate impacts in the En-ROADS Simulator. If you missed it, here is a link to the recording.

We are grateful to the V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation for funding these new additions. More graphs that provide insights on the impact of climate change will be added to the En-ROADS Simulator later this year to support informed decision-making. Stay tuned!