Climate Change brings varied impacts to people in different places, most often for the worse – but sometimes for the better.  A recent article outlines an example of the detrimental effects of climate change to many individuals ways of life in Bolivia.  The country’s second-largest lake has dried up, and therefore dramatically altered the life of those who relied upon its existence.

Thousands of residents have had to leave the area and find a new way to earn a living, and there is little hope that the lake – which is twice the size of Los Angeles – will be able to replenish.  This is an example of how climate change has and will continue to destroy lives and harm the planet.  There are, however, a few positive aspects of a changing climate.

Perhaps paramount among these are the opportunities that accompany changing energy policy.  California has had a policy in place, which they recently extended, to allow households with solar panels to sell excess energy to the grid.  This is a wonderful economic opportunity that makes using solar power more affordable and realistic for average families.

While, on the whole, the effects of climate change are incredibly detrimental to human and other life, there are ways to make these changes have positive impacts, such as repurposing and energy innovation.

sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/24/world/americas/a-lake-in-bolivia-evaporates-and-with-it-a-way-of-life.html?ref=topics

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/29/business/energy-environment/california-narrowly-votes-to-retain-system-that-pays-solar-users-for-excess-power.html?ref=topics