Visual Stories Highlight the Impact of Climate Change on Lives and Landscapes

Category: Environmental

In 2022, Associated Press photographers captured poignant images reflecting the distress of a planet undergoing significant change due to climate change. The evidence was stark: from parched landscapes and failed crops to devastating storms and wildfires, the signs of a world in turmoil were everywhere.

Parchment Earth
In June, two young men were photographed sitting by a boat that had become stranded in mud, once submerged in Lake Mead. This dramatic decline in water levels marked a broader trend seen in various regions. In Germany, drought and bark beetle infestations left the Harz forest trees spindly, while in Kenya, mothers struggled to nourish their children as livestock perished from thirst. Along Brazil’s Solimoes River, houseboat residents found themselves living on dry land instead of water.

In eastern France, sunflowers were left scorched, their leaves withered and seeds blackened. Similar scars emerged in places like Utah’s Great Salt Lake and the shrinking Yangtze River in China.

Storms and Floods
Conversely, excessive rainfall wreaked havoc in many areas. Regions experienced a “whiplash effect,” alternating rapidly between drought and deluge, such as seen in Yellowstone National Park last summer. Pakistan faced catastrophic flooding, with a third of its land submerged, displacing millions and resulting in at least 1,700 fatalities.

Other countries, including Cuba, Nigeria, and India, also faced destructive storms and flooding. In Cuba, a tropical cyclone caused severe flooding, while Hurricane Ian later devastated both Cuba and Florida. Despite the destruction, efforts to adapt included China’s development of “sponge cities” to better manage floodwaters.

Heat and Fire
Wildfires continued to plague the Western U.S., exacerbated by prolonged drought and rising temperatures. While California experienced slightly fewer wildfires than in previous years, the destruction was still significant, echoing similar events across Portugal, Greece, and Argentina.

Extreme heat also posed challenges, with record temperatures hitting the UK, where a soldier was photographed sweating in a bearskin hat. People coped in various ways, from seeking relief in urban fountains to cooling off in makeshift pools.

Imperiled Food and Migration
In October, Wilbur Kuzuzuk of Shishmaref, Alaska, faced the grim reality of a disappearing town. The Inupiat community, grappling with changing seas and warming temperatures, has considered relocation but has yet to take action. Globally, threats to food security were evident: floods in India devastated crops, while drought in Kenya deepened hunger.

Migration became a pressing issue, especially in regions like Somalia, where severe drought drove thousands to flee in search of food and water. Many displaced persons ended up in makeshift camps, while others migrated within their countries, such as in India’s Ladakh region and Indonesia, where rising sea levels swallowed homes.

Winnie Keben from Kenya recounted a crocodile attack linked to rising water levels, which brought wildlife closer to human settlements. Her family’s home was washed away, illustrating the personal toll of climate change.

Conclusion
The myriad challenges of 2022, captured through the lens of AP photographers, highlight the urgent need for action against climate change as millions face displacement, hunger, and loss in an increasingly hostile environment.