Consequences of Global Warming

With all the talk about climate change in recent years, many people are wondering about the consequences of global warming. At first blush, the notion doesn't even sound that bad, particularly if you live in an area that experiences very cold winters. But the reality is that if the planet continues to warm at the rate that has been documented in the last few decades, there could be very dire consequences. Many discussions about the consequences of global warming degenerate into apocalyptic warnings, but this purpose of this article is not to scare you. Instead, the following issues are very real concerns that require the human community's sincere acknowledgment and decisive action.

The issues in the following list are in no way arranged in order of importance. In fact, one of the most important facets of the global warming issue is that all the consequences are interrelated and actually start to compound each other as the earth's temperature continues to rise.

• Melting Glaciers – As the planet gets warmer, the glaciers that form the polar ice caps begin to melt. Some scientists believe that if the current rate of retreat continues, the polar ice caps will be gone by the year 2040. Of course all this ice turns to water, which means that sea levels will rise. The global sea levels have risen between four and eight inches in the last century, and if this continues, communities that occupy low lying regions along the coasts risk devastating flooding.

• Intense Weather – As the planet warms, there is more energy in the form of heat available to fuel the earth's weather patterns. The result is more intense and dramatic weather. Hurricanes are becoming more frequent and more intense as the water they pass over gets warmer and warmer. In other areas of the world, increased temperature in the summer and fall increases the evaporation rate and means more droughts and wildfires. Conversely, in still other parts of the world, rainfall is increasing at alarming rates and destructive, extreme rain events have increased in the last fifty years.

• Health Issues – The changing climate will lead to increased health problems for many people. More frequent and more severe heat waves will lead to more heat related deaths. Global warming will also lead to increased smog in urban areas, which has terrible health related consequences. Cases of asthma will increase as will pollen and ragweed related allergies. Additionally, infectious diseases like malaria and dengue fever are being spread to new areas that were once inhospitable to mosquitoes, putting the health of millions of human beings at risk.

• Wildlife – The effect of global warming on wildlife has been and will continue to be catastrophic. If the current rate of increase continues, as many as one million species could become extinct by 2050. Polar bears in the North Pole are drowning as the ice that they live on disappears. As the ocean continues to become more acidic because of carbon dioxide emissions, coral reefs are becoming decimated. If the water temperature increases by as little as three to four degrees, scientists estimate that as much as ninety-seven percent of the world's coral reefs will be wiped out.

While the news is not good, all hope is not lost. The non-profit group Natural Resources Defense Foundation, or NRDC, has a list of five things we can do to stop global warming. The five things are to set limits on global warming pollution, invest in more green jobs and energy, drive cars that get better gas mileage, build green homes and buildings, and build better transportation networks. Some of these tasks are so large that they require the work of governments, but some are manageable for the average citizen. Make sure you understand what you can do to stop global warming and then try to live are green as possible, and encourage as many people as you can to do the same.

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