Humanity stands at a critical juncture in history, as the effects of global warming become more widely felt. We cannot escape its impacts; with every passing day, it paints a grim picture of our future. As its consequences ripple across the globe, it is essential that we gain an understanding of how global warming will affect us as individuals.
In many places, global warming is leading to rising temperatures and reductions in precipitation, increasing the severity and frequency of droughts, floods, and heatwaves. This has a direct impact on agriculture; if the land cannot support crops, then the population cannot survive. We have already begun to see the devastating consequences of this. In California, 2019 was the hottest year on record, giving rise to major wildfires that have destroyed Wildlife, ecosystems, and homes in their wake. Many countries are experiencing conflicts and famines that were precipitated or exacerbated by global warming.
Food security is also being threatened. Food sources depend on the environment, and with rising temperatures, certain insects and animals will die out or migrate, leaving fewer resources for those living in poverty. Moreover, low-lying coastal regions are at high risk of flooding, which can in turn ruin agricultural land, forcing those who rely on it for their livelihoods to re-conceive their way of life. What’s more, sea levels are continuing to rise, and this puts remote island communities in danger of being submerged altogether. Entire cultures and ways of life are being lost as a result.
At the same time, warmer temperatures are causing more intense and longer heatwaves, increasing the risk of illness. Rising temperatures can also cause heat-related illnesses, such as dehydration and heat exhaustion, as well as a range of allergic reactions. Furthermore, mammal activity is being altered due to changing environmental conditions, increasing the risk of diseases passing to humans through contact with these animals.
Air quality is also a concern. More polluted air carries a range of health risks, from asthma and heart disease to cancer. Smog, ozone, and other pollutants from industrial processes are increasing due to global warming. These pollutants, combined with the higher temperatures, lead to decreased air quality and long-term health implications for many individuals.
Finally, water resources are being disrupted by global warming, putting at risk the lives of billions of people. Ice caps, glaciers, and snow-capped mountains are quickly melting, substantially decreasing the amount of runoff that is available for sustenance. Thus, those living in dry areas are most threatened by the dwindling water supplies.
Global warming has far reaching impacts, and it is essential that we understand the nature of these effects. We must be informed of the consequences that it could bring to bear on us and our environment, and take steps to mitigate them. We must shift to a more sustainable lifestyle that is mindful of the planet and ensure that our regulation of emissions and activities does not threaten the future of our planet
