The challenges posed by global warming are numerous and far reaching and unable to be ignored. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 1998-2018 was the warmest period on record since pre-industrial times and given current human activities, global average temperatures will likely rise 1.5 °C between 2030 and 2052 if we continue to follow current global emission trends. As our planet continues to heat up, the effects and consequences of global warming are becoming more and more prevalent.
Perhaps most disturbingly, global warming is causing significant changes to the Earth’s climate structures. Warming of the planet causes more frequent and intense storms, hurricanes, drought, and floods. This environmental volatility is making it increasingly difficult to predict the weather and presents numerous conservation challenges, as species are unable to adapt quickly enough to their changing habitats. Additionally, melting glaciers, polar ice caps, and sea ice places species in the Arctic, such as seals and walruses, at an even greater risk of extinction.
On the other hand, global warming does have its advantages. Increase in temperatures can free up land from permafrost regions, making way for farming and other forms of economic activity. Warmer temperatures can also extend the growing season for many crops, increasing yields and profitability of agricultural activities. Global warming can also reduce the need for electricity use in cooling applications and opens up greater marine access to the Arctic ocean for mineral and oil exploration.
But, though global warming does present some opportunities for economic development, the associated risks to human health and the environment are daunting. Increased temperatures and more variable weather patterns affect the habitats of animals and cause water levels to fluctuate and change water composition, resulting in significant changes to the availability and quality of food sources. Increasing temperature can also corrode infrastructure and create hazardous air pollution, leading to respiratory and cardiac diseases. With global warming, the impacts are felt not only by human actions but also by the environment, making it difficult to farm and adapt to the unpredictability of it’s effects.
What’s more, global warming has resulted in greater ocean stratification. This occurs when warm surface water prevents the mixing of oxygen with deeper, colder water, which affects the diversity of ocean ecosystems and affects marine animal behaviour. According to a 2019 study by the Smithsonian Institution, global warming has already caused dramatic shifts in globally distributed fish species, and this could significantly reduce global fish yields if left unaddressed.
The effects and consequences of global warming seriously undermine efforts to create sustainable economic progress and have already caused tragic consequences to our ecosystems. Climate change adaptation initiatives face significant obstacles due to the rapid pace of global warming, and governments around the world must take decisive action to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases. Research and innovation into technological solutions, as well as stringent environmental regulation, are essential if we are to combat global warming and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Lastly, it is up to citizens to become informed and do their part to reduce emissions. Individual contributions to the challenge of global warming may seem small, but collective action can be powerful. Simple behavioural changes such as walking instead of driving or eating more plant-based foods have a tangible impact and make it possible for us to reduce our collective global footprints.
Given the gravity of this issue, it is imperative that governments, organizations, and citizens alike make a collective effort to combat global warming in the hopes of protecting our planet’s future and our own.
