As the effects of global warming are slowly becoming more apparent, it is important to understand why it is dangerous. Global warming is a gradual increase in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere and ocean, resulting in unprecedented alterations of the climate, and has serious implications for humanity and the environment. This means that we are likely to experience more extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and an overall increase in temperatures which have serious negative effects on our health, agriculture, marine life, and infrastructure.
A direct result of global warming is higher temperatures, which has been documented to have a damaging effect on human health. In countries where temperatures are already high, people are more prone to heat-related illnesses, with a 2°C rise in global temperature estimated to result in 400,000 additional premature death each year. Furthermore, air quality is expected to be poorer due to the accumulation of pollutants, leading to a higher risk of asthma, heart and lung diseases. Finally, many infectious diseases such as those borne by mosquitos, have been estimated to expand due to increased temperatures.
Global warming has also been linked to extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods. Areas more prone to droughts are likely to experience decreased crop productivity; this, combined with warmer temperatures, can lead to a decrease in yields. Innovative agricultural techniques can be used to help mitigate the impact, but this is largely contingent on the availability of resources and disposability of capital. In contrast, areas more prone to flooding can suffer from disruptions to essential services, widespread damage to property and displacement of people. In other words, the increased number and severity of weather events caused by global warming can have a debilitating effect on our societies and economies.
Furthermore, global warming has been linked to rising sea levels, which threatens to overwhelm densely populated coastal and island states. This constitutes a serious problem as the scientific consensus is that oceans will rise by up thirty centimeters by the year 2100, and up to two meters if emissions continue to increase. In this scenario, many regions, cities, and nations will have to urgently re-evaluate the safety of their population and prepare for massive population displacement. In addition, rising sea temperatures have been linked to the extinction of species, coral reef degradation, and the displacement of entire marine ecosystems.
Overall, global warming is a critically important issue, the effects of which have serious implications for humanity and the planet. To limit its effects, it is necessary for countries to drastically reduce their carbon output, invest in green energy sources and transition to a low-carbon economy. This is essential in order to curb global warming and potentially mitigate its effects. More needs to be done by national governments and international institutions to ensure that future generations will be able to thrive in an environment free from the devastating effects of global warming.
