A hotter summer will result in increased deaths from heat stroke. There will be more fires, leading to higher near-surface ozone levels. Droughts will increase and fresh water will be scarcer during the hotter summer months. Mountains will lose glaciers in Asia and parts of North America. More people will suffer from malnutrition as fresh water becomes scarce. Hundreds of thousands of species will become extinct. In addition, a warming planet will exacerbate the effects of climate change and other environmental threats.
Climate change
The science behind climate change and the impact of global warming is complex, but it is not impossible to see the effects of climate change. Scientists have estimated that global temperatures will rise by about 10degF by the end of the century. Even worse, some parts of the world are likely to experience higher temperature increases. In this article, we will look at the most likely outcomes of global warming, as well as how we can protect ourselves.
A large portion of the problem is caused by the burning of fossil fuels, which emits greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. These gases trap the sun’s heat and cause global warming. The warmer temperatures are harmful for all life on Earth, causing changes in weather patterns and disrupting the natural balance. Whether these changes will result in sea level rises or droughts remains unclear, but scientists are convinced that humans are responsible for some degree.
Human activity
There is no doubt that human activity is a major factor in the increasing temperature of the Earth. Through greenhouse gas emissions, human activity increases the planet’s temperature. While the impact of human activity on the global climate is disputed, volumes of scientific research indicate that our activities are warming the planet’s temperature. The IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (2013) states that “Human activity has a clear impact on climate, as measured by rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, positive radiative forcing, observed warming, and the scientific understanding of climate change.”
Since the Industrial Revolution, human activities have contributed to an increase in greenhouse gases such as company carbon offsets, which has the effect of causing a warmer planet. This effect is further amplified by human activities, as these gases trap infrared heat, which increases the Earth’s temperature. Research into the greenhouse effect shows that it was discovered by Eunice Foote in 1856. However, concerns about the global warming impact of human activity have been increasing in recent years.
Environmental impacts
A recent AQA resource investigates the economic, social, and environmental impacts of global warming. It includes UK examples and images used as stimulus for pupil led learning. An activity includes card sorting and categorising a number of UK examples. A further AQA resource explores the impacts of global warming on the Arctic, the Pacific, Southeast Asia, and the Indian
Ocean. This includes information on climate change and its effects on the Pacific Ocean, and
the Arctic thaw.
Other greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and are produced from a variety of sources. For example, carbon dioxide emissions are produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, irrigation, deforestation, and manufacturing cement. Methane emissions are produced by livestock, the decay of waste in landfills, and motor vehicles, both road and non-road. Industrial GHG emissions are also generated by processes such as stone, clay, glass, and cement production.
Policy options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
State governments have a number of options for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, from the power sector. While some of these measures explicitly address climate change, others aim to reduce costs for consumers by encouraging energy efficiency. Renewable portfolio standards and carbon tax are two popular approaches, and all 29 states currently have them. Smart meters, smart cities, and building codes are other options to reduce emissions. The combination of these measures is needed to control global warming.
Some mitigation technologies are more expensive than carbon. For example, offshore wind and solar thermal are not as costly as carbon, but can be compared in terms of cost to carbon. But there are also less expensive mitigation technologies, including advanced nuclear and solar thermal. The IMF estimates that a tax of $75 a ton of carbon dioxide in 2019 would allow the world to meet its Paris Agreement target of 2 degrees Celsius.
Human health impacts
While the human health impacts of global warming can be attributed to various factors, the most obvious is climate change. While people will face a variety of risks from climate change, each one will be more severe depending on individual sensitivity and the capacity of health systems in that region. Many risks are directly related to the environment, including increased air pollution and waterborne and vector-borne diseases. Moreover, extreme weather events will increase the risk of certain diseases, including malaria, dengue fever, and dengue fever.
While people living in developing nations will be most at risk from climate change, it is important to note that wealthy countries are also facing significant risks. For example, warmer average temperatures will lead to longer and hotter days. In the United States, this will result in increased heat-related deaths. By the end of the century, this number could rise to tens of thousands of extra deaths every year. This will likely be exacerbated by other factors, including changes in weather patterns and diet.