The potential effects of global warming have been well documented. Greenhouse gases can produce weather changes resulting in increasing overall earth temperature, promoting extreme weather, cause the destabilization of local climates and induce more evaporation. The effects on our oceans can equally wreak havoc. The potential for sea level rise, sea temperature rise and the acidification of the ocean water are all possible. These potential problems can cause economic impacts far beyond what we’ve seen to date.
Agriculture
The potential for agricultural harm from global warming is great. Although some local areas may benefit from a rise in local temperatures the majority won’t. Increased temperatures will result in an increase in evaporation. On one hand, all of this water vapor will increase the amount of rainfall that can fall in any given area causing flooding and erosion while many other areas may be prolonged in drought. In addition higher carbon dioxide levels can increase the amount of ozone gas near the ground. Excessive rain and erosion, drought and ozone all can decrease crop yield, potentially causing food shortages.
Insurance
As mentioned above increased evaporation can lead to increased rain. More rain can result in excess flooding and mudslides. Also warmer ocean temperatures will potentially foster and spawn more powerful and destructive category four and five hurricanes, in various parts of the world. The cost to the insurance companies will increase and become staggering with time. This will result in higher flood insurance premiums, which may make the cost of having this type of insurance prohibitive to the majority of people. Disaster relief will become a major burden to the taxpayers of every nation.
In addition, medical insurance may be affected as well, since many tropical diseases will migrate into areas that weren't previously affected. Diseases such and dengue fever and malaria may spread, increasing health care costs.
Infrastructure and transportation
All the precipitation resulting from an increase in climate change will cause major problems inland as well. Roadways, railroads, pipelines and buildings will need more maintenance. The bucking of roads, cracking of foundations and the repairs associated with an increase in air temperature will all cost more to maintain.
Oceans
An increase in ocean levels will force many who live in low lying areas and waterfront areas, to abandon their properties and move inland. Some island nations may be at risk as well. Tuvalu, an island nation in the Pacific, already has a migration treaty with New Zealand in the event of a major flooding catastrophe. Increased water temperature and carbon dioxide absorption in the ocean, can also effect many species of fish and coral, upsetting the ecosystem of oceanic life, endangering many species and impacting the economy of both the fishing industry and that of many nations.
The costs of climate change are multifaceted and will affect all areas and people. It will affect our food sources, our weather, our insurance costs and taxes, not to mention the endangerment of many different animal and vegetation species on earth. No matter how we look at it, the costs of global warming will be staggering. Whether the cost comes from the repair of what has already occurred, or it comes in the form of investing in finding and upgrading systems with renewable energy sources, all nations will need to contribute time, money and energy in dealing with and solving this problem.
References
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/globalwarming.html
Cyrus Dehkan - I am a dentist that's been in practice for 22 years. Although not a professional writer, I do enjoy giving views on various subjects. My ...
