Global warming refers to the high rate of increase in the global average surface temperature in recent years (NASA, 2017). Since the late 19th century, the global average surface temperature has increased by about 2.0 degrees Fahrenheit, and most of the warming has occurred within the last 35 years (NASA, 2017). These rising temperatures are a result of the “greenhouse effect.” When energy from the sun reaches the surface of the earth, some of it is re-radiated back into space as infrared radiation, while some of it is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (Columbia University, n.d.). When there are more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (as there have been over the last century), more of the radiation is trapped by the greenhouse gas molecules in the form of heat, leading to higher temperatures at the Earth’s surface (UCAR, 2011).
One of the primary human contributions to global warming is the burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation, motor transport, and other activities that require energy (Union of Concerned Scientists [UCS], n.d.). Another important human contribution is tropical deforestation (UCS, n.d.). The burning of forests releases large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, and the deforestation eliminates plants that would otherwise be removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the process of photosynthesis (UCS, n.d.).
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Effects of Global Warming on the Environment and Human Health
There are many ways in which global warming can affect the environment. For instance, glaciers and ice sheets are melting, especially near the North Pole and the South Pole, which has had negative impacts on wildlife that depend on the ice for survival (National Geographic, 2017). The warming temperatures have also caused some plant and animals species, including butterflies and foxes, to move north into cooler climates (National Geographic, 2017). In some places, global warming is also enabling invasive species to outcompete native species (Chen, Gao, Liao, & Peng, 2017).
At the same time, global warming can affect human health. For instance, it is expected to significantly increase deaths due to excessive heat (EPA, 2017). When humans are exposed to extremely high temperatures, it can lead to heatstroke and dehydration (EPA, 2017). It can also induce or exacerbate cardiovascular, respiratory, and cerebrovascular conditions (EPA, 2017). In addition, global warming can negatively impact air quality, which can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular health problems in humans (EPA, 2017). Also, because global warming can lead to food shortages, it may raise rates of food insecurity and malnutrition (BALBOUS, 2013). By expanding the habitats of certain disease vectors, global warming can also contribute to outbreaks of infectious disease (BALBOUS, 2013).
Plan to Reduce the Impact of Climate Change on Environmental and Human Health
As the effects of climate change increase in severity, it is important to develop plans to reduce the impact of climate change on environmental and human health. One of the proposals for the protection of human health is to improve public health infrastructure (Brown, 2007). This reduce the impacts of climate change by ensuring that communities are prepared for climate change-related events, such as natural disasters or infectious disease outbreaks, when they arise. To protect environmental health, governments can implement policies that seek to preserve natural systems (Fezzi, Harwood, Lovett, & Bateman, 2015). These efforts at mitigating the impacts of climate change on environmental and human health must also be paired with efforts to reduce the overall rate of global warming (Fezzi et al., 2015), such as restrictions on energy use and policies preventing tropical deforestation. This combination of mitigation efforts and policies to directly address the problem may make it possible to reduce the long-term impacts of climate change on environmental and human health.
- Balbous, J.M. (2013). Health effects of climate change. NIH. Retrieved from https://report.nih.gov/NIHfactsheets/ViewFactSheet.aspx?csid=44
- Brown, H. (2007). Reducing the impact of climate change. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 85(11), 824-5.
- Chen, B., Gao, Y., Liao, H., & Peng, S. (2017). Differential responses of invasive and native plants to warming with simulated changes in diurnal temperature ranges. AOB Plants, 9(4), plx028.
- Climate change: How do we know? (2017). NASA. Retrieved from https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
- Climate impacts on human health. (2017). EPA. Retrieved from https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-human-health_.html
- Effects of global warming. (2017). National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/global-warming-effects/
- Fezzi, C., Harwood, A.R., Lovett, A.A., & Bateman, I.J. (2015). The environmental impact of climate change adaptation on land use and air quality. Nature Climate Change, 5, 255-260.
- Global warming FAQ. (n.d.). Union of Concerned Scientists [UCS]. Retrieved from https://www.ucsusa.org/global-warming/science-and-impacts/science/global-warming-faq.html#.Wj964d-nHIU
- The greenhouse effect. (2011). UCAR. Retrieved from https://scied.ucar.edu/longcontent/greenhouse-effect
- The greenhouse effect and global warming. (n.d.). Columbia University. Retrieved from http://www.columbia.edu/~vjd1/greenhouse.htm
