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Effects

 

Crop losses

Hydropower limitations

Air conditioning needs rise

Drought

Air pollution

Spread of disease

Cold habitat threats on land and in the ocean

Wildfire increase

Skiing and beach recreation decline

Flood risk
 

  • Although there may be some positive effects of climate change, such as longer seasons for crops, the negative effects will generally outweigh the positive.
     

  • The undesirable effects will make living more difficult, both physically and monetarily. Although longer crop seasons might be beneficial to some agriculture, it can also increase temperature during growing season. That coupled with a longer season can cause some crops to die out. Since climate change will cause stronger winds and flooding, pesticides can be spread more easily over a region as well.
     

  • Drought negatively affects everyone, including crops. Without enough water, states that use hydropower may see a decrease in the availability of electricity. With higher average temperatures, the need for air conditioning will increase as well. The heat increase is uncomfortable for many, but can be life-threatening to young children and the elderly.
     

  • Air pollution increases are a factor due to bad ozone being created by fossil fuels and other pollutants. This can cause asthma and allergy sufferers much more discomfort and can be costly as well to control. The spread of disease is another cost and illness factor. With rising temperatures comes an abundance of insects that do not get killed off in colder weather. An abundance of ticks and mosquitoes raises the danger of infection from malaria, West Nile Virus, and Lyme disease.
     

  • With a warming climate, the chances of wildfires increase, at the same time, decreasing ice levels. Melting ice then causes ocean water to encroach more on beaches



     

 

EPA, US, and Climate Change Division. Effects on people and the environment. n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2016.

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