Global warming, the gradual heating of Earth's
surface, oceans and atmosphere, is caused by human activity,
primarily the burning of fossil fuels that pump carbon dioxide
(CO2), methane and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Already, global warming is having a measurable
effect on the planet.The economic impacts of
Global warming are discussed below
- Damage to property and infrastructure.
Sea-level rise, floods, droughts, wildfires, and extreme storms
require extensive repair of essential infrastructure such as homes,
roads, bridges, railroad tracks, airport runways, power lines,
dams, levees, and seawalls.
- Lost productivity. Disruptions in daily life
related to climate change can mean lost work and school days and
harm trade, transportation, agriculture, fisheries, energy
production, and tourism. Severe rainfall events and snowstorms can
delay planting and harvesting, cause power outages, snarl traffic,
delay air travel, and otherwise make it difficult for people to go
about their daily business. Climate-related health risks also
reduce productivity, such as when extreme heat curtails
construction, or when more potent allergies and more air pollution
lead to lost work and school days.
- Mass migration and security threats. Global
warming is likely to increase the number of "climate
refugees"—people who are forced to leave their homes because of
drought, flooding, or other climate-related disasters. Mass
movements of people and social disruption may lead to civil unrest,
and might even spur military intervention and other unintended
consequences.
- Coping costs. Societies may find ways to
prepare for and cope with some climate impacts—provided that we do
not let our carbon emissions continue unabated. However, even a
partial accounting of these measures suggests that coping is likely
to be more costly steps to reduce carbon emissions thereby reducing
associated climate impacts.
For example, farmers might need to irrigate previously rain-fed
areas, cool vulnerable livestock, and manage new or more numerous
pests. Local and state governments that taker early steps to ensure
that houses are more energy efficient, and build early warning
systems for heat waves and disasters and add emergency responders
are more likely to cope with extreme events. Governments may also
have to build seawalls, contain sewer overflows, and strengthen
bridges, subways, and other critical components of the
transportation system.
Rebuilding after disasters strike is likely to prove even more
costly than these preventive measures, studies show. And these
costs do not include those stemming from lives lost and other
irreversible consequences of allowing heat-trapping gases to
accumulate unchecked in our atmosphere.