Global+Warming+-+Pros+and+Cons

= __Global Warming: Pros and Cons__ =



Global warming is a major world issue; environmentally, politically, and economically. Everyone is informed about Earth’s heat increase through media coverage. It is extremely hard to sort through that media coverage and distinguish what is right and what is wrong. It is clear that the earth is warming. Both sides ( those who believe it is anthropogenic or naturally caused) have their arguments and media/politics have altered both sides. There are also people who believe that the warming is happening and it is man made, but we can do little about it, so we should not try. People often list the cons of global warming but it is rare that people are informed about the possible advantages of greenhouse gases. This wiki gives the reader a list of important pros and cons of the global warming:

**__Pros __**

 * The high amount of carbon dioxide will greatly accelerate plant growth, creating an increase in farming and crop expansion
 * Greenhouse gases will create a longer growing period for plants
 * Less energy and money will be needed to heat homes in the winter and fall
 * Frozen, unusable land will thaw into a new environment for animals and humans
 * More enjoyable temperatures for outdoor activity for most areas during the fall, winter, and spring
 * The melting of the Arctic will open new trade routes in the north, which will create an economic boom and will save gasoline from shorter trade ship journeys
 * Deaths caused by cold weather will decrease
 * There won't be too much snow to shovel, which, for some people, can cause heart attacks because of the heavy-lifting
 * Cities will save large sums of money due to the fact that they will not need to pay as much money for snow and ice removal on roads and reparations on roads (i.e. pot holes, large cracks) due to freezing and thawing

__Cons__

 * Viruses and bacteria will flourish in the warmer weather which will create disease, many of which could lead to death
 * Deserts will grow in size and heat.
 * Droughts, desertification and severe storms will cause many deaths, especially in poorer nations. There will be the chaotic problem of a migration of millions of people.
 * <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">Many species will become endangered or even extinct
 * <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">More energy and money will be used in the summer to cool buildings
 * <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">Can cause many illnesses in people, such as asthma and cancer
 * <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">The pollution will cause an increase in acid rain
 * <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">Deaths cause by hot weather will increase (i.e. heat exhaustion, especially for infants and the elderly)
 * <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">Due to lack of atmosphere and build up of greenhouse gasses the increase of sun exposure is greater, leading to a higher risk of sun burns, potentially causing skin cancer
 * <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">Less enjoyable temperatures for outdoor activity for most areas during the summer
 * <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">Could cause weather conditions and patterns to change, allowing super storms and hurricanes to appear and creating storms in new places
 * <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">May cause sea levels to rise if glaciers melt, causing the temperature to increase in oceans and seas, which would have a large effect on marine life (fish may migrate or die because of the temperature change, causing a fundamental food source to be lost for humans and animals)
 * <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">If glaciers melt it will cause the oceans circulation patterns to change having unknown effects on world climate.
 * <span style="color: rgb(255,0,0);">Ecosystems such as the coral reef will be destroyed
 * We could see sea levels rising between 7 to 23 inches by the end of the century, and it only takes 4 inches to flood many south seas islands.
 * Hurricane strengths (wind speeds) are increasing, causing more damage. Along with other natural disasters
 * Some Coral Reefs are sensitive to slight changes in temperatures, therefore severe bleaching and dying of coral will occur. Acidification of the sea by carbon dioxide prevents coral reefs form regenerating.
 * Changes in climate in certain areas could lead to a loss of agricultural production and shortages in food.