Global warming is one environmental issue which needs no introduction - after all it has

been in the news for all the good and bad reasons over the last year or so. What needs an
introduction though, is the impact that it will have on mankind. Global warming effects
on humans have always been downplayed, perhaps because most of them are based on
climatic models which the critics allege are too crude to rely on. However, critical
evaluation of the evidence of global warming - such as climate change pattern and rising
frequency of hurricanes, is more than enough for a person to understand the ground
reality. It's another thing that we are too engrossed to sit back and ponder over the most
obvious global warming causes and effects.
Effects of Global Warming on Humans
In what can be best described as domino effect on the Earth's environment, one thing will
lead to another as a result of global warming - and in matter of time several species will
be completely wiped off from the planet. When we talk about species, it includes humans
as well. Even though we don't face the direct threat of extinction, quite a few effects of
global warming on the environment will affect us directly or indirectly. Given below are
the details of some global warming effects on humans which will help you picture the
situation.
Sea Level Rise: Submerging of Coastal Regions
What we refer to as the effects and consequences of global warming will start with
melting of polar ice as well as glaciers due to excessive rise in global near-surface
temperature. The water from melting glaciers and polar ice will drain into the ocean,
which will eventually trigger a sea level rise. More importantly, water tends to expand
when heated - and when ocean water will be heated as a result of global warming it will
naturally expand and contribute to sea level rise. Rising sea will encroach on land - and
low lying areas as well as tiny islands will start submerging (See Maldives Islands
Sinking). That will turn out to be disastrous, considering that a significant portion of the
world population resides in coastal areas which are threatened by encroaching sea.

Melting

Glaciers,

Drying

Rivers:

Severe

Water

and

Food

Crisis

Coming back to melting glaciers, they are our only reservoirs of potable water and if they
melt - which is already happening at an alarming rate, there will be no water to drink.
Some of the major rivers of the world originate in these glaciers, and melting of glaciers
as a result of global warming will sound the death knell for these rivers. At the end of the
day, we will end up facing a severe water crisis - and the prophecy about we having the
World War III for water will come true. Other than using river water for drinking, we are
also dependent on it for agriculture. If there are no rivers, it is bound to affect the
agriculture sector and result in food shortage for us. Similarly, all this occurrences will
disturb

the

water

cycle,

hamper

the

normal

pattern

of

precipitation

and

trigger environmental issues - such as droughts, on the planet. Sooner or later, most of the
regions on the planet will become barren and we won't have land to cultivate. End result no water to drink, no food to eat courtesy global warming.
Frequent Hurricanes: Large Scale Devastation
When the cold water from melting glaciers and warm water of oceans will mix, it will
provide ideal conditions for the formation of hurricanes - which will make these natural
disasters much more frequent and severe than they are today. The steady rise in frequency
of hurricanes over the last few years is an apt evidence of global warming. These
devastating hurricanes will rip across the residential areas in coastal regions of the world,
which will result in huge loss in terms of human lives as well as property.
Warm Climate: Spread of Diseases
As far as global warming effects on human health are concerned, they may be far more
severe than we can possibly imagine. One of the most obvious global warming effects on
Earth will be the change in climatic conditions of different regions. If the planet becomes
warm, it will become a heaven for disease spreading insects. These insects - which cannot
survive in cold regions beyond the tropics now, will begin to flourish in these regions
which will then have conducive environment for them. As they start spreading out, they

will also spread diseases attributed to them which will affect more people and result in
more casualties.
If global warming effects on animals and plants were not convincing enough, these global
warming effects on humans are bound to come as an eyeopener for all those people who
thought global warming was a myth. At the end of the day, we need to understand that we
are a part of the ecosystem, and any thing which threatens the ecosystem is a threat for us
either directly or indirectly. It's high time we stop taking this environmental issue so
lightly and implement global warming solutions to reduce its impact. Now that there is
ample evidence that global warming and deforestation, burning of fossil fuels, use of
CFCs, etc., are related to each other, we can go ahead and restrict this hazard by keeping
a check on these anthropogenic activities. If we don't act now, the loss will be too much
and revival may turn out to be impossible.