Negative and positive changes that will affect Canada as global warming changes our climate
Introduction
Global warming can be defined as a rise in the normal hotness of the exterior air near the earth and oceans since the average 20th century and its anticipated continuation. Change in climate will affect very many aspects of lives in Canada. The fiscal, collective and overall well being is all associated with the climate in both an undeviating and indirect way. For instance, the climate has effects on the crops, forest yield, increase of diseases, water accessibility, and health of the ecology and steadiness of the infrastructure. Global warming will come with very many challenges as well as advantages too.
Negative changes that will affect Canada due to global warming
There are a number of negative changes that will affect Canada as global warming changes our atmosphere. As a result changes in the atmosphere due to global warming, Canada has been hit with heavy warm waves, famine, floods and also other severe changes in climate. These changes affect the well being of the Canadians in their lifestyles, farming, and money saving. Because carbon dioxide proves to have a major consequence on global warming,
Canada will therefore be required to increase its main sinks of carbon dioxide and reduce its main sources. According to research, Canadian boreal forests are presently a sink for carbon dioxide. Since these forests are still expanding, it is possible for them to sustain more carbon, but as they mature the ability to sustain huge amounts will reduce. Additionally, incase these forests go on burning down or carrying insects, they will become a huge source of carbon dioxide instead of a sink.
In a climate that is warming, more water will begin to drop as rain other than falling as snow and this will lead to the reservoirs getting filled to capacity more than the usual. In addition a climate that is warming will lead to melting of snow earlier in the year than in the recent decades thus leading to the interference of the conventional timing of water present from snow runoff streams. These changes will mean that the snow will be accumulated less during winter. Earlier spring water runoff will be a threat to the Canadian agricultural production in the Canadian prairies. Peak demand water availability for industrial use, crop growing and family usage may all reduce as well. As a result, income that is gotten from skiing may be reduced as well.
The change of climate will also have an effect on the health and Canadians’ livelihood. The number of hot days experienced especially in the cities will increase. There will be more problems of pollution of air than before and this will end up putting children and the elderly who have respiratory problems for instance at a bigger risk of illnesses. There will also be a rise kin molds and pollens as a result of raised temperatures and this could also lead to respiratory complications for instance asthma for some.
The depletion of the ozone too has led to the penetration of unwanted ultra-violet rays which may lead to skin cancer. Ultraviolet rays cause skin cancer by altering the DNA of skin cells. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer. Statistics show that skin cancer cases account for a third of all Canada’s cancer cases (Hackett, 2004). Cases of skin cancer continue to increase in Canada. With the continuing rate of climate change in Canada, the inhabitants are highly susceptible to skin cancer.
The change of climate due to global warming will also have negative effects on the value of the air. For instance, contact with open-air and interior air pollutants and allergens will be increased. This as a result will lead to increased numbers of the people who will get respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Cardiac arrest, strokes and cases of cancer will also increase. People will also suffer from contaminations resulting from water and food.
Cases of intestinal and disorders resulting from compound and organic contaminants will be on the high level. Canada will also experience a shift in disease patterns that result from microorganisms, germs and also other pathogens which are transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks and animals. Exposure to ultraviolet rays will also lead to skin damage and skin cancer (Tennesen, 2004). Cases of cascades and distressed immune function will also be on the increase. Changes in climate due to global warming will also have a negative impact on the socio-economic community health well being. For instance, when the climate changes, it may lead to a rise of the frequency, magnitude or duration of harsh weather conditions which in turn leads to an increase of risks for the vulnerable populations and communities that live in areas that are open to the elements to likely hazards. Change in climate will also have an effect on the wellbeing of Canadians due to too much cold and heat events. There will be elevated cases of professional health risks. Canadians will also experience natural hazards that are associated with the weather. For instance, the public health infrastructure will suffer damages. There will also be increased especially to then animals which are affected by extreme conditions. This entails the polar bear which might be extinct as a result of the rapid environmental change that make them unable to adapt.
There will be increased demands on health care services. More pressure will be put on the health care services due to the increased demands of health care as a result of the effects of the climatic change for instance floods. Cases of social network interference will be experienced. There will be increased outages of power due to severe events that are associated with the weather and these will affect the ability of Canadians to communicate effectively during cases of emergency.
Positive changes that will affect Canada due to global warming
The climatic changes due to global warming would also have positive effects to Canada. For instance, some regions may enjoy longer periods of growing crops and winters that are milder. As result, there will be less cases of mortality which are usually due to the cold weather. There are also health advantages that will be experienced if the gas emitted by greenhouse is reduced. When we reduce the rate at which we burn fossil fuels, we decrease both our emissions of greenhouse gases that are harmful and also decrease emission of pollutants that are poisonous and known to have a negative effect on the health of both people and the ecosystem.
Another positive impact is that the tree line is shifting towards the North and this will lead to lower levels of carbon dioxide (Dwivedi, 2001). The prairie forests are expanding towards the North too and this means that there will be better and appropriate trees and they will be able to convert additional carbon dioxide. Canada will also be actively involved in the shipping industry since the shipping route in the North is also being cleared by the rise in temperature.
As a result, Canada will be able to get more revenues that come every day or every month from the shipping industry. There will also be less damage to the infrastructure due to winters that are warm. Damages associated with health will also be reduced. Cold stress will also lead to a reduction of illnesses and mortalities will be less. Intense winter storms will also cause less damage to property since the snow will be more in form of water other than solid.
Warm weather will also be a benefit for both plants and animals. Cold weathers have always resulted to severe survival problems for organisms and the human race. However, the scientific research has shown that there will be reduced cases of deaths per annum due to the warm weather. A rise in temperatures will also increase the rate at which tourists visit Canada and this will be an increase of revenue for the Canadian economy. Canada will experience a 2205 rise in the amount of tourists this century. Winter sports for instance skiing will also not be seriously affected in Canada as it will me in U.S for instance. Apparently, the business will drift north to Canadian resorts with more snow.
As the ice moves away to the poles, more arable terrain will become available for both inhabitant purposes and also farming reasons (Hackett, 2001). Huge masses of land in the Northern hemisphere have severe climates which make it hard for people to actually live there. Once the global warming hits those parts of Canada, it will be easier to grow crops and also live there. There will be increased crop yields since the increased production of carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere leads to a dramatic increase of general food production even worldwide.
Global warming will also lead to a better economy especially due to higher crop yield. There will also be positive effects on forests and their recreation. Increased tourism during summer will substitute any loss of tourists and re venues incurred during the winter. Economies will grow and the living standards of people will be higher. Forests will also turn out to be more fruitful than before. The Northern tundra and the southern forests will grow in a better way. The variety of trees in variety of regions will also change.
I think that the positive effects on Canada due to climate change and global warming will prevail since Canadians are actually at a great advantage over the other countries. The benefits are more important since there will be a reduction of the heating costs because the weather will be warmer. The fuel bills fro travelling will also be decreased and this will be an advantage to the citizens. The benefits are of more importance since Canada will also experience longer period of growing crops and a range of crops. There will also be an increased yield due to less damage caused by ice and also loss of crops.
The positive effects of global warming will also be of importance compared to the negative impacts since it will contribute largely to Canadian economy (Cline, 2007). There will be a extensive variety of plants for gardens and many other uses. The roads will also be damaged less by ice. There will also be an increased potential to immediate entrance to global markets through northern ports. The costs of construction will also be reduced and Canada will also experience longer periods of summer for tourism, cottagers and those w ho wants to camp.
Conclusion
Global warming has both constructive and unconstructive impacts on Canada. However people will pay more attention to the positive impacts that global warming will have on Canada rather than the negative impacts even thought the negative impacts are as many as the positive too. Most Canadians will say that a Canada that will be warmer will improve lives and many other things. In most case the constructive nature has to be focused upon and also it has to be beneficial to avoid destructions.
References
O. P. Dwivedi, (2001). Sustainable development and Canada: national & international perspectives. Toronto: University of Toronto Press
Michael, Tennesen. (2004). The complete idiot’s guide to global warming. New York: Alpha Books
Steven, C. Hackett.(2001). Environmental and natural resources economics: theory, policy, and the sustainable society. New York: M.E. Sharpe
William, R. Cline (2007). Global warming and agriculture: impact estimates by country. New York: Peterson Institute
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