Is global warming good for anything?

Question

Im just wondering, people keep talking about all the bad things about GW, but is it actually going to do somthing good?

Answer 1

There's quite a few benefits, here's a dozen of them...

● A decrease in cold related deaths and illnesses

● More condusive conditions for certain species, particularly insects (although I guess if you don't like insects it might not be a good thing)

● Certain crops grow better in warmer conditions

● Reduced heating bills

● Availability of land where permafrost has melted - Siberia in the last few years alone has gained a million square kilometres of land this way

● Increased rainfall in some areas, good if you're in a low rainfall area which now gets more rainfall

● Decreased rainfall in other areas, good if you're in a high rainfall area which is prone to flooding

● Increased water supply in some areas, the melting of glacial ice which one in five people rely on for their water supply has increased water availability in some areas

● The elusive northwest passage opened to normal shipping for the first time last year (it had only rarely been navigated in the past and that required the use of ice breakers or hauling vessels overland). It's refreezing now as winter approaches but it's likely it will open agan in future years meaning vessels could sail around the north of Canada and avoid the need for expensive, lengthy journeys via the Panama Canal.

● Easier extraction of oil and mineral deposits from beneath the Arctic and other places. A few months ago the Russians laid claim (symbolically) to large areas of seabed that had been beneath the Arctic ice.

● For the first time in history we're able to grow things in Antarctica. It's only grass at the moment but in future we may be growing crops there.

● People generally prefer moderate temperatures (low to mid 70's), warming of colder countries will mean more warm and hot days which is going to please many people.

Unfortunately each positive benefit is countered by a negative one as well. For example, less cold related deaths is more than offset by the increase in heat related deaths. There are also many negatives that don't have a coresponding positive. On balance it's not a good thing.

Answer 2

In some locations, in some ways. Overall, it's a bad thing.

Canada may see increased food production.

But the problem is that it's mostly bad. Moving people away from the coasts, replacing things lost to flooding, and fixing agriculture will cost huge sums of money, which will depress the world economy.

And that will be bad for Canada. The worldwide economic effects mean this will be a bad thing for every country.

Answer 3

Yes. In the past, temperatures that were warmer than they are today were beneficial to many people. Warm periods were times of wealth and prosperity.
The reason why people only talk about the bad side (which, a lot of is a based on weak science, or no science at all), is because they don't want anyone to know that there could be positive effects. They want to scare us into believing them. That;s really all they can do, since they have no good science, but it's quite effective, as I'm sure you can tell.

Answer 4

I saw a documentary on the effects of global warming in Greenland the other day. Very interesting. They are saying 'long may it continue' as farming is taking off there, as well as commercial fishing. So for the few thousand (or whatever it is) people who live in Greenland, it is good for them! :)

Answer 5

Only if you live in the north or very south.

Answer 6

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!
it will cause floods, species to die out (including humans) , and mass destruction.

Answer 7

Food!

It's tough to grow anything on a sheet of ice...

Answer 8

It is good for the suntan lotion manufactures