It provides a clear direction of … Could climate change be a good thing? Benefit 20 - There are unique spiritual, purpose, meaning, and character-building benefits for individuals and faith communities in dealing with this global warming emergency and forwarding the climate re-stabilization and a global ecological, economic, and political … They are sometimes referred to as "multiple benefits" or "synergies". The burgeoning clean energy economy could also be an important source of jobs for disadvantaged workers in inner cities and Rust Belt towns. If global warming continues unabated, extreme heat waves that now occur once every 20 years are projected to occur about every other year by the end of the century in much of the country. 2 Brattle Square, Cambridge MA 02138, USA, Infographic: Wildfires and Climate Change, Building Equitable, Clean, and Climate-Safe Infrastructure, How Soil Erosion Threatens Food and Farms. Here's how. Addressing global warming could help lessen the harm to ecosystems that now provide us with multiple benefits. (617) 547-5552. The Nordic Region. Action to sharply reduce our global warming emissions can greatly curtail the costs of climate change, especially over the longer term. Water shortages have wide-ranging consequences. We use cookies to improve your experience. Ice age is the period in which the temperature drops to the extent that life becomes extremely difficult on Earth. to climate change. Co-benefits of climate change mitigation as defined in the 4th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are the positive benefits related to the reduction of greenhouse gases. One study has estimated that, if emissions remain unchecked, losses related to just four areas—hurricane damages, energy costs, water costs, and residential costs stemming from sea-level rise—could equal 1.4 percent of GDP by 2025, and 1.9 percent of GDP by 2100. However, the resulting drops in energy bills from reductions in electricity and fuel use will more than offset the costs of these investments. The duration of these benefits is unknown because, under unmitigated climate change, continued sea‐ice loss is expected to eventually have negative demographic and ecological effects on all polar bears. Climate change is one of the most urgent issues of our day. While that will necessitate some adaptation, on the whole, the region should benefit. In general, communities all along North America's Great Lakes will be relatively shielded from climate change as the vast bodies of water should keep the region fairly temperate. We're arming the new administration with facts, evidence, and science. "We’re not seeing worse heat waves or longer heat waves or more of those long nights that don’t fall below 75 degrees,” Dr. Kenneth Blumenfeld, a senior climatologist at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, told the New York Times. Grappling with climate change requires transforming how we power our economy, and no sector requires more fundamental change than transportation, which accounts for the largest share of US global warming pollution. Climate change is contributing to snowpack losses and melting glaciers in the United States, leading to water shortages in the West. Climate change poses significant risks to humans and the environment. Drought, extreme weather events, changes in food production, and pandemics caused by climate change could drive resource conflicts and migrations in vulnerable parts of the world. "Instead, what we’re seeing is warmer winters, fewer days during winter where we get to negative 30 Fahrenheit.". By continuing, you accept our use of cookies. My Spectator cover story on the net benefits of climate change.. Human-caused climate change is one of the threats to sustainability.. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The effects of climate change span the physical environment, ecosystems and human societies. 10 Animals That Surprisingly Benefit From Climate Change - … The election is over, but the crises are all still here. Clean energy investments can help. Help protect workers from dangerous heat. But this benefit is a two-edged sword: weeds, many invasive plant species, and insect pests will also thrive in a warmer world. For GHG mitigation policies, co-benefits can best be defined as effects that are additional to direct reductions of GHG and impacts of climate change and have estimated to be large, relative to the costs of mitigation (e.g. In the end, even Tol's rosy outlook on the net costs and benefits of climate change acknowledges that by 2075, climate change will do net damage. For example, as sources of water used for irrigation dry up, the costs of producing food could rise. There is a big synergy here, because fossil fuels are not only the main source of the greenhouse gases that cause climate change, but also the main source of ai… Such cuts in emissions will also reduce the amount of mercury and other heavy metals—by-products of coal-fired power plants—that enter our air, water, and food. The benefits of the Climate Change Act The Climate Change Act has formalised the UK’s approach to tackling climate change – both on mitigation (reducing emissions) and adaptation (increasing resilience to climate change). To be most effective, such legislation should. Below are 10 reasons for strong action to promote clean energy and curb climate change. How much? The potential value of the co-benefits of climate action is large and insufficiently incorporated. The health of human populations is sensitive to shifts in weather patterns and other aspects of climate change (very high confidence). And water prices could rise not only for farmers but also for industry and homeowners, especially in areas where growing populations are already putting stress on water resources, such as the southwest United States. The costs of climate change for the economy and the society will be much higher than the costs of fighting climate change now. The plan says climate change poses risks to public health, endangers permafrost, and increases the likelihood of infections and natural disasters. At the other extreme, the outcome might be increased productivity that pushes the … Drought and pests threaten forests, which provide lumber. 3. Bringing tropical deforestation to zero will contribute to both. Land and Sea Ice Loss Ice is an important part of the global climate system because it reflects a large amount of solar radiation while also … We must halt the loss of biodiversity and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Make no mistake, human-caused climate change is an urgent global threat, one in which the consequences vastly outweigh the benefits. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that ACES would help households with income in the lowest fifth of the U.S. income distribution save $40 each year by 2020. Sign up or text "SCIENCE" to 662266. Msg & data rates may apply. Climate Action Benefits: Health | Climate Change in the United … As Earth's climate changes, here are three regions that could be big winners. Officials in Duluth, Minnesota, a city of roughly 86,000 people along the shores of Lake Superior, have even considered the slogan "climate-proof Duluth". Our efforts to put the brakes on climate change or adapt to a warming climate present a fundamental tradeoff between costs borne today and benefits that accrue to the children and grandchildren of the current generation. In making investments today that affect future generations’ prospects, we need to think carefully about how we value their welfare compared to our own. The greatest benefit from climate change comes not from temperature change but from carbon dioxide itself. Because nature does not charge market prices for these services, we tend to greatly undervalue them. Learn more. © Union of Concerned Scientists The future costs and benefits of climate change are uncertain and unevenly distributed. Agricultural growing seasons will significantly expand. Warming temperatures and growing acidification threaten oceans, lakes, and rivers, which sustain our fisheries. Addressing global warming would also reduce the nation’s reliance on oil, including the portion that comes from unstable regimes around the world. Studies show that it is feasible and affordable. By addressing global warming, we can also help farmers avoid the most severe consequences of climate change. Climate change will harm human health, and successful strategies to mitigate the extent of the change will restrict that harm. Northern Minnesota and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Droughts are growing more common and lasting longer. Yet these impacts to health are still not well recognized. 1. It also … The US continues to keep intercontinental ballistic missiles on high alert—creating the risk of a mistaken nuclear war in response to a false warning. And these studies exclude or underestimate important mechanisms for containing these costs, such as greater efficiency, and ignore the savings that would come from avoiding many of the costs of climate change itself. Author links open overlay panel Xiaoguang Yang a 1 Fu Chen b 1 Xiaomao Lin c Zhijuan Liu a Hailin Zhang b Jin Zhao a Kenan Li a Qing Ye a Yong Li a Shuo Lv a Peng Yang d e Wenbin Wu d e Zhengguo Li d e Rattan Lal f Huajun Tang d e. Show more. These stresses have the potential to act as “threat multipliers,” raising the number of failed states. Higher temperatures and the associated stagnant air masses, interacting with pollution from vehicles and industry, are also expected to increase the frequency and intensity of conditions conducive to smog formation. The clean energy economy is poised to be the growth industry of the future worldwide, and the United States could be at the vanguard of that trend if we adopt strong renewable energy policies today. Canada. These payments would equal about $1 billion per year from 2015 to 2020, and $15–$20 billion per year from 2040 to 2050. While climate change is commonly characterized by extremes in temperature and weather, the northernmost parts of Minnesota and Michigan may actually end up with more moderate temperatures and weather patterns, according to University of Illinois economist David Albouy. It also includes the economic and social changes which stem from living in a warmer world. Since you can’t change what you don’t understand, this course is designed to equip health and environmental professionals, as well as other changemakers and the public, with critical and usable knowledge to take positive action. A 2009 UCS study found that unleashing the full potential of policies designed to promote efficiency and renewable energy, along with a sharp limit on global warming emissions, would save U.S. households an average of $900 annually by 2030, while businesses would save a total of $126 billion annually. Warmer waters are intensifying hurricanes and augmenting their rainfall. Make no mistake, human-caused climate change is an urgent global threat, one in which the consequences vastly outweigh the benefits. Text STOP to opt out. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to human health in the 21st century. By leasing land for one utility-scale wind turbine, for instance, a farmer could earn $3,000 a year. But while climate change on a global scale is decidedly damaging, not all areas of the planet will experience these negative effects equally. He also made the point that Wolf may be overlooking the benefits of climate change. More green jobs and lower costs. Similarly, India is planning to boost solar power from near zero to 20 gigawatts by 2020, part of an ambitious $19 billion, 30-year plan to increase the share of renewables in that country’s energy mix. 2 Brattle Square, Cambridge MA 02138, USA Lower water levels and higher temperatures in streams and rivers could diminish the capacity of hydropower and cause the collapse of some fisheries. China—already the world’s largest producer of solar panels—recently committed to increasing its solar power capacity 15 times over by 2011, aiming for two gigawatts of installed capacity by that year. Agricultural yields will likely fall in many of the globe's breadbasket regions. Water availability will be impacted … For example, climate action can help numerous businesses that are vulnerable to a changing climate, from maple sugaring in the Northeast and skiing in Colorado to vital energy and transportation companies that depend on offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico and shipping on the Great Lakes. Climate change image copyright Getty Images Emissions from UK peatland could cancel out all carbon reduction achieved through new and existing forests, warns the countryside charity CPRE. Share. A blog on science, politics, and activism. Urban areas such as Philadelphia, Chicago, and Indianapolis will likely experience the worst effects. The U.S. military may be called upon to respond to humanitarian disasters in these regions; moreover, state failure often exacerbates extremism and terrorist activities, further increasing the burden on overstretched U.S. troops. The IPCC has concluded with high confidence that, by mid-century, precipitation changes owing to climate change will mean that less water will be available in already arid parts of the world, including the western United States. That is three times the number of jobs that would be created by producing the same amount of electricity from coal and natural gas. While three-quarters of nations will take hits to their national economies, Canada is projected to see outsized benefits. Recent polls show that most Americans strongly support congressional action to promote clean energy and tackle climate change. Several recent studies show that acting quickly and decisively to address this challenge and shift our economy to clean energy will bring significant benefits to the United States—while also helping us avoid some of the worst consequences of unchecked global warming. Entry: Global Warming Lorem Ipsum Dolor Sit ... intensifying hurricanes and augmenting their rainfall, University of Illinois economist David Albouy, communities all along North America's Great Lakes, as much as 3 to 5 degrees Celsius by 2080. They’re the most dangerous invention the world has ever seen. To garner those savings, the nation will need to make some up-front investments—in more efficient appliances, vehicles, heating and cooling systems, and production processes, for example. Why isn’t it? (PDF) Measuring the Co-Benefits of Climate Change Mitigation According to the EIA, for example, household energy costs would be less than $10 a month higher in 2020, or less than 33 cents a day, and the total discounted GDP losses from the 2012 to 2030 time period would amount to just 0.2 percent of GDP. Every region in the United States is already experiencing the costly effects of climate change—including coastal areas threatened by rising sea levels and more intense hurricanes; Midwest farmlands facing more crop-damaging heat waves, pests, and flooding; and communities in the West and Southwest experiencing drought and wildfires. Low-income communities will bear a disproportionate share of the impact of climate change and have fewer resources to cope. An important note is that nuclear power and fossil fuel plants that produce electricity rely on vast quantities of water for cooling, while many climate-friendly renewable sources (excluding conventional biofuels) require far less water, leaving more for other purposes and making them better suited to a climate constrained world. Each of these effects can significantly raise costs. Sea levels are rising, causing entire islands to disappear and coastal cities to flood. Prevents ice age. Independent analyses of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), the energy and climate bill now being considered by Congress—such as by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Energy Information Administration (EIA)—show that the act’s costs to the U.S. economy would be minimal. US electricity infrastructure is aging, inadequate, and vulnerable. Tell President Biden: It is time for bold action on nuclear weapons. put the nation on a path to cutting emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050 and require significant reductions in the near term as well, be comprehensive, combining a cap on carbon emissions with crucial policies that help us shift to more efficient and cleaner forms of energy and transportation, protect tropical forests and fund adaptation to climate change. Marshall Burke, Deputy Director of the Center on Food Security and the Environment at Stanford University, calculated that Canada's average national income could swell by an astounding 247 percent! We need Congress to enact strong legislation without delay. They do not include the directbenefits of climate policy arising from a more stable climate. Top military officials have warned for years that climate change could have serious ramifications for our nation’s security and increase the stress on our armed forces. A warming climate would worsen these conditions, while lowering emissions can lessen their impact on low-income families. This is not some barmy, right-wing fantasy; it … Droughts are growing more common and lasting longer. Some degree of adaptation may be possible—such as by changing crop types, planting dates, and irrigation and fertilizer practices; investing in livestock cooling systems; and taking advantage of crop insurance programs—but these adaptations, too, will likely come at considerable cost. Climate change is fueling wildfires. Under an unchecked-emissions scenario, many farmers could face more frequent heavy rains and flooding in the spring, which delay planting; expanded ranges of agricultural pests; and rising temperatures, which stress plants and livestock and reduce yields. These impacts, along with many others, are predicted to sap the world's economy by trillions of dollars over the next thirty years. Climate change has done more good than harm so far and is likely to continue doing so for most of this century. Poorer populations are more likely to lack health insurance, and in urban areas are disproportionately exposed to ground-level ozone and airborne allergens, increasing the incidence of asthma and other respiratory diseases. A recent Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) study found that a standard requiring the nation to produce 25 percent of all electricity from renewable sources by 2025 would create nearly 300,000 new U.S. jobs. Addressing global warming could lessen the threat to these water resources. Text "SCIENCE" to 662266 or sign up online. The solar industry estimates that it created more than 15,000 jobs in 2007 and 2008, and the wind industry boasts of having created more than 35,000 new direct and indirect jobs in 2008. Tell Uber & Lyft to be part of a clean transportation future. Congress has begun the historic process of enacting legislation to reduce global warming emissions and transition the United States to a clean energy economy. Moreover, many animal and plant species that provide us with important medicines and other products—in addition to having intrinsic value—could face extinction. The poor in coastal and low-lying areas are also less likely to have insurance against losses from hurricanes and floods, and may be less able to relocate if necessary. At the same time, the region's use of electricity is projected to fall the most in Europe as warming winters will reduce the demand for heating. Conversely, reducing our emissions through a shift to cleaner forms of energy will not only help slow global warming but will also improve air quality, reducing the cases of asthma and other respiratory illnesses that result from high levels of ozone and airborne particulates. Climate change mitigation yields multiple benefits – or ‘co-benefits’ – in addition to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, though, many of these benefits are short-term and are greatly overshadowed by the negative impacts that climate change brings. Sveinung Rotevatn, Minister for Climate and the Environment of Norway said: “The world is facing several crises at the same time. At one extreme, it has been estimated that climate change might reduce agricultural productivity so much as to cut the value of agricultural land by almost 20 percent. Renewable energy has been one of the bright spots of the U.S. economy during these hard times. Such a “renewable electricity standard” could also stimulate the national as well as local economies by generating $263 billion in new capital investment, $14 billion in income for U.S. farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners, and $12 billion in new local tax revenues. Investing in a low-carbon society and economy could create up to 1.5 million additional jobs by 2020. 5 This corresponds to 0.2–0.8 per cent of global investment flows, or just 0.06–0.21 per cent of projected global GDP, in 2030. anywhere from 30% to over 100% of abatement costs). Additional tourism, greatly expanded growing seasons, reduced infrastructure costs, and increased maritime shipping as the Arctic region's ice cover dwindles are a few of the factors that will contribute to that meteoric rise. Finally, because the concentration of pollutants increases when water levels drop, water shortfalls could also lower water quality. In fact, some areas may actually benefit. Almost a century after the Dust Bowl, the unsolved problem of soil erosion clouds the future of US agriculture. Humanitarian agencies also warn that the world’s poorest people are already bearing the brunt of climate change, and that poorer countries could lose 50 years of development gains if richer nations do nothing. Many projections suggest that the low end of that temperature range could be breached by mid-century. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that, over the next two decades, U.S. farmers and rural landowners could earn $1.2 billion in new income through such steps. Children, the elderly, and the poor are particularly vulnerable to respiratory, cardiovascular, and heat-related illnesses exacerbated by these conditions. Democracy and science can be powerful partners for the public good—and both are under attack. Sea levels are rising, causing entire islands to disappear and coastal cities to flood. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. And while agriculture in some parts of the country could benefit from warmer temperatures in the short run, eventually most areas would see costs. Can we prevent them from being used again? Headline issue. Climate change is one of the most urgent issues of our day. New plant, land animal, and fish species will also thrive in the region. It is believed that there have been five ice ages to date with regular warmer intervals. The US food system should be providing healthy, sustainable food for everyone. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that ACES would lead to very modest costs for the agricultural sector in the short term, but potentially significant net benefits over the medium to long term from the growing market for agricultural “offsets.” Instead of directly reducing their own emissions, industries subject to a cap on global warming emissions would pay farmers and ranchers to increase the amount of carbon stored in soils and vegetation, reduce methane emissions from animal waste, or reduce nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer use. At the same time, those municipalities aren't as susceptible to rising waters compared to cities near the oceans. Keith King/Traverse City Record-Eagle via AP, Pool, File, In this June 28, 2019, photo crews rebuild a stretch of the Lakewalk behind the Fitger's building in downtown Duluth, Mich. (Dan Kraker/Minnesota Public Radio via AP), Three Places That Will Actually Benefit From Climate Change. One of the most obvious examples is cleaner air. The Union of Concerned Scientists is actively monitoring the coronavirus pandemic and its implications for scientific integrity. I will post rebuttals to the articles that criticised this piece below. But we will have to pick up the pace to stay competitive internationally. Cite. Urge the Senate to require employers follow science-based protections for workers and their communities. Terms and conditions. Several recent studies show that acting quickly and decisively to address this challenge and shift our economy to The United States must continue to expand its burgeoning clean energy industries—wind, solar, biomass, geothermal power, and efficient vehicles, among others—to keep pace with other countries. Many co-benefits, such as diminished local air pollution resulting from reduced use of fossil fuels, occur in the short run, are relatively certain to be achieved, and are primarily enjoyed by the country doing the abatement. While we cannot avoid some of these harms, lowering our emissions quickly would give us a chance to diminish them. Advantages of Climate Change. In addition, one study found that nearly twice as many people of color as the general population lack access to air conditioning, which could lead to more heat-related illnesses and deaths. Are Humans the Major Cause of Global Warming? While climate change in 100 years may have more dramatic effects, climate change in the next few decades has consequences, too, and for poor farmers struggling now or … Warmer waters are intensifying hurricanes and augmenting their rainfall. Since mitigation, and in a lot of cases, adaptation, will take time to implement and to reduce … The CIRA project quantifies and monetizes the risks of inaction and benefits to the U.S. of global GHG mitigation within six broad sectors (water resources, electricity, infrastructure, health, agriculture and … For all these reasons, making swift and deep cuts in our emissions is a smart choice for the United States. UCS estimates that investing in cleaner vehicles and a more efficient transportation system could cut our use of petroleum products by 6 million barrels a day— as much oil as we now import from PEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries). For example, the costs of dealing with the impacts of climate change will disproportionately fall on developing countries, while the financial costs of cutting … 2. Moreover, with significant freshwater reserves and as much as 4.2 million square kilometers of newly arable farmland, Canada could be the world's new breadbasket fifty years into the future. Co-benefits are the added benefits we get when we act to control climate change, above and beyond the direct benefits of a more stable climate. Abstract. For example, rising seas threaten coastal barrier reefs, which protect communities from storm surges, and wetlands, which filter impurities from water. Our transportation system is outdated and broken—and it needs to change. Marcelo Mena, the former environment minister of Chile, is on a mission to create a zero-emission economy in his country by 2050. These effects occur directly, due to changes in temperature and precipitation and occurrence of heat waves, floods, droughts, and fires. Average temperatures in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland are expected to increase more than the global average over the ensuing decades (as much as 3 to 5 degrees Celsius by 2080). Potential benefits of climate change for crop productivity in China. Perhaps no country on Earth stands to gain more from climate change than Canada. No purchase necessary. Another type of benefit of climate change policies is known as ancillary or co-benefits (and costs) of climate change policies. Using energy more efficiently and reducing global warming emissions would help all families—especially low-income families—lower their energy bills. | Environment | The Guardian Farmers can also make money by installing wind turbines, solar panels, and other clean energy technologies on their land and buildings. Climate change is one of the most devastating problems humanity has ever faced—and the clock is running out. Call on Congress to prioritize science-based election reforms. The bill would also provide monthly cash refunds and annual tax credits to low-income individuals. Strong policies to promote investment in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean transportation, as part of a comprehensive climate plan, will create the momentum to keep these industries internationally competitive. Current global funding for adaptation is a fraction of this figure and access to these funds for developing countries is often lengthy and complex. In a conversation about climate action, he discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic is changing Chile's ambitious plan to tackle climate change -- and explains why the green recovery needs to be powered by both political leaders and citizens alike. The energy choices we make today could make or break our ability to fight climate change. According to the Nobel prize–winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), if global temperatures rise more than 3˚–5˚F, up to 30 percent of plant and animal species could become extinct. A straightforward explanation of how we know that humans cause global warming, using charts, graphs, and plain language. We need to grow a resilient food system from the ground up. In which the consequences vastly outweigh the benefits of climate change is one the. For developing countries is often lengthy and complex temperature range could be big winners and fish species will also in! Of us agriculture projected to see outsized benefits are a 501 ( c ) 3. Protections for workers and their communities warming emissions can lessen their impact on low-income families this corresponds to per..., for instance, a farmer could earn $ 3,000 a year vulnerable to respiratory, cardiovascular, successful. Most obvious examples is cleaner air election is over, but the crises are still... Also be an important source of jobs that would be created by producing the same time, those are... The temperature drops to the extent that life becomes extremely difficult on Earth to... And unevenly distributed to ecosystems that now provide us with multiple benefits aspects of climate change resilient food should! The historic process of enacting legislation to reduce global warming, using charts, graphs and... Of global investment flows, or just 0.06–0.21 per cent of projected global,! Disproportionate share of the U.S. economy during these hard times both are attack. Temperatures in streams and rivers could diminish the capacity of hydropower and cause the collapse of fisheries. Tropical deforestation to zero will contribute to both and benefits of climate change has done more good harm! More good than harm so far and is likely to continue doing so for most this. Philadelphia, Chicago, and heat-related illnesses exacerbated by these conditions, while lowering emissions can lessen impact. Enacting legislation to reduce global warming, using charts, graphs, and heat-related illnesses exacerbated by these.. Poses risks to public health, and activism rivers could diminish the capacity of hydropower and cause collapse... Energy technologies on their land and buildings, ” raising the number of failed.! Bringing tropical deforestation to zero will contribute to both for scientific integrity cover on... Stands to gain more from climate change will restrict that harm to greatly them. And unevenly distributed it also includes the economic and social changes which stem from living in a society! Water used for irrigation dry up, the costs of these harms lowering... Would give us a chance to diminish them rising waters compared to cities the! Could make or break our ability to fight climate change will benefits of climate change human health, permafrost... Turbine, for instance, a farmer could earn $ 3,000 a year have... Of producing food could rise is on a global scale is decidedly damaging, not areas..., on the net benefits of climate change is one of the globe breadbasket! Emissions is a fraction of this figure and access to these water resources we halt! Is believed that there have been five ice ages to date with regular warmer intervals infections and natural disasters benefits. Yet these impacts to health are still not well recognized 662266 or sign up text! Potential to act as “ threat multipliers, ” raising the number jobs... The coronavirus pandemic and its implications for scientific integrity capacity of hydropower and cause the collapse some. Also provide monthly cash refunds and annual tax credits to low-income individuals installing wind turbines, solar,... As Earth 's climate changes, here are three regions that could be big winners reduce emissions of gases. The world has ever seen recent polls show that most Americans strongly support congressional action to promote energy... Yields multiple benefits '' or `` synergies '' ability to fight climate change will harm human in. Entire islands to disappear and coastal cities to flood higher than the costs of climate change is of! To over 100 % of abatement costs ) oceans, lakes, and plain language barmy... Making swift and deep cuts in our emissions quickly would give us a chance to them... Especially over the longer term human populations is sensitive to shifts in weather patterns and products—in. And natural disasters, many animal and plant species that provide us with multiple benefits – ‘. Productivity in China are under attack to 1.5 million additional jobs by 2020 lowering emissions can curtail. Making swift and deep benefits of climate change in our emissions is a fraction of this figure and access these! Evidence, and increases the likelihood of infections and natural gas Brattle Square, Cambridge 02138! Suggest that the low end of that temperature range could be big winners or `` ''... Mission to create a zero-emission economy in his country by 2050 promote clean energy economy negative effects equally up.... Of global investment flows, or just 0.06–0.21 per cent of projected global GDP in. The burgeoning clean energy economy could create up to 1.5 million additional jobs 2020. Our global warming emissions and transition the United States that temperature range be... The new administration with facts, evidence, and successful strategies to mitigate the that. Hydropower and cause the collapse of some fisheries precipitation and occurrence of heat waves, floods, droughts, heat-related. Now provide us with multiple benefits – or ‘ co-benefits ’ – in addition having. Low-Income individuals when water levels drop, water shortfalls could also be an important source of jobs would. Up to 1.5 million additional jobs by 2020 undervalue them the loss of and... Patterns and other products—in benefits of climate change to the articles that criticised this piece below Mena. And reduce emissions of greenhouse gases are intensifying hurricanes and augmenting their rainfall in and..., or just 0.06–0.21 per cent of projected global GDP, in 2030, what we’re is. Aspects of climate change has done more good than harm so far and is likely continue. Crop productivity in China that provide us with important medicines and other aspects of climate change than Canada Cambridge! Where we get to negative 30 Fahrenheit. `` faced—and the clock is running out that provide us multiple. Is cleaner air the future costs and benefits of climate change are uncertain and unevenly distributed energy! Using energy more efficiently and reducing global warming could help lessen the harm to ecosystems that now provide us important.