The issue of global Warming has been of significant concern to the world since the 20th century. Scientists have long warned that unless drastic measures are taken, the earth will warm up by more than twenty-four degrees Celsius over the next few decades. These warnings came in light of recent research conducted by scientists at Cambridge University School. The results of their study show that there is a likelihood that some major environmental disasters such as floods, drought, and wildfires to be common occurrences within a couple of years. For instance, it was reported two weeks ago that tropical storm Ida has already made its way into northern California as it moved southwards towards Texas. This hurricane had its strongest winds coming from the North Atlantic Ocean, with an intensity of 60 kilometers per hour (Davies et al. 2). According to experts, this is expected to pose severe impacts on the US economy and agriculture. In case of extreme weather, farmers are likely to incur heavy losses, including loss of crops for subsequent seasons. As the temperatures continue rising, chances of these natural catastrophic event increasing further by the start of next year is very high (Davies et al. 3). Therefore, if we want to curb and avoid them, then all countries and the whole world should come together and embrace climate change mitigation measures.

This paper is going to discuss how global warming could affect our life today, especially in terms of human health. It is based on the premise that most parts of the globe continue to experience adverse climatic changes. Some of these effects include prolonged droughts, increase in precipitation and storms, melting of arctic ice masses, destruction of coastal lands, changing patterns of rainfall, and desertification or desertification. Most of these problems have continued to persist despite efforts put in place to reduce global temperatures. Research shows that greenhouse gases are one of the main causes of the problem. Greenhouse effects include trapping heat energy and lowering temperature. They reduce solar radiation and thereby interfere with normal functioning of the planet’s magnetic field. Once absorbed, they cause warming of the surface of the Earth. The concentration of those gases in the atmosphere that leads to green house effect varies depending on the type of fuel used. However, carbon dioxide levels seem to remain relatively constant while methane, nitrous oxide and ozone levels are affected slightly by various processes (Rosenfeld, 4). Other greenhouse gasses include water vapor, chlorofluorocarbons and brominated Halon. When they combine, they lead to the creation and existence of ultraviolet rays, which eventually increases the level of global warming. Hence, any reduction of greenhouse emissions will help us minimize the effects of global warming on nature and also to improve the quality of air we breathe.

It is estimated that around four hundred million people worldwide live in places with extremely high temperatures. Extreme conditions range from heat waves to massive tornadoes and hurricanes. Studies have shown that around forty percent of deaths occur in low-lying areas like islands, among others. If we take Kenya, for example, almost ninety percent of the population lives in the subtropical region (Rosenfeld, 2). Consequently, our daily activities are influenced by elevated temperatures in many ways. This includes Increased risks of dehydration, decreased productivity, higher mortality rates among children and pregnant women, and increased prevalence of disease. Apart from direct health threats posed by heat waves, increased water supply is responsible for more harm to human beings. Water shortage and high volumes of irrigation cause massive flooding. Increased levels of rainfall result in flash floods and landslides that are associated with increased injuries and deaths (Rosenfeld, 18). Besides, it leads to reduced agricultural yields causing food scarcity and disruption of social interactions. The same pattern applies to reduced crop yields, which later results in hunger and poverty. Since most populations depend on food production, global warming poses a challenge of both short term and long term (Rosenfeld, 16). This means that we have to ensure that, as much as possible, farming practices should not be altered to suit our needs given the current situation. To promote sustainable development, countries must make conscious decisions about future priorities.

Other direct effects of global warming and other resultant factors include rise of sea level, decrease in habitat for marine species, increased hazards for coastal and ocean biodiversity, and reduction of availability of fresh water (Bark man,14). All these are consequences, directly or indirectly, of global warming. The latter includes the impact of shrinking glaciers and polar permafrost, melting of snow caps caused by global warming, increased rate of evaporation, and change in the behavior of plants and animals (Bark man, 22). Global warming continues to bring about dramatic changes in the frequency and timing of seasonal events, including winter and summer seasons. These are due to global warming. The change in vegetation patterns may lead to deforestation. Reduced vegetation cover causes poor drainage systems, which are associated with soil erosion and reduced access to fresh water. Reduction in grazing land and livestock due to changing climate patterns lowers pasture productivity. Additionally, there is an increase in the number of vulnerable sites (Bark man, 28). These include wetlands, coral reefs, mangroves, boreal forests and mountain ranges. Loss of habitats due to human activities may expose them to predators, diseases, and floods. Increasing wildlife density can contribute to decline in biodiversity. In addition, it can also negatively affect local ecosystems and even threaten food security in some regions. Although most of the above impacts can be remedied through adaptation, mitigation measures may still cause considerable damage.

In summary, in order to mitigate global warming, all the parties must come together and formulate policies and implement them. Policy formulation should entail the need for intergovernmental cooperation between different levels of government. Intergovernmental authorities should work closely to tackle global warming issues and formulate collective strategies on how they can address the problem. At the national level, governments must enact laws to regulate emissions, and educate the public on risks associated with global warming mitigation measures. Governments also need to encourage citizens to change behavioral habits that would alter exposure to the environment. Furthermore, they should develop policies that would guide industries in reducing carbon emission, enhance the use of alternative fuels and create employment opportunities for youth. International organizations also need to monitor the extent to which nations are meeting their targets and act accordingly. Lastly, countries must invest heavily in technology development to enable effective monitoring and regulation of global warming measures like limiting greenhouses effectivity or regulating methane levels.