The Negative Effects of Global Warming

on Plant, Animals, and Humans

Global warming has been one of the most controversial yet underestimated topics since

the early 2000s. Over the years as global warming continued to emerge into todays society, the

more intrigued society became. More scientists began to research for an answer as to what was

causing the planet and atmosphere to act out in these harsh ways. They found that not only does

global warming drastically effect the atmosphere, but it also effects humans, plants, and animals.

Scientists have reported that global warming could lead to various types of cancer, respiratory

illnesses, and cardiovascular mortality (Patz, Campbell-Lendrum, Holloway, Foley, 2005).

Typically, articles about global warming do not tend to analyze the effects on plants and animals.

Scientists have proven that animals are exposed to similar health risks which could limit their

numbers or even bring them to extinction (Bradshaw, William, Christina M. Holzapfel, 2006).

Causes of Global Warming

Carbon emissions, garbage, and other pollutants are causing these drastic changes within

our atmosphere. The main source of global warming is carbon emissions and the main source of

carbon emission stems from automobiles and factories. The two main parts that contribute to

global warming is gasoline and the engine. The car burns through gas then releases carbon out

the exhaust pipe. The majority of society believes that idling your car, rather than turning the

engine off then back on, saves gas which essentially reduces the amount of carbon release from

their car, but researchers behind global warming have proven this to be a myth. Leaving a car

idle for 15 seconds actually wastes more gas then cutting the engine off then back on (Hayden,

2009). This article by Hayden, only briefly discuss the role of factories and garbage in carbon
emission therefore making it a one-sided article. This article goes straight to the point and does

not allow an explanation for the audience. This can cause confusion for the audience and can

lead to misconstrued points. Pollutants such as perfume/cologne, hairspray, Lysol, and improper

disposal of trash, play a smaller yet lethal role in global warming as well (MacMillan, 2016). The

only downfall from this article has to do with specificity. It talks about what contributes to the

pollution that goes on but does not specify how these items are contributes. This article does not

discuss what happens to the air and spray once it is activated and in the atmosphere. There is also

no comparison to other pollutants. This could leave the intended audience to wander if these

minor pollutants really matter which could cause them to become careless.

How Pollution Effects the Climate

High amounts of pollution in the atmosphere causes a vast change in the climate. Most

people believe that global warming is when the weather is warmer or cooler than expected, but it

extends beyond that. Global warming is a bubble of trapped gasses that causes severe changes in

weather patterns. Global warming has been linked to melting ice caps, sea levels rising,

acidification, more powerful tornados and hurricanes, heavier rainfall, and droughts (MacMillan,

2016). All the effects of global warming connect with one another. An example of this would

include warmer climates in the artic region causes ice caps to melt which then causes sea levels

to rise (MacMillan, 2016). Researchers have found that the ocean has absorbed anthropogenic

carbon dioxide emission which causes the water to become more acidic (Davis, 2007). In recent

years scientists have found that warmer oceans are causing harsher hurricanes (Hopkin, 2006).

These three articles have a solid foundation and the only problem that arises from them is a clear

explanation. All articles provide solid and reliable data to back up their claims, but lack a clear

explanation. For instance, with the hurricane scenarios, the data behind climate changes and
changes within the ocean but does not lay out how both interact and cause a more powerful

hurricane.

The Effects on Global Warming on Plants and Animals

When researching global warming, many people, including scientists and researchers,

overlook how climate change can effect plants and animals. Plants and animals play big,

functional role in our ecosystem. Plants thrive in certain whether conditions: Some plants thrive

in the cold and others thrive in the desert-like climate. Scientists have reported that seasons are

coming in earlier than expected and causing changes in plants and animals. These changing

weather patterns effects the nutrients and development of plants. Warmer winters on the

mountain means less snowfall to keep the soil warmer and insulated which results in the death of

roots and runoff (Walsch, 2008). This then creates dead zone where no plants or animals can

survive. Various forms of algae are the main source of nutrients for underwater creatures, but

warmer waters are causing these algae plants to die along with these underwater species

(Thomas, Cameron, Green, Bakkenes, Beaumont, Collingham, Erasmus, Siqueira, Grainger,

Hannah, Hughes, Huntley, Van Jaarsveld, Midgley, Miles, Ortega-Huerta, Peterson, Phillips,

Williams). Unusual weather patterns are also affecting animals who live on-land. An example

would be deer fertility. Deers whose reproductive instincts are determined how long days are

and birthing is determined by the blooming of flowers are decreasing in numbers (Cho, 2015).

When the season changes 36 days prior to their expected, it causes a contrast in food availability

and birthing times (Cho, 2015). Other species have been reported to come out of hibernation

before their food source becomes available (Walsch, 2008). In this section of study there is a gap

that does not cover the main group of plants and animals. In the plant section of this study, there

is no specific plant that was studied. This leaves room for the audience to question if global
warming effects the plants that play a role in peoples everyday lives. This also extends to the

animal portion of this study. People are interested the plants and animals that play a role in the

ecosystem daily, and not random plants and animals. This data also lacks statistics. Although

there is data and proof of a decline in animal and plant populations there is no percentage or

number that reveals the true extent of global warming.

The Effects of Global Warming on People

Drastic climate changes can also cause major health problems ranging from to increase

chances of an asthma attack to heat-wave related death to cardiovascular mortality in humans.

This century alone has presented an elevation in heat-wave related deaths (Pruitt, 2017). Strokes

and dehydration are more heat related instances that have occurred more frequently. Many

factors come into play when talking about linking climate change to respiratory problems. These

problems all start off with the air that we breathe. Majority of the air the people breathe is

congested with different pollutants. Pollen, greenhouse gases, and allergens pollute the air that

we breathe causing respiratory diseases and asthma to multiply in number of people effected

(D'Amato, Gennaro, Cecchi, D'Amato, Annesi-Maesano, 2014). Another main source of

respiratory problems stems from rapid fluctuating temperatures (D'Amato, Gennaro, Cecchi,

D'Amato, Annesi-Maesano, 2014). Society believes that pollution only occurs outdoors but the

truth of the matter is that pollution is everywhere. Light, noise, and talking a minor factors of

pollution that can add up over time (Pruitt, 2017). Although this article provides visual data and

statistics to back up their claims, it does not directly address the health risks. These articles did

not specifically state how pollution and global warming causes these illnesses but provided the

data that shows an increase in health problems.

 References:

Bradshaw, William E., and Christina M. Holzapfel. "Evolutionary Response to Rapid Climate

Change." The Heat Is Online. The Heat Is Online, 9 June 2006. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

Cho, Renee. "Climate Change Poses Challenges to Plants and Animals." State of the Planet

Climate Change Poses Challenges to Plants and Animals Comments. State of the Planet, 3 Feb.

2015. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.

D'Amato, Gennaro, Lorenzo Cecchi, Mariella D'Amato, and Isabella Annesi-Maesano. "Climate

Change and Respiratory Diseases." European Respiratory Review. European Respiratory

Society, 01 June 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.

Davis, Crystal. "Ocean Acidification- Another Effect of Global Warming." Time for Change.

Time for Change, 2 Sept. 2007. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.

Haines, A. "Global Warming and Health." BMJ : British Medical Journal. U.S. National Library

of Medicine, 23 Mar. 1991. Web. 02 Mar. 2017.

Hayden, Ann. "Attention Drivers! Turn off Your Idling Engines." Environmental Defense Fund.

Environmental Defense Fund, 1 Feb. 2009. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

Hopkin, Michael. "Warming Seas Cause Stronger Hurricanes." Nature News. Nature Publishing

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MacMillan, Amanda. "Global Warming 101." NRDC. NRDC, 11 Mar. 2016. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

Patz, Jonathan A., Diarmid Campbell-Lendrum, Tracey Holloway, and Jonathan A. Foley.

"Impact of Regional Climate Change on Human Health." Nature News. Nature Publishing

Group, 17 Nov. 2005. Web. 26 Apr. 2017.

Pruitt, Scott. "Climate Impacts on Human Health." EPA. EPA, 3 Jan. 2017. Web.

Thomas, Chris D., Alison Cameron, Rhys E. Green, Michel Bakkenes, Linda J. Beaumont,

Yvonne C. Collingham, Barend F. N. Erasmus, Marinez Ferreira De Siqueira, Alan Grainger, Lee

Hannah, Lesley Hughes, Brian Huntley, Albert S. Van Jaarsveld, Guy F. Midgley, Lera Miles,

Miguel A. Ortega-Huerta, A. Townsend Peterson, Oliver L. Phillips, and Stephen E. Williams.

"Extinction Risk from Climate Change." Nature News. Nature Publishing Group, 08 Jan. 2004.

Web. 02 Mar. 2017.

Walsh, Bryan. "How Climate Change Will Impact Animals." Time. Time Inc., 13 Oct. 2008. Web.

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