What they’ve learned is that greenhouse gases are most likely responsible for this effect. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), most greenhouse gases found in the United States are due to energy use. In fact, carbon dioxide emissions related to petroleum and natural gas account for more than 80 percent of greenhouse gases. Three things are thought to contribute: economic growth, the need for fuel to generate electricity, and weather that fuels the need for heating and cooling.
As a result, a number of things have happened. For example, the sea has risen more than six and a half inches in the past 100 years. But in the past 10 years, it’s risen almost twice that amount.
Global surface temperatures have been rising since the late 1800s. Record highs are on the rise, and record lows are decreasing, which most people have noticed. The oceans have even heated up, with an increase of .302 degrees Fahrenheit since the late 1960s. Further, ice sheets are decreasing, and the ocean has become more acidic.
The question is: What health issues will be seen as a result of changes in the climate?
The first thing that concerns experts is health issues regarding heat. According to the WHO, high temps can be deadly because they can play a role in both heart disease and breathing issues. Plus, extreme temps are said to raise ozone levels and air pollutants, which adds to health effects. Pollen levels will even rise, making for a dangerous situation for those with asthma and allergies.
The risk of infections will increase. As the climate changes, disease seasons get longer and reach places that they once did not reach. The WHO says that the conditions of the climate are linked to diseases found in water and diseases that we get by way of living things, like bugs, snails, and other animals that are cold-blooded. This may have devastating health consequences.