Writer’s Surname 1

Economics

[Name of the Student]

[Name of the Professor]

[Date]

Benefits of the Climate Change

Introduction

It may sound irrational to many unless proved factually that climate change has done more benefit to

humanity than harm in the recent century and this would likely continue for the next century. The

controversial statement above is not a blind shot in the air but is backed by the strong scientific

evidence. In continuation with the general trends of media and stereotypes, climatic changes are

perceived as bringing catastrophe to the humanity in disguise but if we see it from a different

dimension, we may come across certain benefits which are adding value to the life mechanisms on the

earth. Touting the benefits of climatic changes though is accompanied by strong condemnations as

these benefits are subject to class difference and different segments of the economy. There are

multiple effects of climatic changes in the domains of humanitarian, ecology and finances and as whole

the impact has been proved as a positive impact and this positivity will continue for next five decades.

Critical Analysis and Evidence

Science has calculated that global warming up to 2.2 degrees Celsius will fall in the beneficial category

and has estimated around 0.8 degree Celsius global warming has taken place in last 150 years. (Metzge,

2017). It has been estimated that such rise in temperature may not reach till the end of the century.

Scientist are stick to their old assumptions and yearly analysis of the weather estimates and forecasting

is merely done on the basis of past experiences. While the whole world is adversely being affected by
 Writer’s Surname 2

the rise in the temperatures Philips has used the model ‘business as usual path’ using the medians, it has

been estimated that Canadians will see around 51 days a year above 30 degree by 2050 and 77 days by

2050 so there is a positive change for the Canadians. (Mortillaro, 2018). In the coming decade, Canada is

expected to increase above the negative temperature, therefore, 4 degree by 2050 and 1 degree by

2100. Though rise in temperature comes price which may get paid off in economic terms but as whole a

change would streamline the economy of the Canada on so many levels. Prof. Tol has reviewed many

papers from the past and has compared them with the recent statistics and concludes that climate

changes has raised the welfare of the planet and mankind. (Canada).

He has collated the studies with a different perspective and there is a strong endorsement of

benefits of climate change on the basis on figures. One must scrutinize the temperature models in

relation with the economic model to find the benefits and connection between them. Prof toll has

estimated around an increase of 1.4 percent in the economic value and this is expected to rise up to 1.5

percent by 2025. The main benefits of the Climate changes increase, low energy costs, better

agricultural yields, fewer droughts, fewer winter deaths and richer biodiversity. It is indeed a known fact

that winter deaths are more likely to happen than the summer deaths. This fact is not just limited to the

citizens of Canada, therefore, Ontario but also very common in Greece. Extreme cold winters may

results in heart failures which is a lethal apprehension as compare to the residents dying of heat waves.

(Mortillaro, 2018). Due to this fact, mortality rate in Canada is almost 18% in every winter. Affording the

provision of central heating is a luxury only available to elite classes, whereas, the lower class or the

slums of the country suffer in the extreme weather conditions. Therefore, if not many but climate

changes carry acute benefits for the people living in poverty. Figure for the deaths is around 29000

individuals every year. (Mortillaro, 2018). In comparison, number of deaths occurred in Canada due to

heat wave were 2000 in Britain and 15000 in France which is approximately half times the death

occurring due to extremely cold weather conditions. (Canada).

 Writer’s Surname 3

Prof Tol has also estimated that in few years from now, due to climate changes, cost of cooling would

exceed the cost of heating. Excess winter hit poor harder than the richer because they cannot afford the

central heating system but it has been forecasted in the next five decade, poor may not be able of afford

the cooling system as well because of the loopholes in the economy which keeps the poor as poor and

rich as rich for extensive periods. (Jeff Rubin: Climate Change Will Bring Benefits to Canada’s Economy,

2017). So far, global warming has cut down the heating bills of many houses rather than raising the

amount of cooling bills.

Greatest benefits not just comes from the climate changes but also the emission of carbon dioxide.

Many consider it as a pollution in the air but for plants it is a raw material for making carbohydrates and

proteins. (Metzge, 2017). Carbon dioxide is in a very little amount of 0.04 percent in the air and it

becomes harder for the plants to suck it out of the air in the colder days. On sunny days, plant is

expected to suck almost half of the oxygen from the air. It has been estimated that there has been an

increase of 0.01 percent from 0.03 to 0.04 in past decade because of global warming. (Metzge, 2017).

Cost of artificially providing the carbon dioxide to the plants will be eventually be reduced and plants

will directly consume carbon dioxide from the air and will be able to grow. This will open door for a

startling greenery in the country. It has been found by Dr. Ranja Myneni that in last three decades

almost 31% of the area has become greener and only three percent has lost its greenery. This has led to

overall 14% increase in the productivity of the ecosystems of all the vegetation types. The credits for this

positive change goes the increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. (Canada).

In ecological terms, global warming not only lead to the more greenery and growth in the plantation

but also develops a mechanism which leads to more rainfall in the country which is needed for its

agriculture growth. More rainfall also means, more plants will be grown and more food with be there for

the herbivores and fertile crops can be grown which will boost the agriculture sector of the country. This

is not just limited to this but will also contributed to increase in employment and productivity which will
 Writer’s Surname 4

ultimately enhance the economy of the country. Some may argue that what about the hazards of the

climate changes and latest IPCC reports of the country are complete confident about it that no

significant trends have been observed in the global tropical cyclone frequency. (Jeff Rubin: Climate

Change Will Bring Benefits to Canada’s Economy, 2017). Small scale hails and thunderstorms have been

observed which have intensity in terms of damage than the temperature falling below zero and causing

breathing problems for the living beings. Indur Goklany has found that there has been a decrease in the

death rates of about 98 percentage since 1920 which were happening because of the droughts, floods

and storms. It is not because the weather has become less dangerous but rather people have become

immune to it and have developed protective measures. (Colledge, 2018).

Climate changes will also be accompanied by the decrease in the diseases associated with the

extreme winters as pneumonia and respiratory complications. It is a matter of debate as well that

though the humans have built wind turbines and grown bio fuels but this hasn’t reduced the emission of

carbon dioxides but has fight the climatic changes. These innovations have rather led to fuel poverty in

the countries and have led to less competitiveness in the Canadian industries, has caused inflation and

destruction of the forestry. Climatic Change policies are also adversely affecting the civilization as whole

as around 200,000 people are dying every year but almost five percent of the world’s grain crop is

turned into fuel instead of food which is resulting in malnutrition and subsequent deaths. In the

contemporary era, 65 people die every day on average just because they cannot afford heating in their

homes. According to Karin vander Wiel, climate on average will lose four days of mild weather per year

by 2035 and this seems to be a positive change for the people living in extreme weather conditions as

Ontario. (Colledge, 2018).

An assessment on behalf of the federal government of Canada estimated the benefits which will be

brought to their agriculture systems. More useful and profitable crops will be grown in the country.

Livestock production will also be benefitted in the form of lower feed requirement. Soil quality will also
 Writer’s Surname 5

improve eventually because of the rainfall. According the predictions of UCLA, geographer Laurence C.

Smith climate change could turn Canada into a global superpower by 2050. (Jeff Rubin: Climate Change

Will Bring Benefits to Canada’s Economy, 2017). Melting of the arctic region has rather given a way to

extract the large quantities of natural gas beneath the areas of North Pole which is another benefit of

the climatic changes. In 2015, Canada was ranked as the third worst environmental protectionist

according to the Center for Global Development. Though, world see climatic Changes as an end the their

sustainability but for Canada, the perks of having milder days will be enjoyed in the coming decades and

where the world is losing in terms of natural resources, Canada is expected to enjoy the new exploration

of natural resources so this country would be benefitting from the Climatic Change in relative terms.

Climatic changes have also affected the two gender in our society on different scales. These are

unlikely to be gender neutral. There are dissimilar impacts of climatic changes on the two gender and on

average, men are more to be suffering from it than women. (Canada). Climatic changes may result in

more working days in the near future in Canadian offices which were usually off and also universities

which are off for greater number of days. Costs to combat the extreme weather conditions will also be

reduced gradually. Melting of the glaciers in the North Pole will increase the water availability to the

crops which will boost the agriculture of the country. According to Ontario Environment Plan

greenhouse gases emission dropped by 22% since 2005 while rest of the Canada saw an increase in

emission by 3%. Data from Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change projects and average

annual temperature increase of 3.6 degrees. There will be an observed change in the precipitation

patterns as warmer weathers will lead to more localized rainfalls. On Contrary to the benefits, there is

an expected rise in the prices of food items as well. A report from McKinsey and Company predicts by

2050, there will be more electricity generation of around 33% which is currently at 6% only.
 Writer’s Surname 6

Conclusion and Summary

In conclusion, where the world see climate change as an end for the living beings, Canada has just

started to catch up with the economic and social norms, rest of the world is practicing from a long time.

When one sector of the country is benefitted, a chain is followed and rest of the sectors gets the benefit

as well. Political stability, economic growth and globalization as a result of trading will also break

themselves into this line of benefits of the climate change. Extremity of any weather conditions limits

the country from so many economic activities which can actually add value to its GDP; therefore, a

gradual shift towards to milder temperatures will open door to so many opportunities which can

improve the conditions of the country as whole. A proper breakthrough of climate change if properly

assessed by conducting profound researches and comparing the dilemmas with the experience of other

countries, Canada can formulate more efficient strategies to make a good use of this climate change and

building up of reservoirs in advance for the purpose of water conservation.

 Writer’s Surname 7

References

Canada, N. R. (n.d.). Canada in a Changing Climate: National Issues.

Colledge, M. (2018, October 11). COMMENTARY: Climate change is a Canadian dilemma that must be
addressed.

Jeff Rubin: Climate Change Will Bring Benefits to Canada’s Economy. (2017, Februrary).

Metzge, P. (2017, November 14). What climate change has in store for Ontario.

Mortillaro, N. (2018, October 27). Here's what climate change could look like in Canada.