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By now it must be obvious to anyone not comatose or living in a cave that climate change is having an enormous impact on our planet and quality of life. However, it becomes wearisome to hear alarmists proclaim the harms of climate change without giving attention to the benefits.

While the assertion that “global warming is benefiting agriculture, forestry and biodiversity globally” expressed in a letter by a Rogue Valley Times reader on Dec 2 is patently untrue, the letter-writer does have a point — we should not overlook the benefits of global warming.

Let’s consider some of the benefits.

Health care costs: As summer heat waves lengthen and become more severe, (More than 600 people died in British Columbia in the 2021 summer heat wave. Phoenix had 133 days of temperatures over 100 degrees this year) most of the deaths occur in people over 60 and children. Since the young and the elderly consume a high proportion of health care costs, decreasing their number lowers health care costs overall. Lowering health care costs is consequential.

Immigration: At the current rate of sea level rise, oceans will rise between 3.3 and 5.3 feet by 2050, making places like Miami, New Orleans, Norfolk , Annapolis and coastal areas of New York and California uninhabitable (Of course if the Greenland and Antarctic glaciers melt completely sea level will rise by 230 feet.) With millions of displaced persons in the United States, refugees from Latin America and Asia would be discouraged from coming. And with 31 consecutive days of temperatures over 110 degrees in Southern Arizona this past summer, surviving the journey north may be impossible. So, immigration problem solved, right?

Property value: While it’s true that millions of people will lose their homes from sea level rise, there will be new valuable coastal property in areas that are now far from the shoreline. What an incredible real estate investment opportunity!

Medical care: Currently if you travel to Mexico or Central America and return with a common tropical disease such as Dengue Fever, Malaria, Chikungunya, Zika, etc., your doctor will likely not be familiar with these diseases, and diagnosis will thus be difficult and delayed. Global warming is making these diseases common here, so diagnosis and treatment will likely be quicker.

Health hazards: With weeks and months of smoky hazy air from burning forests, sun exposure and consequent sunburn and skin cancer risk is reduced. Reducing cancer risk is no small matter.

Wildlife: Global warming has plus sides for some animals and fish, even if a third of species will go extinct. Look at the bright side: While bees, butterflies, moths, and dragonflies will take a hit, mosquitos, ants, and cockroaches will flourish. While polar bears, elephants, whales, and tigers may disappear, mice and rats will flourish. Some researchers even talk about a “rat explosion.” While coral reefs may perish, and whales, penguins and sea turtles will die off, jellyfish will flourish like never before. So, not all bad.

Sleep: Have you ever been kept awake by the hooting of owls, the howling of coyotes or the croaking of frogs? Or awakened by a dawn chorus of songbirds? With global warming these annoying creatures will no longer be a bother.

Doesn’t it give you comfort to look at a more balanced picture? Every disaster has its bright side. After all, if the Titanic had not hit an iceberg, we would never have gotten to enjoy the movie with Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Finally let’s consider fairness. The petrochemical industry donated nearly 90 million dollars outright as political contributions in 2022. Organizations associated with the Koch Brothers spent 1.1. billion to influence the 2020 election cycle.

Don’t our representatives deserve money to run their campaigns? Don’t these industrialists deserve a return on their investments in influencing our legislators, so they can keep on extracting oil and gas?

After all, fair is fair.