The popular attitude toward global warming has been overwhelmingly negative. But a case can be made that the long term result of global warming may be "positive" for mankind. For example, large areas of southern Russia and southern Canada may become more conducive to agriculture.
In our own lifetime, global temperatures are said to have rising slightly. And in the past half century the amount of food produced around the world has exploded, the human population has doubled, and average lifespans have increased. Isn't it just as likely that global warming will prove a boon to mankind?
It is true that global warming might promote agriculture in some areas around the globe especially the amount of heat required for plant and insect growth (degree days). However, the benefits would be short-lived since insect pests would flourish thereby reducing yields and also encourage the use of insecticides.
Winners and losers from climate change is a topic which has long been discussed:
1989 http://www.ilankelman.org/glantz/Glantz1989WinnersLosers.pdf
1990 http://www.ilankelman.org/glantz/Glantzetal.1990WinnersLosers.pdf
1995 http://www.ilankelman.org/glantz/Glantzc1995WinnersLosers.pdf
It has been clear from this work, and from continuing work since, that the losers far offset the winners. For example, the expected excess mortality from heat waves exacerbated by climate change would cost far more than any possible gains from climate change.
I don't think there can be any benefit from global warming. The ratio between any benefits (B) and irreparable damages (D) would be close to zero, that is B / D ≈ 0. It has been estimated that if all the ice in the world melted, the sea level would increase by about 70 m. Suppose that the sea level rises by only 10 m, how many hectares of fertile land would be submerged? What would become of permafrost and the methane trapped in it? How much would the deserts like Sahara expand? How many islands like Mauritius would disappear? What would become countries like Bangladesh? What would become of the large and small cities that rise at sea level such as: New York, Sidney, New Orleans, Venice, Amsterdam, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Shanghai, Tokyo, Lagos, Tianjin, Istambul, Canton, etc., etc ..? Where to place and feed all these people? We need thinking about it, and if we can, we act as long as we are on time. Good meditation.
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