With the recent high temperatures offered to us by February, allowing for time outside in parks and ice cream in gardens, it is reasonable to question the constant onslaught of arguments suggesting that global warming and climate change is an inherently dangerous and problematic issue.

Whilst there is no denying that global warming poses significant threats to a range of places and issues – why are the potential benefits of the enhanced greenhouse effect often overlooked?

So, are there ‘winners’ in the process of global warming? It could be said that, as we have just enjoyed a passing flash of summer, it poses benefits to those of us residing in cold and often dismal Britain. The UK’s tourism industry is an integral part of our economy, worth over £257 billion by the year 2025 and supporting 3.8 million Briton’s jobs. This significant sector of the economy which attributes to our GDP is hugely boosted by an increase in temperatures – figures often suggest that during times when the UK is hotter, more climate-appropriate clothes, foods and attractions were utilised, allowing an enriched economy due to an increase in purchasing consumer goods targeted at tourists. On the same token, the UK’s ‘café culture’ reaps the rewards of the increasing UK temperature, as restaurants, bars and cafes see an increase in customers during these periods.

Zooming in on a local level, Wimbledon has and will continue to benefit from prolonged periods of warm weather that come alongside global warming. As well as increasing the growing period for the traditional, British grown strawberries, 28 tonnes of which are enjoyed at the tennis – Wimbledon automatically becomes a more attractive way of spending your free time when the suns out. Pimms and tennis simply does not have quite the same effect in mild, overcast weather. Furthermore, the prolonged growing season itself enriches the incomes of farmers throughout Britain, therefore improving economies external to those just in tourist cities and coastal towns.

These benefits ostensibly appear to be absolutely great – however they would not and do not come without huge consequences. Our actions in the Western world often create ‘losers’ in areas across the globe, for reasons which are both geographical and socioeconomic. The carbon footprint of advanced countries is something that is extremely important in creating the chasm between those who win and lose from the results of global warming. The lifestyle of us in Britain, similarly to those in countries such as America, heavily rely on the carbon emissions of countries where our products are being produced – manufacturing heavy countries such as China therefore suffer at the hands of our demand for products. This means that global warming and the effects of climate change impact areas of the country who often do not reap the potential benefits, exacerbating the pre-existing issue of levels of development. To make matters worse, countries in this situation often have geographies which mean that climate change will create issues, such as expanding the circle of areas which suffer from diseases like malaria due to high temperatures or rainfall.

Although this idea of us coming out as ‘winners’ from global warming sounds optimistic and promising, it is important to remember that our actions also implicate ourselves. A heatwave in 2003 resulted in 15,000 deaths across the United Kingdom, particularly in the elderly who are sensitive to extreme weathers. As well as this, there are varying socioeconomic reasons that prevent the general notion of Britain being ‘winners’ in global warming.

It is definitely true that when the process of global warming begins to intensify further than it already has, there will be some areas of the world who suffer more than others. It is true that the United Kingdom may be one of the countries who suffer less, comparatively to those in African or Asian countries. However, is suffering less really ‘winning’?