Climate Change and Global Warming

Climate Change and Global Warming(Environmental issues)

by Anup Shah
http://www.globalissues.org/EnvIssues/GlobalWarming.asp?p=1

Global warming and climate change is looked at in this section of the global issues web site. Introduced are some of the effects of climate change. In addition, this section attempts to provide insights into what governments, companies, international institutions, and other organizations are attempting to do about this issue, as well as the challenges they face. Some of the major conferences in recent years are also discussed.
Climate Change and Global Warming Introduction
The climate is changing. The earth is warming up, and there is now overwhelming scientific concensus that it is happening, and human-induced. With global warming on the increase and species and their habitats on the decrease, chances for ecosystems to adapt naturally are diminishing. Many are agreed that climate change may be one of the greatest threats facing the planet. Recent years show increasing temperatures in various regions, and/or increasing extremities in weather patterns. This section looks at what causes climate change, what the impacts are and where scientific concensus currently is. Last updated Thursday, February 08, 2007.
Read article: Climate Change and Global Warming Introduction
Global Dimming
Research has shown that air pollutants from fossil fuel use make clouds reflect more of the sun’s rays back into space. This leads to an effect known as global dimming whereby less heat and energy reaches the earth. At first, it sounds like an ironic savior to climate change problems. However, it is believed that global dimming caused the droughts in Ethiopia in the 1970s and 80s where millions died, because the northern hemisphere oceans were not warm enough to allow rain formation. Global dimming is also hiding the true power of global warming. By cleaning up global dimming-causing pollutants without tackling greenhouse gas emissions, rapid warming has been observed, and various human health and ecological disasters have resulted, as witnessed during the European heat wave in 2003, which saw thousands of people die.

Carbon Sinks, Forests and Climate Change
A mechanism suggested for tackling climate change and warming has been the idea of using “Carbon Sinks” to soak up carbon dioxide. To aid in this, reforestation, or planting of new forests, have been suggested. This is a popular strategy for the logging industry and nations with large forests interests. While there may be some potential in this solution, it cannot be effective on its own. This is because it legitimizes continued destruction of old-growth and pristine forests which are rich ecosystems and have an established biodiversity base (albeit shrinking now) that naturally maintain the environment (at no cost!). Creating new forest areas would require the creation of entire ecosystems. It is also criticized for being a quick fix that does not tackle the root causes effectively and does not lead to, or promote actual emissions reduction. Last updated Tuesday, October 29, 2002.

Global Warming and Population
It seems there has been a recent interest in associating climate change/global warming with “over population” and that countries such as China and India have to do more to help contain global warming.
Yet rich countries have a lot to do themselves. There were agreed reasons why developing countries were exempt from initial greenhouse gas emission targets: it was the emissions from rich countries that accumulated in the atmosphere for so long to trigger climate change. Posted Thursday, February 01, 2007.

MY VIEW

After reading this article, i must say i was shocked to see the Earth "dying" so quickly and we, the humans, living on this beautiful planet which gave us life, are the ones killing it. It is almost like we humans are biting the hand that feeds us. Our technologies are getting more and more advanced by the day but it is ironic that the more advanced it gets, the more it spoils the Earth. We are using so much energy to support our technologies and where do the source come from? Yes! From the Earth it self! We are buring so much natural fuel such as oil and fossil fuel that we are almost running out of them. As a result, not only do we take natural fuel but we also release the harmful gases back to the atmosphere after burning them! I cant't imagine how can do such things without feeling the least bit guilty.

As well probably notice or know, our planet is getting warmer and signs of global warming are showing. Change in temperatures, rise in ocean levels, holes in the ozone layer, weather extremities( remember when Singapore rained non-stop for 24hrs and flooded many areas?) and also air quality. Scientists had warned us many times about the dangers of global warming and how quickly it is coming but their warnings had fallen on deaf ears. Car manufactureres are still building high capacity engine cars which, unfortunatel, guzzle oil by the liters and spewing out harmful admissions to the environment. Some companies can argue that they had come out with hybrid cars but is it popular enough to actually make a differance? I doubt so.

Studies have shown that when temperature increases, the huge ice glaciers will melt, resulting in the rise of ocean levels and may totally submerge low-lying countries or cities such as Vanice. Holes in the ozone layer also means that we are exposed to harmful rays from the Sun, which may cause cancer and other illnesses. Other regions are also experiencing weather extremities including Singapore. Air pollution is considered to be one of the more serious problems. When we breath in the polluted air, we also take in harmful gases in the air and over a long period of time, our lungs may get so damaged that one day it will fail prematurely and to those suffering from asthma, won't they die even faster?

Although all these scenarios may not happen for a long time to come, one might think, maybe when this day do arrive, i may be already dead! So why should i care? Well, it is not what happens to you but what will happen to the future genereation? If we leave them a planet in such a bad state, how are they going to survive? Isn't it unfair that they suffer for the consequences when we were the ones who caused them?

On the good side, measures have been taken by some countries in a bid to slow down global warming such as reforestation. Forest are extremely important as they take in unwanted gases and gives out oxygen, so it is important we do not cut them down! We can also play a part in saving our Earth such as using energy conserving appliances, turning off the lighs when we are not using them and use eco-friendly bio-fuel. Together, we are the ones who can make the differance!