Stopglobalwarming.org describes global warming as not being an opinion but rather a scientific reality. The findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), comprised of hundreds of scientists around the world, support the reality that climate change is being caused by humans. "We can be very confident that the net effect of human activity since 1750 has been one of warming," said co-lead author Dr Susan Soloman in a BBC News report.
Global Warming
Climate Change, or global warming, refers to the warming effects of greenhouse gases on the atmosphere and the effects the warming will have on the global climate. Stopglobalwarming.org explains that ‘…more carbon dioxide is now in the atmosphere than has been in the past 650,000 years. This carbon stays in the atmosphere, acts like a warm blanket, and holds in the heat — hence the name ‘global warming.’ In the past, the earth was able to regulate itself, but since humans have overloaded the atmosphere and planet with greenhouse gasses from power plants, airplanes, space missions, cars, industrial farming, landfills and factories, we have completely tipped the ecological balance of the earth.
We can expect more storms, droughts, fires, hurricanes, rising sea levels, food shortages and extreme temperatures in the coming years until we start to radically reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
The Future
Regardless of what we do in the future, a certain amount of damage has already been done. However, what we can do is stop doing more damage and attempt to reduce negative climatic trends for future generations. Either way we can expect more storms, droughts, fires, hurricanes, rising sea levels, food shortages and extreme temperatures in the coming years until we start to radically reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we put in the atmosphere. The entire planet is entering into unfamiliar territory where nobody can be entirely sure what the future holds. Even though hundreds of the world’s most renowned scientists and environmentalists are predicting a dire future, nobody can predict just how bad it will be. The future for inhabitants on earth could range from difficult to extinction for all living species.
However, in-between unpleasant and extinction are many possibilities of unimaginable suffering for all living creatures of earth. Recent examples of human suffering caused by climate change, or as a byproduct of climate change, include Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the civil war in Darfur from 2003, fires and floods in southern, central and eastern Europe in 2005/6, Australian bush fires in 2007 and Hurricane Wilma in 2005 – all these catastrophes are considered to be a preview of the future.
Scientists are now predicting the polar bear may be extinct by the end of this century.
The Polar Bear: Icon of Climate Change
Even though human suffering is receiving a lot of attention, numerous animal and plant species will also be destroyed by climate change. Their habitat, food supplies and breeding grounds will all be affected by increases in the earth’s temperature. Perhaps the most iconic creature of climate change is the polar bear. Warming in the artic is occurring at twice the rate seen in other parts of the planet according to the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA). As ice caps continue to melt, the polar bear no longer has access to ice floes that they use to feed from.
For the first time in history scientists are reporting that polar bears are drowning in the arctic. One of the contributing factors is that polar bears are now forced to swim longer distances to encounter ice, and the longer swims make the creatures vulnerable to exhaustion, hypothermia and becoming swamped by ocean waves. Scientists are now predicting the polar bear may be extinct by the end of this century. This is only one animal in the 1.5-1.8 million known species on earth. Every living thing on earth is under threat from extinction, but the vulnerable will die first. The people who will suffer most will be the poorest in the world and future generations, says Friends of the Earth UK.
What Can I Do?
Responding to climate change is a moral imperative for every person on the planet. Former Vice-president Al Gore in his Nobel Peace Prize speech said ‘We must abandon the conceit that individual, isolated, private actions are the answer. They can and do help. But they will not take us far enough without collective action.’ Each person on earth can contribute to both reducing greenhouse gases and working towards creating a different future. Even though our future is uncertain, this need not be a time of fear, anger and recrimination, climate change just might be the one thing in history that will unite all humanity for the common good of the world.
Resources
CO2 Now: http://www.co2now.org
My Footprint: http://www.myfootprint.org/
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (ICPCC): http://www.ipcc.ch/
The David Suzuki Foundation: http://www.davidsuzuki.org/
Global Green: http://www.globalgreen.org/
Stop Global Warming: http://www.stopglobalwarming.org
Hot Climate Change Books
The WeatherMakers by Tim Flannery
Heat: How to Stop the Planet Burning by George Monbiot
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things by William McDonough & Michael Braungart
WorldChanging: A User’s Guide to The 21st Century edited by Alex Steffen.
Report
Germanwatch published its third annual Climate Change Performance Index: A Comparison of Emissions Trends and Climate Protection Policies of the Top 56 CO2 Emitting Nations: http://www.germanwatch.org/klima/ccpi.htm
Show/Hide comment form
