MAIN READING CLIMATE CHANGE: MANAGING THE GLOBAL GREENHOUSE

MAIN READING CLIMATE CHANGE: MANAGING THE GLOBAL GREENHOUSE

1.       INTRODUCTION

There has been an intense debate among both scientists and politicians about global warming and about the appropriate response to it. Some scientists say that the global climate has been changing. But some others have said that there is no strong evidence to support the claim. The article will try to help the public understand the issue of global warming.

2.       GLOBAL WARMING: FACTS AND UNCERTAINTIES

All scientists agree that gases like carbon dioxide, CFCs, and methane clearly produce a greenhouse effect because they prevent heat released by the earth from escaping into space. There is historical evidence linking increases in the earthÚs temperature to increased carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere. Now the amount of these gases has increased more than in the Ice Age. Any effects of greenhouse gases on climate will be felt worldwide and by future generations. Scientists have shown that the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has been increasing since 1800 because of the increase in carbon dioxide, methane gases, and more recently CFCs.

Industrialization, not processes occurring in nature, accounts for much of the increase in greenhouse gases over the last one hundred years. The burning of coal, oil and gas to generate energy necessary for industry and the use of the CFCs as cooling agents contributed to the increase in greenhouse gases. In order to feed the growing population of the world, more rice has to be produced and more cattle have to be raised. However, this increase in cattle rearing and rice production are major factors in the increase of methane in the atmosphere. Moreover, the burning of tropical forests in developing countries is a major contributor of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Following this some scientists have established that the earth has become warmer in the last one hundred years due to the rise of the sea level, and the reduction of the ice in the North Polar region and of the nonpolar inland glaciers. But some other scientists are not prepared to conclude that the warming trend of the last one hundred years is due to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They argue that every time the warming has not increased when the greenhouse gas has concentrated. Predicting the size of future temperature increases involves some uncertainty.

3.       POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Despite some political opposition, most scientists argue that the evidence justifies our taking immediate steps to cut the emission of global gases. We have to control global warming immediately. If temperature increases are between 2 and 6 degrees Celsius, the consequences for ecosystems will be extremely serious. Higher temperatures will also probably have a destructive impact on agriculture due to lack of enough water for irrigation. Higher temperatures will lead to a rise in ocean level, which may endanger vast areas of densely populated, low-lying land.

4.             RESPONDING TO THE THREAT

The majority of environmental scientists believe that we should take immediate measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions and avoid a future catastrophe. The industrial nations should be the first to start programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because they have been responsible to this tragedy. Governments must develop energy conservation policies that will reduce the demand for energy produced by burning fossil fuels. Newer and more efficient appliances should be developed to save energy. To replace fossil fuels, governments must also develop alternative, sustainable sources of energy, such as wind and hydrogen.

Policies to increase energy efficiency were successful in past. As a result, many industrial countries made fuel efficient cars. We could reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions substantially with technology that exists today. However, a major disadvantage of programs designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is their enormous costs. The good news is that measures to stabilize atmospheric carbon dioxide at a safe level, though expensive, will not significantly slow the expected increase in global income.

Actions by the wealthier countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will not solve the problem of global warming if we ignore emissions in developing nations. The industrialized world must ease the burden of debt carried by the poorer countries so that these nations can pursue ecologically responsible economic development. But debt forgiveness could be offered to developing countries who commit themselves to protecting the world ecology. Developing countries will also require increased economic and technical assistance if they are to help solve the problem of greenhouse gases.

5.       RETHINKING OUR PRIORITIES

The problem of global warming will not be resolved without massive expenditures by the developed nations. To make available the funds necessary to address the root causes of global warming, we must radically change our ways of thinking and behaving. We must consider that it is a global problem, not only the problem of a particular nation. People seeking a change in environmental thinking might be encouraged by public opinion polls showing changes in attitudes toward environmental issues. In a few international agreements, governments have committed themselves to reducing greenhouse gases. We have some reason for believing that a revolution in environmental thinking is still possible.