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.