http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6324029.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6098362.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6096084.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6321351.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4269021.stm
Renewable Energy:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/5316946.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/5264364.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6271773.stm
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070125/wl_nm/davos_climate_developing_dc_4
The Evidence, Causes, Effects
While evidence for Climate Change is consistently reported almost all around the world, the issue of whether it is happening or not has always been a controversial issue, with many scientists and economists taking sides. However the mainstream opinion is that Global warming is happening, and is certainly an adverse impact, but how much so is a matter of debate.
Many economists base much of their stand on their belief that the actions needed to mitigate Global warming shall damage economies, more than the damage climate change itself can deal. Indeed Australia and the US have rejected the Kyoto protocol based on such grounds. However there is ample evidence to prove the contrary. As in the above articles, the UK-sponsored Stern report on climate change estimates that up to 20% of Global GDP might be shaved off if there is a warming of around 5 C by 2100.
The effects of Global warming on such scales, is of course catastrophic. The many aspects of the effects, the most worrisome among them rising sea levels, extinctions of up to 40% of species, deficiencies in agricultural production, pestilence, permanent climate changes, freak weather events and also the possibility of stronger, more frequent hurricanes paint a environmental dystopia of the future, a feverish Earth with its systems gone wild.
Current Actions
While the future certainly seems bleak, it is not all gloom-and-doom. Many of the worlds developed nations, including the EU and America, are actively involved in actions to reduce the effects of global warming, the EU being highly active in particular.
Many of their efforts have been highly effective, the EU emissions trading scheme being one of them, and there is now a lively market of ‘carbon credit’ operating between big businesses around the world.
Enormous successes have been achieved in recent years by the Green energy industry, particularly the wind industry, especially in Europe and the American Midwest. These areas, among others, have proven their value as wind farms, with each wind turbine generating up to hundreds of megawatts of electricity. In these places they have become crucial to the energy grids. Biofuels, especially ethanol, have also achieved greater prominence in recent years, with the energy giant, Petrobras, instrumental in its worldwide commercial success.
Developing Nations
Developing nations have traditionally used their right to develop as a argument against taking action. However they are increasingly seeing the need to change, as, ironically, they will be the most affected by climate change. There is therefore much incentive for them to act. Indeed, China and India are working to wean themselves away from coal, and the former already has Wind farms operating in its western provinces, with large dams also under construction.
Final opinions
The fight against climate change ‘cannot wait’, as the effects are severely detrimental to human development on all levels. All nations therefore have to make a concerted effort to mitigate this threat, because its effects are not inevitable, and actions can be taken.
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