Climate Change
Experts in climatology and other scientists are becoming extremely concerned
about the changes to our climate which are taking place. Admittedly, climate
changes have occurred on our planet before. For example, there have been
several ice ages or glacial periods.
These climatic changes, however, were different from the modern ones in that
they occurred gradually and, as far as we know, naturally. The changes
currently being monitored are said to be the result not of natural causes, but
of human activity. Furthermore, the rate of change is becoming alarmingly
rapid.
The major problem is that the planet appears to be warming up. According to
some experts, this warming process, known as global warming, is occurring
at a rate unprecedented in the last 10,000 years. The implications for the
planet are very serious. Rising global temperatures could give rise to such
ecological disasters as extremely high increases in the incidence of flooding
and of droughts. These in turn could have a harmful effect on agriculture.
It is thought that this unusual warming of the Earth has been caused by
so-called greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, being emitted into the
atmosphere by car engines and modern industrial processes, for example.
Such gases not only add to the pollution of the atmosphere, but also create a
greenhouse effect, by which the heat of the sun in trapped. This leads to the
warming up of the planet.
Politicians are also concerned about climate change and there are now regular
summits on the subject, attended by representatives from around 180 of the
world’s industrialized countries. Of these summits, the most important took
place in Kyoto in Japan in 1997. There it was agreed that the most
industrialized countries would try to reduce the volume of greenhouse gas
emissions and were given targets for this reduction of emissions.
It was also suggested that more forests should be planted to create so-called
sinks to absorb greenhouse gases. At least part of the problem of rapid
climate change has been caused by too drastic deforestation.
Sadly, the targets are not being met. Even more sadly, global warnings about
climate changes are often still being regarded as scaremongering.