The Threat of Global Warming

international | environment | opinion/analysis Monday April 13, 2009 23:33 by Richard Whelan

The ever increasing threat of Global Warming, and how we must do all in our power to give back what we have taken from the planet, before it is too late for all of us.

The Threat Of Global Warming

Life, as we know it, is unique to our planet Earth. Although much is speculated as to whether or not we are alone in our universe, the depth of our knowledge at this moment suggests that ours is the only planet which can sustain life. As a mere human, it is impossible to associate one's minature status in a world so large as our own, with such varying ecosystems and regions that have no relation to our own. Our place on Earth is microscopic in terms of the whole world at large and we can't possibly have an impact on it, positively or negatively. This very common misconception is at this moment an ignorance which we can no longer afford to ignore.

Our continued exploitation of the world's resources for our own material gain, and without any regard for our environment or fellow species, has led us to a dangerous point in terms of long term damage to our planet. Every time you drive your car, and burn the precious little fossil fuels we have left on Earth; every time you turn on your heating and burn the oil that's taken millions of years to create in seconds; every time you jet off to some far away country; you are playing your part in the degredation of our environment. While an excuse of it being "only one person" may have washed 50 years ago, the decline of our planet has been so marked in the past 20 years that this excuse is not justified. We simply must change mindsets and activities.

To illustrate the peril we face, here are a few figures. The world's CO2 emissions have risen from 200 million tonnes per year in 1850, to 27 billion tonnes for 2004, a 145 fold rise. That counts for an extra 145 tonnes for every ton in 1850, an extraordinary rise that is seen also in the correlated temperature rise. Since 1900, the average world temperature has been rising by an average 5 to 6 degree Fahrenheit- this compares to a rise of 5-9 degrees Fahrenheit between now and the last Ice Age. Arctic sea ice has reduced by 40% in the past 30 years, and the 10 warmest years on record have all occurred in the past 12 years.

This may all seem good to some people- but the complete upheaval of our world's climate that our increased levels of emissions is creating will cause drought (leading to a drop in crop yields and water supplies), flooding (further affecting crop yields and possibly displacing millions) and a rise in sea levels from melting polar ice that could wipe out the great coastal cities of the world. Apart from the immediate danger we face (it is estimated that the effects of climate change could become apparent in less than 20 years), it is morally our duty to care for a planet that has for many millenia sustained our species. It is the least we can give back to a burning planet, that desperately needs to cool down. Our future depends on the decisions we take today.