Monday, January 16, 2012

Climate Change

Human interactions with the environmental are changing the climate of Earth. The global average temperature is rising at an alarming rate. As many of the world’s countries industrialize larger amounts of pollutants are being released into the air. These Greenhouse Gasses (Methane, Carbon Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Perflurocarbons, etc…) are changing the chemical makeup of the atmosphere. The ozone layer that protects us from many of the sun’s harmful radiation is disappearing. As the global average temperature increases the global ice caps will continue to melt, resulting in sea level rise. Some nations that sit at or below sea level may not exist in 100 years. Climate change will also increase the frequency of severe drought. Many poor nations such as those in sub Saharan Africa will experience even harsher drought in years to come, which means more preventable deaths. It has only been in the last 50 to 60 years that any legislation has been passed to protect the environment.  Further actions to control and curb global climate change must be taken. If we continue to pollute and mistreat the environment in the same manner as the last 200 years than the prospects for the future will be grim.

Below is a link to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC is the leading provider of data and reports on climate change.

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