Global Warming
There is general acceptance now that human activity is having an effect on the earth's climate. This is caused by increasing concentrations of gases such as carbon dioxide ("greenhouse gases") in the atmosphere, as a result of burning fossil fuels (coal, oil & gas). This isn`t just another `health scare`. It`s going to make the world an uncomfortable place to live within our lifetime or that of our children.
In 2001, international scientists agreed that in order to avoid dangerous climate change, we must cut our emissions of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels by 60% by 2050. Since then, new understanding of the research is likely to have reduced, rather than increased this timescale .
Recent research has shown that global warming is increasing faster than previously thought. The damaging effects will become clearer within years, rather than decades.
You may think that this won`t affect us here in the UK (`it`ll be nice to be a few degrees warmer`). However, images of drought, famine, death and disease will reach us from areas of the World many have become used to visiting on holiday. This will be increasingly uncomfortable for those of us with a conscience.
Damaging global warming may well be inevitable. However, this doesn`t mean that we should do nothing. Surely, each of us ought to do what we can to reduce our effect (see `Can I make a difference to Global Warming` on this page).
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