| Global warming over the next half-century could | | | | doing ridesharing or carpool, using clean fuel like |
| put more than a million species of plants and | | | | CNG. There is no reason to wait and hope that |
| animals on the road to extinction, according to an | | | | hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will solve the problem in |
| international study | | | | the future. Right away, we should put existing |
| Thomas, lead author of the study published in the | | | | technologies for building cleaner cars and more |
| science journal Nature, said emissions from cars | | | | modern electricity generators into widespread use. |
| and factories could push temperatures up to | | | | If current trends continue Global warming will have |
| levels not seen for 1 million to 30 million years by | | | | catastrophic effects like: |
| the end of the century, threatening many | | | | • Melting glaciers, early snowmelt and |
| habitats. The sweeping new analysis, enlisting | | | | severe droughts will cause more dramatic water |
| scientists from 14 laboratories around the globe, | | | | shortages in the American West. |
| found that more than one-third of 1,103 native | | | | • Rising sea levels will lead to coastal |
| species they studied in six regions around the | | | | flooding on the Eastern seaboard, in Florida, and in |
| world could vanish or plunge to near extinction by | | | | other areas, such as the Gulf of Mexico. |
| 2050 as climate change turns plains into deserts | | | | • Warmer sea surface temperatures will |
| or alters forests. | | | | fuel more intense hurricanes in the south-eastern |
| Global warming is widely blamed on rising | | | | Atlantic and Gulf coasts. |
| concentrations of carbon dioxide in the | | | | • Forests, farms and cities will face |
| atmosphere linked to emissions of gases from | | | | troublesome new pests and more mosquito-borne |
| burning fossil fuels in cars, factories and power | | | | diseases. |
| plants. We can cut global warming pollution by | | | | • Disruption of habitats such as coral |
| reducing pollution from vehicles and power plants. | | | | reefs and alpine meadows could drive many plant |
| We can increase our reliance on renewable | | | | and animal species to extinction. |
| energy sources such as wind, sun and geothermal. | | | | Such alarming facts call for some serious action |
| And we can manufacture more efficient | | | | on each one's part and we can contribute by |
| appliances and conserve energy. | | | | sharing our vehicles and making carpools in our |
| But all this will take time, instead we should think | | | | cities. |
| of alternatives which can be done immediately like | | | | |