| Experts tell us we are releasing unacceptable | | | | 1990 level. |
| levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If | | | | Experts tell us we must act now. We must |
| we continue at this rate, by 2070, the polar ice | | | | reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we release. |
| caps will completely melt causing sea levels to rise | | | | To do this we must use alternative sources of |
| and all those idyllic islands and a large amount of | | | | energy, make better use of fossil fuel, plant more |
| the continents will be under water. The rainforests | | | | trees and protect the seas from pollution so that |
| will wither away from drought or fires and | | | | phytoplankton population remain high. |
| destructive waves, floods and droughts will be | | | | At present there is no obvious viable alternative. |
| commonplace. | | | | Nuclear power has safety problems but there are |
| Al Gore thinks that if change is not in place within | | | | encouraging research on solar and hydrogen |
| the next 10 years, then it becomes irreversible. | | | | power. Photovoltaic, wind power and power from |
| We need the harbingers of doom. They stop us | | | | biomass are slowly being introduced but this |
| from destroying this planet. They are responsible | | | | process takes time. |
| for the improvement of the ozone layer. They | | | | Al Gore claims that he is carbon neutral. To |
| warned us of the dangers of ozone layer | | | | achieve this cost money. Not every one can |
| depletion and unless immediate action was taken, | | | | afford this. It takes up to 10 years to recover |
| then by 2050 the effects would be devastating | | | | cost to convert to alternative source of energy. |
| to our health. | | | | It is therefore important for everyone to make |
| This led directly to the Montreal Protocol banning | | | | optimum use of energy. |
| the use of CFCs in fridges and air conditioning. We | | | | Global warming, unlike other problems, cannot be |
| still have fridges and air conditioning but without | | | | solved by governments and industries alone. |
| CFCs. Technology got us into that mess and | | | | Homeowners have to do their bit. Legislation on |
| technology got us out. | | | | emission has made a difference to cars and |
| Experts warned us about acid rain and claimed it | | | | trucks on the road but there is inadequate control |
| was a serious threat to life on earth. It was a bit | | | | on older vehicles. Home owners must insulate |
| exaggerated but it hastened the development of | | | | their homes and ensure their Central Heating |
| new technologies that reduced the release of | | | | boilers are efficient. To ensure this is happening, |
| nitrates and sulphates into the atmosphere. | | | | there may well have to be legislation to annually |
| The primary cause of global warming is our use | | | | check emission levels from individual homes. |
| of fossil fuel. By burning fossil fuel, we are | | | | So should we heed the harbingers of doom? |
| releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The | | | | According to experts, the Arctic is melting and |
| balance in the past was maintained by | | | | has already lost an area the size of Texas, that |
| photosynthesis by plants and phytoplankton. They | | | | is, 4 times the size of UK. Rising sea level is |
| contain chlorophyll and in the present of sunlight | | | | already causing displacement. The island of Tuvalu |
| convert carbon dioxide into glucose and releasing | | | | in the Pacific will soon be evacuated. Laupepa, a |
| oxygen. | | | | Tuvaluan government official, told a BBC reporter |
| Today the level of carbon dioxide released is | | | | that by refusing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, the |
| unacceptably high and in addition we are cutting | | | | US has effectively denied future generations of |
| down rainforests. This results in an imbalance. | | | | Tuvaluans their fundamental freedom to live |
| In 1997, 38 developed countries laid down a | | | | where their ancestors have lived for thousands of |
| framework to prevent global warming. They | | | | years. |
| requested that by 2012 there must be a | | | | Brazil?s cascading Iguazu falls this year is just a |
| reduction of antropogenic carbon dioxide emission | | | | trickle. Britain is experiencing the driest spell this |
| by 5% below 1990 level. This is part of the Kyoto | | | | century, and has widespread hose pipe bans. |
| Protocol. Sadly the US President in March 2001 | | | | With global warming and rising sea level, US and |
| renounced the protocol. | | | | European citizens may lose prime beachfront |
| US have 25% of the world population but experts | | | | properties but low lying islands will lose nationalities |
| say it is responsible for 75% of greenhouse gas | | | | as their citizens are displaced. Do they see the |
| emission. While other countries are reducing | | | | developed countries as nations totally indifferent |
| emission, US emission, according to experts, | | | | to their plight? |
| continue to rise and is currently 15% greater than | | | | |