| Traces history of issues of Greenhouse effect | | | | nations needed to take action to negate the |
| and Global warming | | | | effects of global warming. Kyoto Protocol, an |
| There is one subject that is certain to raise a | | | | international agreement to fight global warming, |
| passionate argument in a party these days and | | | | was born in 1997. This protocol called for |
| that is "Global Warming". Everybody has an opinion | | | | countries to reduce their emission of greenhouse |
| about it. And why not? After all if the international | | | | gases. After eight years of hard bargaining, and |
| action plans for reduction of carbon emissions | | | | acrimonious debates Kyoto treaty was finally |
| have to succeed, every individual needs to be | | | | ratified by 141 countries. Noteworthy among the |
| involved and committed to it! | | | | countries that did not ratify it were the USA and |
| It is generally believed that the earth was | | | | Australia - both the largest producers of |
| covered with ice about 15000 years ago. About | | | | greenhouse gases. |
| 7000 years ago the earth began to warm up and | | | | The treaty aims to limit and cut back emission of |
| the ice age came to an end. Then again from the | | | | greenhouse gases to control global warming. It |
| 14th century to the 19th century large parts of | | | | sets limits for emission from 35 developed |
| the earth experienced harsh, cold conditions. This | | | | countries; developing countries are exempted |
| period was known as "the little ice age". In 1824 | | | | from emission limits to allow them time to catch |
| Fourier proposed the theory that solar radiations | | | | up. Under the treaty, various countries have |
| are trapped by the atmosphere and reflected | | | | committed to reduce the emissions to below their |
| back to the earth causing the earth to warm up | | | | 1990 levels by 2012. |
| and that the earth was slowly getting warm. | | | | Most of the countries are struggling to limit the |
| Arrhenius termed it the greenhouse effect in the | | | | greenhouse emissions to the levels they had |
| late 19th century. In the 1950s, Callendar | | | | committed to; many are finding it quite tough |
| supported the theory of the greenhouse effect. | | | | when it comes to pushing for action while |
| From late 20th century there was a much | | | | balancing domestic political pressures and pressure |
| greater attention being paid to environmental | | | | from oil & gas industry. It is, however, heartening |
| issues and serious scientific activities started for | | | | to note that there are already significant success |
| devising ways to measure global temperatures | | | | stories coming up where individual companies have |
| and to devise better mathematical models to | | | | shown the leadership and achieved remarkable |
| analyze earth's climate. By the end of the 20th | | | | success in attaining, and in some cases over |
| century there was a large body of scientific | | | | attaining, their targets of reduction of carbon |
| opinion that believed that increased carbon dioxide | | | | emission. In USA public opinion is seen to be far |
| emissions, caused by ever increasing use of fossil | | | | more decisive and assertive than the Federal |
| fuels, were responsible for global warming. In | | | | government and many states are going ahead |
| 1994, the United Nations Panel on Climate Change | | | | enacting legislations to limit carbon emission while |
| asserted that global warming was still a threat and | | | | federal government twiddles thumbs. |