Global warming has long been recognized as a serious problem by most climate scientists. Governments around the world have begun to take the necessary measures to address it. However, as our understanding of the scale and nature of the problem is still developing, efforts to tackle global warming need to be reassessed from time to time.
Recent evidence suggests that some risk factors associated with climate change may have been overstated. Sea levels are now expected to rise by approximately one metre, not two metres, as previously thought. This is because some glaciers and ice sheets appear to be contracting, the Arctic, for example, while others, such as the Antarctic, appear to be expanding. Also, it is now thought that the Gulf Stream is unlikely to vanish. It may, therefore, be possible to scale back plans for flood defences in coastal areas.
However, there is also evidence that some of the consequences of climate change may have been understated. Tropical forests are now believed to be more vulnerable to drought. Hurricanes and typhoons may become more severe. Greater efforts should therefore be made to protect vulnerable populations, especially in tropical areas. Buildings in storm-prone areas may also need to be re-designed to withstand high winds.
These recommendations, however, address the symptoms of global warming, not the root cause: the generation of greenhouse gases. Whatever the precise scale and nature of the consequences of global warming, they are all undesirable. Clearly, more needs to be done to reduce the burning of fossil fuels. Stricter emissions targets should be set and use of alternative sources of energy encouraged. It would be profoundly irresponsible to do nothing about the causes of global warming.
Global
warming
has long
been recognized
as a serious problem by most climate scientists.
Governments
around the world have begun to take the necessary measures to address it.
However
, as our understanding of the scale and nature of the problem is
still
developing, efforts to tackle
global
warming
need to
be reassessed
from time to time.
Recent evidence suggests that
some
risk
factors associated with climate
change
may have
been overstated
. Sea levels are
now
expected
to rise by approximately one
metre
, not two
metres
, as previously
thought
. This is
because
some
glaciers and ice sheets appear to be contracting, the Arctic,
for example
, while others, such as the Antarctic, appear to be expanding.
Also
, it is
now
thought
that the Gulf Stream is unlikely to vanish. It may,
therefore
, be possible to scale back plans for flood
defences
in coastal areas.
However
, there is
also
evidence that
some of the
consequences of climate
change
may have
been understated
. Tropical forests are
now
believed to be more vulnerable to drought. Hurricanes and typhoons may become more severe. Greater efforts should
therefore
be made
to protect vulnerable populations,
especially
in tropical areas. Buildings in storm-prone areas may
also
need to be re-designed to withstand high winds.
These recommendations,
however
, address the symptoms of
global
warming
, not the root cause: the generation of greenhouse gases. Whatever the precise scale and nature of the consequences of
global
warming
, they are all undesirable.
Clearly
, more needs to
be done
to
reduce
the burning of fossil fuels. Stricter emissions targets should
be set
and
use
of alternative sources of energy encouraged. It would be
profoundly
irresponsible to do nothing about the causes of
global
warming
.