Background

Since the late 1800s, the average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by 0.74°C, and it is expected to rise by another 1.8°C to 4°C by the year 2100 if the necessary safety measures are not taken. Should the minimum predicted increase take place, this will surpass any century-long development in the last 10,000 years ? global warming after the last ice age was globally 4°-7°C degrees and that increase in temperature took place over 5,000 years.

We have already experienced the first consequences of global heating. Although the changes may seem insignificant, the weather has altered around the globe. Some places have experienced more precipitation than previously; others see higher temperatures and more extreme weather conditions. Recent severe storms, floods and droughts appear to have proven the scientific computer models predicting more recurrent acute weather conditions right.

Today there is little doubt that the principal reason for the rising temperatures is industrialization. Over the last century and a half, humankind has burned ever-greater quantities of oil, gasoline, and coal; burned forests and in other ways produced greenhouse gases and let them into the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases occur naturally ? they are necessary for our life on earth. However, the extreme quantities we see them in today result in an increase in global temperatures to artificially high levels. This alters our climate, and on a longer term, threatens our life on earth as we know it.

Not only is the current warming development expected to cause a great number of plants and animal species to go extinct. Human beings are not threatened directly; however, we are likely to face escalating problems. The rising sea level rose by 10 to 20 cm during the 20th century, and by the year 2100, another additional increase of 18 to 59 cm is expected. The higher temperatures cause ocean volume to expand and melting glaciers and ice caps only enhance the amount of water.

This means that the sea could flood heavily populated coastlines of countries such as Bangladesh, cause the complete vanishing of nations such as the island state of the Maldives, pollute freshwater supplies for billions of people and, as a result, prompt mass migrations that the world is not ready to face.

It is expected that agricultural yields will drop in most tropical and sub-tropical regions. If the temperature increase is more than a few degrees Celsius, this will also strike temperate regions. Central Asia, the African Sahel, and the Great Plains of the United States are predicted to dry out. This will result, at a minimum, in disruptions in land use and food supply. Diseases such as malaria may expand.

There is no doubt that the consequences will be numerous and severe, lest we take action now. The problems we are facing are complicated, no doubt about that. They involve the entire world, borders are indifferent here, and issues such as poverty, economic development and population growth depend on them. However, dealing with climate change is the only option we have.

Key source: www.unfccc.int