| The climate is changing. The earth is warming up, and | | | | dimming whereby less heat and energy reaches the |
| there is now overwhelming scientific consensus that it | | | | earth. At first, it sounds like an ironic savior to climate |
| is happening, and human-induced. With global warming | | | | change problems. However, it is believed that global |
| on the increase and species and their habitats on the | | | | dimming caused the droughts in Ethiopia in the 1970s |
| decrease, chances for ecosystems to adapt naturally | | | | and 80s where millions died, because the northern |
| are diminishing. Many are agreed that climate change | | | | hemisphere oceans were not warm enough to allow |
| may be one of the greatest threats facing the planet. | | | | rain formation. Global dimming is also hiding the true |
| Recent years show increasing temperatures in various | | | | power of global warming. By cleaning up global |
| regions, and/or increasing extremities in weather | | | | dimming-causing pollutants without tackling greenhouse |
| patterns. What is Global Warming and Climate | | | | gas emissions, rapid warming has been observed, and |
| Change? Global warming and climate change refer to | | | | various human health and ecological disasters have |
| an increase in average global temperatures. Natural | | | | resulted, as witnessed during the European heat wave |
| events and human activities are believed to be | | | | in 2003, which saw thousands of people die. A |
| contributing to an increase in average global | | | | growing concern from developing countries and |
| temperatures. This is caused primarily by increases in | | | | various NGOs is the need for public participation and |
| "greenhouse" gases such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2). | | | | the effect on populations and poor countries that global |
| The impacts of Global Warming are, Rapid changes in | | | | warming negotiations have. The impacts of climate |
| global temperature, Extreme Weather Patterns, Rising | | | | change will be felt on the world's poorest countries the |
| Sea Levels, Increase in Pests and Disease, Failing | | | | most. In some cases, climate changes have already |
| Agricultural Output; Increase in World Hunger. | | | | affected some small island nations. Climate justice, |
| The United States is the world's largest emitter of | | | | equity and sustainable development are all important |
| greenhouse gases. It: | | | | parts of this debate that are often left out of |
| • Accounts for roughly four percent of the | | | | mainstream discourse. Equal rights to the atmosphere |
| world's population; | | | | for all human beings and equity within and between |
| • Accounts for approximately 23% of global | | | | nations are paramount. |
| emissions and 42% of industrialized country emissions. | | | | An agreed principle was that of common but different |
| The previously 15 member-nations European Union | | | | responsibilities. That is, when the world's majority |
| (E.U.), if considered as a whole (for it is more | | | | countries signed up to climate change Convention |
| comparable to the U.S.): | | | | (including countries like the US who would later |
| • Accounts for roughly 3 percent of the | | | | withdraw from the subsequent Kyoto Protocol) it was |
| world's population; | | | | agreed that it is today's rich nations who are the ones |
| • Accounts for around 10% of global | | | | responsible for global warming as greenhouse gases |
| emissions and 24% of industrialized countries' | | | | tend to remain in the atmosphere for many decades, |
| man-made emissions of the six main gases. | | | | and rich countries have been industrializing and emitting |
| Research has shown that air pollutants from fossil fuel | | | | climate changing pollution for many more centuries |
| use make clouds reflect more of the sun's rays back | | | | than the poor countries. |
| into space. This leads to an effect known as global | | | | |