| The phenomenon known as global warming is | | | | glaciers melt at an alarming rate, various |
| already here and affecting us even as we | | | | species face extinction, and disease vector |
| speak. But many people are still ignorant of | | | | ranges fluctuate. |
| what this phenomenon is and how it affects | | | | |
| even ordinary folk like you and me. | | | | Governments are expected to play a major role |
| | | | in helping their citizens reduce the total |
| Global warming, strictly speaking, is the | | | | greenhouse gases emitted by their country, |
| observed increase of the average temperature | | | | particularly if these governments adhere to |
| of the ocean and the near-surface air of | | | | the Kyoto Protocol which many government |
| Mother Earth as recorded for some decades now | | | | leaders throughout the world agreed to and |
| and is being felt at present. According to | | | | signed to show their intent to participate. |
| the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change | | | | |
| (IPCC), much of the warming of the atmosphere | | | | Global warming falls under the much more |
| and large bodies of water such as oceans can | | | | comprehensive term of climate change. Global |
| probably be directly attributed to the | | | | warming is the direct opposite of global |
| release of greenhouse gases starting | | | | cooling, which also falls under climate |
| predominantly from the middle of the 20th | | | | change. Climate change, as used by the United |
| century, which tend to accumulate and produce | | | | Nations Framework Convention on Climate |
| the greenhouse effect. | | | | Change, is used to refer solely to climate |
| | | | change caused by human activities. Climate |
| The IPCC predicts that worldwide surface | | | | changes due to other causes falls under the |
| temperatures are estimated to increase | | | | term climate variability. Anthropogenic |
| further by 1.1 to 6.4 degrees Centigrade by | | | | global warming is another term used to |
| year 2100. This estimate can be affected by | | | | describe change caused by human activities. |
| the ability and willingness of the present | | | | |
| living generation of human beings to | | | | The human activity which has contributed the |
| significantly cut down on greenhouse gas | | | | most to the accumulation of carbon dioxide in |
| emissions. The problem is, even if much of | | | | the atmosphere would be burning of fossil |
| the present levels of greenhouse gas | | | | fuels (a.k.a. oil and gas) for power within |
| emissions can be reduced, global warming is | | | | the last 20 years. Other human activities |
| expected to still continue, perhaps even past | | | | that have helped in the increase in warming |
| year 2100, due to the capacity of oceans to | | | | of the global atmosphere could include |
| retain absorbed heat. | | | | deforestation, that falls under human |
| | | | land-use activities. If communities |
| Global temperatures are now causing a rise in | | | | throughout the world persist in using fossil |
| the sea levels, more severe weather changes | | | | fuels as a power source and cutting down |
| to be experienced, and a corresponding | | | | forests at a rapid pace without replenishing |
| negative affect on precipitation amounts and | | | | forest stocks, then it is safe to assume that |
| behavior. As a result, human agriculture | | | | global warming will continue and may even |
| activities may have to change to match the | | | | escalate in the future. |
| changes in the weather, even as polar | | | | |