Tuvalu
There are a group of low lying islands in the Pacific Ocean called Tuvalu that are disappearing due to higher sea levels as a result of global warming. Climate change will be a major issue during the 2008 presidential election. The US needs to ratify the Kyoto Protocal and start making some serious steps towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
posted by mochi at 6:40 AM
3 Comments:
I'm a final year university undergrad and one of my case studies is exactly this. Unfortunately the amount of greenhouse gases currently in the atmopshere means that if all emmissions were to cease, let alone the kyoto treaty's proposed reductions, warming would continue for around a hundred years before plateauing out. Saying that, on the long term we are on the milankovitch cycle which indicates another little ice age. We are more or les balanced. However, as you rightly say it is the governments responsibility. Not to just impliment the kyoto treaty, it's too late now. What they need to ascertain are the priorities regarding environmental refugees like those in Tuvalu, and worst case high density cities on coastlines such as Bangladesh. It is difficult to say if it will get worse, but you point out the reality well. Global warming is not a danger anymore, it is a hazard.
http://www.ripcat.free-online.co.uk/waitshtml/whatkeepsmankindalivelyrics.htm
You are right. With the exemptions afforded developing countries I'm not convinced Kyoto is the answer, but it's a start. I think back to the fight against CFCs and the organized multi-national government response. Oil is a different beast but the possibility of a united effort is real and Kyoto is the only point of partial agreement I know about. Thanks for posting, it's refreshing to hear from someone directly involved in an issue.
The more global warming, the closer Wichita gets to a coastline. Bring it on!
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