Global warming is a growing issue in todays society. The US releases around 5,800 megatonnes (that’s about 12760000000000 pounds) of carbon dioxide per year and China, the largest emitter of carbon dioxide, releases around 6,200 megatonnes. With these amounts of carbon emissions being released by industrialized countries yearly, warming rates have and will continue to skyrocket, having the potential to cause devastating effects. We already see icebergs and icecaps melting, polar bears having their habitats destroyed, but some of the more serious potential effects are global famine, rampant disease, and resource wars that can destabilize unstable regions especially in the Middle East. The big question is what can we do?
The Kyoto Protocol, an international commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, was created in 1997 and implemented in 2005. Thirty-seven countries committed to curbing GHG emissions at national levels, but 2012 marks the end of the first commitment period. The US and China did not join the protocol, marking some major problems with reducing global GHG emissions. Furthermore, the future for this climate agreement seems dim, with major countries not wanting to comply with future reductions.
However, the Kyoto Protocol did set up the infrastructure for international agreements on reducing emissions. If the US and China, which are countries pursuing emissions unilaterally, cooperate with other countries creating a new global and international climate change treaty, major reductions could ensue.
The situation is dire. Warming is real and it is an existential threat. If steps are not taken to curb this global problem, everyone could be in great danger.
