Regional Organizations and Environmental Change

Abstract

Over the past few decades, environmental changes such as acid rain, ozone layer depletion, and global warming of the atmosphere have attracted worldwide attention and, as a result, have assumed a high priority on the international agenda. No doubt these issues will continue to receive political attention in the foreseeable future, because of the profound effects they could have on the economic and social welfare of human society. These issues will also retain the attention of the scientific community because their physical and chemical aspects are not yet adequately understood. Society is now contemplating measures to reduce the pace of the evolution of these environmental problems, as well as develop measures designed to prevent, mitigate, or adapt to the changes even before their adverse impacts become manifest.