Global Warming and Climate Change

Abstract

Global warming and climate change are stark realities facing the planet, knowing no national, cultural, or ethnic boundaries. The advanced nations of the world have been the major cause of global warming and climate change due to unlimited emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), which have depleted and damaged the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere and caused temperatures to rise, resulting in melting of glaciers at a very fast rate which in turn has been the cause of rise in sea levels. All these manmade actions have had a disastrous effect on the global ecological balance. There is no time to be lost in squabbling, but rather it is time to address the problem squarely, and move ahead to repair the damage before it is too late. It is time to realize that it affects all humanity equally and no nation is safe from its aftereffects. What is required is a joint effort and a globally agreed-upon mechanism and regulatory regime to control further emissions of GHG beyond the limits which the planet can bear, so that not only our generation but our children and posterity can breathe clean air and enjoy the bounties of nature so gracefully endowed on mankind. The Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change was held in December 2009 for this specific purpose; even though it came out with an agreement, it did not measure up to expectations.