Global Warming: Addressing Its Effects
At a conference of twenty nations assembled in London on March 15, 2005, Gordon Brown, Britain's Finance Minister addressed the audience regarding the seriousness of the effects of global warming, saying, ôWe have sufficient evidence that human-made climate change is the most far-reaching and almost certainly the most threatening of all the environmental changes facing usö (Timmons).
The economic changes predicted by experts such as Mr. Brown, as well as changes to weather patterns, human property, human life, and the environment have led to the recent enactment in February 2005 of the Kyoto agreement, which places national limits on carbon emissions. The United States has refused to back the agreement, citing that the emissions limits it prescribes are, in the words of James L. Connaughton, the U.S. delegate to the agreement talks and Chairman of the Council of Environmental Quality ôunreasonableö (Timmons). Mr. Connaughton, a member of the Bush Administration says the agreement would jeopardize the American economy and furthermore that there has not yet been conclusive research outlining the extent of human contribution to global warming via the emission of greenhouse gasses (Timmons).
While the official stance of the United States is at odds with international agreement about the human contribution and logical response to global warming, the effects of global warming are not disputed. Scientists around the world are in agreement that global warming is occurring and that it coincides with an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, primarily carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides (United States Environmental Protection Agency). Vhile these gassds are naturally present in the earth's atmosphere, humans are increasing their concentrations (United States Environmental Protection Agency). The primary sources of increase are currently thought to be the burning of fossil fuels, primaril...