It was announced today that a chunk of Antarctic ice 7 times the size of Manhattan Island collapsed. The ice, 160 square miles large, had been there possibly for 1,500 years. And now its suddenly gone. Clearly, this is another physical manifestation of global warming, and it reminds us that, although the media has largely gotten over it, global warming isn't going away, hasn't died down.
While I'm not going to discuss the particular causes of global warming here, Man, in the last century has played a significant role in causing the warming of earth. Thus, global warming presents a unique challenge to us. First, it is an entirely worldwide phenomenon. No part of this planet will go unharmed. While some areas will benefit from it, by and large, the Earth WILL suffer. Unlike events such as world war one, which didn't have a direct impact on the world, GW will have a pervasive effect everywhere. Second, there are three ways in which it can be dealt with. First, on a local scale -- human by human -- each person can work to decrease their individual GHG (Greenhouse gas) emissions. While this will have a minor effect, it will, nonetheless, have an important impact. Second, we can work to ameliorate the problem on a country wide basis. Within this category falls the efforts of communities and states, as well as national governments. Countries can, passing unique and specialized laws, decrease their GHG emissions. Finally, there is the international level. Nations must work collectively to abate a worldwide problem. THe Kyoto Protocol is an example of this (although I personally think it is an ineffective law that should be replaced with something such as an international carbon tax).
Only action on all three levels will yield the results mandated by science to solve this problem. Individually, people must green their own lives, and work to green the lives of others. Countries must also provide incentives or create laws that will cause businesses and individuals to green their lives (see my post on gas taxes). Simultaneously, international laws/treaties must be forged that will force countries to take a stronger stand on GW.
Although worldwide collaboration and action on all three levels may seem improbable, we've already begun it. THere is a huge green movement on the individual scale, because, now, it is "cool" to be green. People are eating locally & organically, recycling & composting, buying energy efficient cars & appliances. Many countries/states have green laws, such as gas taxes in Europe, and AB 32 in California. FInally, international agreements, such as Kyoto, have been formed. Although Kyoto must be superseded by other agreements eventually, it shows that international collaboration is possible.
Who's willing to work on all three of these?
Do these:
http://www.sierraclub.org/globalwarming/tenthings/
Support green action where you live. For example, send this to your senator:
http://action.environmentaldefense.org/campaign/globalwarming_petition
FInally, research international solutions. Personally, I support an international carbon tax:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/business/16view.html
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