The evidence that science and our own common sense gives us lets us understand we can no more take for granted all of the resources available to us. What will it entail for the future if these warning signs are dismissed? Doing so would drastically affect the quality of their future.

Besides altering how we handle matters currently, it’s vital to teach each generation the valuable lessons we’re learning so that these mistakes won’t be repeated.

Educators and parents can cooperate in providing a fine example -

• Make it a game or challenge to discover different ways to reduce energy usage.
• It can help to visit a local landfill to highlight to all how much waste there is.
• Take trips that encourage appreciation for the wonder that exists in nature and develop a desire to save it.
• It may be possible all together to go to local seminars and events that promote a ‘greener’ way to live.
• At home parents can start by talking about the changes they’ll need to make as a family to reduce their consumption of energy, and then act on it.

Teachers can likewise focus on the science that will help young ones understand the long-term effects of greenhouse gases -

• Students can see how human industry and the use of fossil fuels have gradually affected the weather of the world.
• Students can investigate how their school impacts on the environment, and can challenge themselves to see if that impact can be reduced.
• Recycling programs can be started that take care of beverage bottles and cans, electronic equipment, discarded classroom papers, and similar garbage.
• Environmentalists can be invited to speak at a question and answer forum to engage and encourage class initiative.

As it has taken years to arrive at this time, it will take more time to halt the trend of Global Warming. Nonetheless, it is vital to train youths to see and take up the challenge as soon as possible.

As we learn more about how human activity is impacting the environment, more people are changing how they live and use energy resources.

Individual causes have been started that focus on one areas of concern. At the forefront of these causes are various high profile celebrities. To name just a few -

• Ed Begley Junior - Activist and actor involved in numerous environmental programs. He is known for using clean transportation and owning a self-sufficient solar powered home.
• Bill Clinton - Former President of the US. Promoter of the Clinton Initiative that is meant to bring world leaders together to work on alternatives for issues that affect our world, including the problem of climate change.
• Daryl Hannah - Environmentalist and actor. She lives green and generates her own electricity in a solar powered home. She has traveled to recommend biodiesel as a fuel alternative. Also a vegetarian, she encourages people to go organic.
• Barenaked Ladies - Rock band that has followed others in fueling their bus on biodiesel.
• Leonardo DiCaprio - Actor. Organized a foundation that deals with environmental issues. He’s also producing a program on Global Warming.
• Al Gore - Author of the movie “Inconvenient Truth” which has been hugely popular. The film focuses on climate change and Global Warming. His book with the same title provides supplementary details.
• Richard Branson - Famous billionaire who is using 3 billion in income from his rail and airline businesses to research energy sources that don’t result in Global Warming.
• Sting - Singer and activist. Founded the Rainforest Foundation which for nearly twenty years has striven to protect rainforests.
• Robert Redford - Actor and director. He has over three decades promoted and supported programs for conservation. He has recently began a program on his Sundance Channel focusing on ‘green’ issues.
• Matt Damon - Actor. On Board of Green Dimes which works to eliminate junkmail and also to plant trees.

The roster of well-known individuals who are actively involved in effecting a change to improve and preserve our Earth’s environment is growing. With these big names involved, one advantage is that it draws attention to issues like Global Warming that would be otherwise dismissed by many people.

There are 2 regions. The Northern Arctic, a frozen ocean that has a population of about 4,000,000. And the Antarctica to the south, an ice-covered land mass encircled by ocean, and has very few residents.

Ice covered areas are highly reflective. As the air heats up and ice melts larger areas of dark ocean are revealed. This dark ocean area absorbs the sun’s heat more readily and so accelerates the thawing process. Changes in the size and shape of ice sheets have been uncovered by satellite images. And typical temperatures in the Arctic polar region have risen at almost twice the rate of typical temperatures over the world. This melting has resulted in the general increase in ocean levels everywhere on the planet. The I.P.C.C. or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has calculated that ocean levels could rise from 0.3 to 2.9 feet in the next hundred years.

A few of these effects on our environment include -

• Increase in the saltiness of our rivers, bays, and ground water tables.
• The disappearance of the food supply and means of living for the inhabitants.
• Endangerment of sea life that may affect local economies and result in the loss of larger sea life depending on these ecosystems for food.
• Flooding of lower areas such as swamps and coastal regions.
• Thawing of permafrost destabilizing pipelines, buildings, roads, and more.
• The disappearance of l to 4 feet of shoreline each year along the ocean and gulf coasts. These have many resorts that will be vulnerable to economic losses.
• Increased danger from bad weather due to the erosion of natural and man made levees.
• The endangerment of seals, polar bears, and other creatures that inhabit the poles.
• Eroding of beaches.

A few of the measures that are being taken to counteract these issues are:

• Raising existing buildings.
• Replacing sand on the beaches to reverse any erosion.
• Building up coastlines with thoughtful placement of stone, sand, rocks, plants, and other materials.
• Limiting new construction in low lying areas.

For most people the poles seem too distant to matter. The fact remains, however, that the planet’s biosphere is a very complex environment that will react as a whole to any imbalance. The changes in the polar regions of the world provide yet again a warning sign that Global Warming is serious.

With projections of an increase between 2.5 and 10.5 degrees by the year 2100, it is really nothing to take lightly. According to some scientific studies, the main gas causing Global Warming, CO2, or carbon dioxide, has increased in our atmosphere by as much as 30 percent over the last 100 years. That is a significant increase to say the least.

Causes of Global Warming
The number two source of pollution to our atmosphere is undoubtedly transportation. In fact, cars and other vehicles represent at least 20 percent of the carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

Power plants also play a huge role in polluting the atmosphere. Nearly 600 of the United States power plants do not have to play by new emission standards, what they like to call are “grandfathered” in.  This means there is no cap on smog and acid rain producing pollutants that can be emitted from these plants.  Power plants actually account for 36 percent of carbon dioxide emissions and 32 percent of mercury emissions.

Consequences of Global Warming

• Sea level rise, which will eventually increase beach erosion and flooding from coastal storms.
• Precipitation changes are inevitable which will increase or decrease the risk of droughts and floods all over the world.  Significant storms are already on the rise.
• Deadly heat waves will continue.  The summer of 1995 when 669 people died from heat exposure, and the 250 in the summer of 1999 was just a sign of things to come.
• There are obvious threats to biodiversity and to public health as well.

Evidence that Global Warming has Begun

• Shifting ranges of infectious diseases-Diseases that were not known to be a problem in areas such as the United States have shown their ugly head. Malaria has been reported as far north as New York, New Jersey and Michigan.
• Sea levels have risen between 4 and 10 inches in the last century.  The destruction of beaches and wetlands are also taking place around the world.
• Glaciers and significant snow melt has been taking place on 5 continents since 1995, 5,400 square miles to be exact.
• Summer droughts and winter floods are becoming the norm.
• Storms are becoming more frequent and more brutal, hence Hurricane Katrina.

What if the recent rise in infectious disease was caused by the increase in temperature?  Scientists believe it definitely plays a role in this and in the plant and animal shifts throughout different parts of the world. Living things are simply trying to adapt to the changing environment and they will ultimately kill humans through sickness and disease. For example, as the climate changes, disease carrying mosquitoes and other rodents move to new areas and in turn infect a population of people. Diseases such as malaria, encephalitis, West Nile virus and dengue fever will continue to be on the rise in all areas of the world, including the United States.

The only way to reverse the affects of Global Warming, and prevent further damage is to change how we power our economy. Most importantly, fossil fuels will have to be replaced with organic, non-toxic materials for our world’s vehicles.  This of course, is already in the works in several areas of the world. The semi-recent release of hybrid electric and gas vehicles is just one example.

As we learn more about how human activity is impacting the world, more people are changing the way they live and use energy resources.

Individual causes have been started that target one or more of the areas of concern. At the forefront of a few of these causes are many high-profile celebrities that lend their name and support. To name a few -

• Al Gore - Author of the movie “An Inconvenient Truth” which has been shown worldwide. The film focuses on climate change and the evidence for Global Warming. His book of the same name covers the same material and provides additional details.
• Matt Damon - Actor. He is on the Board of GreenDimes which campaigns to reduce junkmail and also to plant trees.
• Barenaked Ladies - Rock group that has joined other musicians in running their transportation on biodiesel.
• Ed Begley Junior - Activist and actor involved in numerous environmental issues. He is well known for using ‘green’ vehicles and residing in a self-sufficient home that is solar powered.
• Robert Redford - Actor, director. He has over thirty years supported and promoted programs for grassroots conservation. He has recently started a program on the Sundance Channel that focuses on ‘green’ issues.
• Bill Clinton - Former President of the U.S. Promoter of the Clinton Initiative that is meant to bring leaders together from around the Earth to work on alternatives for problems that affect our Earth, including the issue of climate change.
• Sting - Musician, activist. Created the Rainforest Foundation that for close to 20 years has helped to protect rainforests.
• Leonardo DiCaprio - Actor. Organized a foundation that deals with environmental topics. He is as well making a documentary on Global Warming.
• Daryl Hannah - Environmentalist and actor. She lives ‘green’ and generates her own electricity in a solar-powered house. She has toured to recommend biodiesel fuel as a fuel alternative resulting in lower emissions. Also a vegetarian, she recommends people go organic.
• Richard Branson - Well known British billionaire who is using 3 billion in profits from his rail and airline businesses to look into energy sources that don’t result in Global Warming.

The roster of well-known people who are involved in effecting a change to preserve and improve our world’s environment is growing. With these famous people involved, an advantage is that it highlights issues like Global Warming that could be ignored by the majority of people.

As an example of a single nation setting policies we can look at the United States of America. In recent times the U.S. has committed to reducing its greenhouse gas output. Their stated goal is to reduce these gases by about 20 percent during the 10 year period starting in 2002. This should stop approximately five hundred million metric tons of carbon emissions from going into the atmosphere.

That government intends to do this by:

• By technological improvements to reduce these emissions when created.
• With investigating ways that industry can move to the use of cleaner fuels.
• By working on how energy can be harnessed more efficiently.

Other nations are reaching for and implementing like-minded goals. But enforcing these environmental policies becomes more problematic with increased population growth and the need for expansion.

And when many nations around the world are becoming more aware of the need to limit greenhouse gases, the wide economic or population disparity makes it a problematic issue.

The Kyoto Accord was one specific effort in this regard. A little under 200 nations are working within this agreement that describes a standard. It uses a system of credits that allows for the problems some countries may have in reaching these goals. A country that is able to afford to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions may sell its credits to one that isn’t, with the ultimate goal to reduce the total emissions, for the benefit of our atmosphere and ourselves.

This seems a workable solution but another hurdle arises when major countries, such as Australia and the U.S., while going along in theory with this accord have declined to ratify it. This is partly because of what they feel are unreasonable advantages given to some nations, and partly because they feel some of the restrictions would cause too much strain on the industries. However, others countries who have ratified the protocol could feel at a disadvantage trade wise due to the costs associated with emission controls.

These and other issues that are just a few of the problems man encounters in organizing the international community to reduce Global Warming.

Although there are some variables in every branch of science many scientists that are studying the issue of Global Warming agree with these facts:

• A warming trend of 0.6 and 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit has definitely happened throughout the 20th century.
• The build up of these greenhouse gases is due to mankind’s industry and the use of fossil fuels for energy resources.
• The makeup of the Earth’s atmosphere is varying, with rising levels of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane.
• These greenhouse gases will stay in the air for many decades to come, and that they’ll continue to heat the planet.

Recently, in an effort to confirm yet more information that will result in an answer, studies have been created around the world that combine the work of scientists, environmental researchers, and governments, to study how the planet’s climate change works and what might be the future impact on us.

One program in the US is the CCSP (Climate Change Science Program). The C.C.S.P. uses as a guideline the requirements to meet these goals -

• To improve the awareness of the planet’s climate patterns both past and present.
• To document the changes that have occurred from natural and manmade activity.
• To comprehend how many environmental systems and ecosystems interrelate.
• To understand precisely the causes of climate change.
• To pinpoint solutions and learn their effect on the environment also.
• To uncover a way to generate future projections of changes in the climate and related environmental systems.

A method used by scientists to learn about and predict climate change is by using computer models that represent the interaction of Earth’s air, sea, land, and ice systems. These computer models have proven helpful in comprehending the increase in carbon dioxide concentrations in our atmosphere and the changes to our environment.

This articles helps us to appreciate that the subject of climate change is complex. Science should not only try to understand the requirements of the environment, but as well continue to analyze the consequences that any man made effort to halt or reverse this warming trend may have on societal or economic structures.

In the U.S. about 30 percent of its greenhouse gases originated from the commercial and industrial sectors. This business community may therefore choose to have a valuable impact on the environment, for the good.

Because of steadily growing concern about Global Warming the business that takes a lead in decreasing its share of greenhouse gases (directly or by using less energy, which is typically fossil fuel based), will not only stand to gain support from others but will profit directly from following energy saving and cost reducing measures.

Though businesses are of varying sizes, here are certain suggestions that have already proven valuable -

• Allow some employees to work from home. Just a single day each week can save fuel.
• Energy saving lighting may be used.
• Communicating your energy reduction goals to suppliers and customers may earn their support for any ideas.
• Recycling programs may be started for food containers, paper, electronic equipment, and other assorted trash.
• Financial incentives can be provided to employees who carpool or use public transportation.
• Free parking can be arranged for people that car pool.
• Business cars may be switched with fuel efficient or hybrid cars.
• Make work hours flexible for employees who wish to car pool.
• Employees can be encouraged to suggest ways to reduce energy costs.
• Showers and lockers might be provided for people who walk, run, or ride a bicycle to work.
• Buy office supplies incorporating recycled content.
• Donate used equipment to schools or charities.
• Businesses of all sizes can create an in-house program or committee to analyze where changes can be made to reduce energy. These reports can be made weekly to chart progress.
• Recycle empty photocopier cartridges.

By following some of these ideas businesses benefit:

• They encourage a higher standard of work.
• They gain a public profile that builds customer goodwill.
• They have healthier and more active employees and less absenteeism.
• They save cash.

Employers and employees alike stand to benefit from acting to reduce bad greenhouse emissions in the atmosphere, directly or by lowering energy needs. Their efforts will not only help those in the future but also aid in forming a better work environment now.

In most cases, Greenpeace International is mostly autonomous in the way they carry out their global campaign strategies. Local chapters of Greenpeace International work independently to carry out local missions and to work in the context of their own community. Larger national and regional offices help to support these smaller local chapters of Greenpeace International. However, local groups are also available to support larger regional offices of Greenpeace International.

Greenpeace efforts
Currently, Greenpeace International runs several projects and campaigns that fit into their priority agenda. Greenpeace International keeps a rotating set of issues, including perennial problems such as nuclear energy, over fishing, radiation, and other issues. Greenpeace International also seeks to create solutions, including creating marine reserves and searching for renewable energy. Currently, Greenpeace International is focused on addressing the most prescient environmental problems, including stopping the effects of Global Warming, preserving the world’s ancient forests, and preserving the purity of the world’s oceans.

Greenpeace International currently emphasizes peaceful direct action to bring attention to the world’s most prescient environmental problems. For example, Greenpeace International volunteers will often place themselves in prominent positions that gain media attention, such as putting themselves between a whaler and a whaler’s harpoon.

Another example of the way Greenpeace International gets its message out is to have volunteers dress up as nuclear waste barrels and infiltrate nuclear plant facilities. Recently, Greenpeace International volunteers attempted to infiltrate the G8 Summit taking place in Germany on jet skis, catching the world media’s attention in the meantime.

Currently, Greenpeace International has a list of current priorities that it has put on its agenda. The current list of Greenpeace International priorities includes a wide range of prescient policy issues. These include the issue of climate change, or Global Warming.

Greenpeace International is also seeking to help preserve the world’s oceans, including stopping bottom trawling and worldwide whaling. Greenpeace International is also seeking to stop worldwide deforestation and to save the world’s ancient forests. Greenpeace International also seeks to promote global sustainable agriculture. Greenpeace International also seeks to encourage the elimination of toxic chemicals, including many carcinogens, from the production methods.

It is not just the recorded temperatures and comprehensive readings of the amounts of carbon dioxide in the air that tell us that a dramatic change is taking place. The Earth itself is showing the warning signs for all to notice.

Some warning signs that our planet is undergoing a climate change include:

• Rise in sea levels and flooding of coastal regions.
• Dramatic changes in plant life, eco-systems, and animal migrations.
• Hotter sustained temperatures in above ground air.
• Long term glaciers melting and slowly disappearing.
• Increase in intensity of major storms.
• Raised temperatures in oceans.
• Polar regions changing drastically.

These principal changes are among the most obvious signs that something dramatic is taking place. As we examine each of these changes and how the effects filter down to our environment, the evidence grows that untold damage could result if action is not taken soon.

The signs that the Earth is affected can’t be treated lightly. The ongoing buildup of hot house gases is causing an effect that heats the Earth more, which in turn releases more gases. To stop Global Warming will require cooperative efforts from all nations, communities, and individuals. The requirement to reduce the methane and carbon dioxide gases emitted by fossil fuels is just the start in hopefully reestablishing a worldwide climate that is within a comfortable range of temperatures.