Climate change global warming may be a universal issue touching even the small island nations in Asia and the Pacific but it is the Northern Hemisphere, the developed nations that are the leading producers of greenhouse gas emissions. These nations also have more money to combat the problem.

Third world nations are seeking justice and equity proposing that all people of the planet earth should be treated in the same way regardless of whether or not they are a poor nation incapable of battling the causes and effects of climate change global warming on their own.

To level out the playing field, it has been suggested that greenhouse gas emission reductions should be based on the size of the nation and its capacity to contribute making room for allowances where necessary. This feeling is endorsed by many developing nations and the European Union. Unfortunately, this take on justice and equity is not necessarily endorsed by all the United Nations member nations.

The biggest dissenter at the Kyoto Protocol was President George Bush of the United States, who insisted that developing nations should be equally responsible for cleaning up the environment and should be held accountable for the same level of commitment to greenhouse gas reductions. Yet, it is the developing nations who are doing the most polluting. The balance is not equal and the trays are weighted down heavily on the side of the weakest offenders.

Going back to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, signed and ratified in 1992, by the United States and many other world nations, it was then agreed that “common but differentiated responsibilities” would apply for all nations. Developed nations account for 80% of the total carbon dioxide emission released into the atmosphere.

The United States is responsible for over 50% billions tons of climate change global warming pollutants, while the countries with the largest population, China and India produce 19.9 billion tons combined. Demographically, the largest climate change global warming offenders represent only 20 percent of the world’s population. The fallout from these greenhouse gas emissions produced by the west is jeopardizing the health and safety of greatest populations found in the poorer countries of the East. These countries of the East are also battling tremendous debt and poverty.

Governments can fight climate change by cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions, and providing incentives for major industries to look into other sources of energy other than through fossil fuels.

More time and effort needs to be put into utilizing existing technology to convert over to biomass technology and new technology should be developed and tested to ease the speed and process of the conversion.

Carbon dioxide emissions are considered to be the number one offending greenhouse gas emission used by man today. Cultivating biomass from agriculture by using corn crops, as a fuel for automobiles and other modes of transportation will help to fight climate change by reducing the amount of carbon emissions from the oil and gas exhaust. Also new prototypes have been designed for hybrid cars running on electricity that not only helps the environment but also cuts down on oil dependency. This factor alone is an economic advantage for western countries.

Governments have orchestrated research on carbon dioxide burial sites within the ground to keep the carbon emissions from rising into the atmosphere. New research to fight climate change resulting from carbon dioxide emissions suggests that burying carbon dioxide deposits under the ocean may prove to be an even better solution in the long run. Carbon dioxide will mix with the existing volcanic rock to create an entirely new compound.

Future technology to fight climate change might include the installation of giant satellite disks designed to reflect heat back into space. Right now critics warn against this new technology stating that the price of such a measure would be astronomical, and more importantly the repercussions of electing for this type of new technology is unknown.

Citizens can also help to fight climate change by making some adjustments in their living conditions at home. For example conserve electricity consumption, turn appliances off and unplug them wherever you can, switch to florescent energy saving light bulbs, turn down your water heater (at all times) and your room temperature in winter months by as little as 2 degrees. Closing you curtains in the evening will keep the heat in and save on your heating bill as well. Only use your washer for a full load of clothes and turn down the water temperature. Turn your heat down when you are leaving the house for extended periods of time. Recycle at home and at work, Avoid using disposables such as diapers, cups and paper plates, plastics, paper towels and plastic disposable razors, etc. These items only serve to add to waste and garbage and clog up landfills. Plastic emit carbon dioxide and are not biodegradable. Do not print more copies of documents than you really have to, save the trees; deforestation is a big global warming factor.

If all parties; government bodies, industry and citizens team up to fight climate change, together we can make a better world for ourselves and our future generations.

There is no secret that many governments on this planet have pledged their commitment or at least willingness to cooperate in the fight against global warming. However climate change facts suggest that some of these attempts might be futile at best.

Climate change facts point to a serious global warming crisis that will change the World, as we know it, by the end of this century. The Earth surfaces will transform due to melting glaciers and other natural phenomena. Rising temperatures will tamper with our current ecosystems, killing off human, animal and insect life. The heat will breed even more swarms of new insects that are adaptable to the new weather conditions in every part of the globe. Epidemics of mosquito related outbreaks of dengue fever, yellow fever and malaria will cause illness and death to millions of people. Droughts, floods, famines, poor quality of water (contaminated water), water shortages, heat waves, brush fires, airborne viruses, respiratory illness and more will plaque our world.

Ecofys is an independent consultant for the environment and they have studied the recommendations of the G8 Nations with regards to their committed on reducing the threat of global warming. They published a report called the G8 Climate Scorecards 2008, their findings are considered by some to be less that promising. Their brand of climate change facts show that within the European nations, though the UK is a head of France and Germany in terms of greenhouse gases emission cutbacks, only the UK has a chance to reach the 2 degree Celsius cut back goal that was decided upon.

WWF, and Allianz which is an international financial service provider, commissioned the Ecofys report. The report took into account nine different factors among which were comparing the work done since 1990 with what is being done today. They focused specifically on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and development of carbon markets goals and policies. The G8 scorecard in this area is very dismal. The Director of the WWF climate change program in Germany, Regine Gunther says, “We have 10 to 15 years left in which the global emissions have to peak and decline. Time is running out.”

In keeping with the climate change facts as with know them, Allianz SE board member, Joachim Faber talks about G8 government involvement and says, “They need to be role models trailblazing the way to steer the world towards a low carbon, clean energy economy,”

According to Ecofys ranking of the G8 industrial countries’ ability to meet target goals, the UK is in the lead and will meet the reduction requirements by the deadline. France is in second place followed by Germany, Italy, and Japan. Russia is falling behind as this country has not yet implemented any national polices. In dead bottom place is Canada (number 7) and the United States (number 8).

There is hope that the climate change facts presented in the upcoming summit meeting in Japan, will lead to target reductions of up to 40 percent in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and up to 80 percent by the year 2050. Officials of the various organizations are also hoping that the G8 industrial nations will pledge technical and financial support for reducing carbon emissions to the poor nations of the world. They want to see that all measures decided upon at this summit meeting will be ascertainable, measurable, and reported.

Governments can fight climate change by cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions, and providing incentives for major industries to look into other sources of energy other than through fossil fuels.

More time and effort needs to be put into utilizing existing technology to convert over to biomass technology and new technology should be developed and tested to ease the speed and process of the conversion.

Carbon dioxide emissions are considered to be the number one offending greenhouse gas emission used by man today. Cultivating biomass from agriculture by using corn crops, as a fuel for automobiles and other modes of transportation will help to fight climate change by reducing the amount of carbon emissions from the oil and gas exhaust. Also new prototypes have been designed for hybrid cars running on electricity that not only helps the environment but also cuts down on oil dependency. This factor alone is an economic advantage for western countries.

Governments have orchestrated research on carbon dioxide burial sites within the ground to keep the carbon emissions from rising into the atmosphere. New research to fight climate change resulting from carbon dioxide emissions suggests that burying carbon dioxide deposits under the ocean may prove to be an even better solution in the long run. Carbon dioxide will mix with the existing volcanic rock to create an entirely new compound.

Future technology to fight climate change might include the installation of giant satellite disks designed to reflect heat back into space. Right now critics warn against this new technology stating that the price of such a measure would be astronomical, and more importantly the repercussions of electing for this type of new technology is unknown.

Citizens can also help to fight climate change by making some adjustments in their living conditions at home. For example conserve electricity consumption, turn appliances off and unplug them wherever you can, switch to florescent energy saving light bulbs, turn down your water heater (at all times) and your room temperature in winter months by as little as 2 degrees. Closing you curtains in the evening will keep the heat in and save on your heating bill as well. Only use your washer for a full load of clothes and turn down the water temperature. Turn your heat down when you are leaving the house for extended periods of time. Recycle at home and at work, Avoid using disposables such as diapers, cups and paper plates, plastics, paper towels and plastic disposable razors, etc. These items only serve to add to waste and garbage and clog up landfills. Plastic emit carbon dioxide and are not biodegradable. Do not print more copies of documents than you really have to, save the trees; deforestation is a big global warming factor.

If all parties; government bodies, industry and citizens team up to fight climate change, together we can make a better world for ourselves and our future generations.

They take in several facts from the world of astronomy to make their claim that climate change is natural. They look at the relationship between the Earth and the Sun, including its distance from the earth as it rotates around the Sun, the shape and distance of its orbit and whether or not its tilt is towards the Sun are away from it. All of these conditions effect how much Sun is actually penetrating the Earth’s atmosphere at any given time.

Many scientists have purported that even though climate change is natural, we have only been seeing a dramatic temperature change since the early 1900’s, incidentally correlating with the Industrial Revolution in the West. However, newer findings suggest that climate shifts occur more often in the past than was previously noted. The Earth was going through a considerable cooler climate (at least 2 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than today) between the 1700 and first half of the 1800’s. This period is often called the Little Ice Age in Europe. While much of our temperature in the 20th century was very similar to that of the 1100 and 1200’s respectively, further building the case natural climate change.

However, the last twenty years of weather analysis has shown a rapid increase in global temperature and thus weakening the claim that our present climate change is natural. Several scientists believe that this global warming suggests artificial interference by humans releasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and warming up the planet. These claims may also be valid but it does not necessarily dispel the theory that climate change is natural.

Scientists also use other means to analysis weather patterns and climate change over the history of the Earth. Studies have been done to reconstruct the Earth’s climate over the past two millennia using data which is indirectly obtained from ocean’s (sea levels) lake beds, caves, ice and glacier surfaces, and tree rings. Other studies have investigated the radiation levels from the sun with the amount of volcanic dust, in the air (volcanic dust is a catalyst to reflect heat back into space) to estimate how much heat is being returned naturally. These studies point to the conclusion that the changes in the Sun’s rays and changing intensities of erupting volcanoes can lead to climate change.

In the end, climate change is natural and may also be aided by human activity as well.

Scientists believe that as greenhouse gas emissions continue to heat up the earth’s atmosphere, it will affect the ozone layers also known as the stratosphere. The stratosphere is comprised of several levels, while it is in itself the second layer of the earth’s atmosphere. The stratosphere is found between the mesosphere, which is just above it, and the troposphere below it. The stratosphere has different temperatures, and the higher you go up in the layers of stratosphere the warmer the temperatures become. The stratosphere is heated by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation. However scientists now believe that global warming climate change will have negative affects upon the ozone layer (the upper level of the stratosphere). According to current thinking, the ozone layer will become colder and because of this development, the cooler layers would impede the natural process of the ozone to repair itself by slowing it down.

We have known for years that Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), found in many industrial and household products, though inflammable and considered safe products, have actually contributed to the depletion of the ozone layers. These compounds have been in circulation in aerosol sprays, coolants for refrigeration units, and other industrial applications since the 1930’s. Scientists found evidence that CFC’s were affecting the ozone layer back in 1973, but only confirmation of what it actually did came through in 1985, when it was discovered that springtime at the north and south poles resulted in lower levels of ozone.

Now such agencies such as NASA, predict that in less than thirty years time, global warming climate change will cause far more depletion of the ozone layer than even the chlorofluorocarbons.

The ozone layer protects the earth from the strong ultraviolet rays of the sun. It is vital to human survival on this planet, and now because of global warming climate change, the hole in the ozone above the Antarctic regions has grown to three times the geographical size of the USA. It is still growing bigger as time goes on. Furthermore, with regards to the North Polar Region, sixty percent of the ozone layer has been lost over the Artic Circle during one winter (1999-2000) alone.

More startling news has surfaced as the hole in the ozone layer has traveled to a somewhat big city. Punta Arenas, Chile, with a population of 120, 000 have been exposed to this global warming climate change disaster due to ozone depletion. These high levels of radiation now able to penetrate through the hole in the ozone are dangerous and have been associated with the higher numbers of cancers in animals and humans alike.

There are still some common myths and misunderstanding about abrupt climate change that needs to be dispelled. Global temperatures have been recorded since 1860, and although the average temperature has risen by about .6 degrees Celsius over the entire century, the last eleven years have produced the hottest years recorded. Furthermore, six of those years were in fact the warmest and have been recorded since 1990. Those statistics alone increase the global warming rate by 1 full degree Celsius over the last century.

Although abrupt climate change is being played down by those who insist that it has occurred by natural causes, and that in an of itself means that it is quite normal to have these temperature variations across time, there is no doubt that man has played a part in this acceleration by releasing carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons within the atmosphere. What we do not know for sure is how much natural conditions, such as storm patterns like El Nino, volcanic ash, and changes in the Sun’s energy contributes to abrupt climate change, anymore than we know how much anthropogenic causes has contributed to this situation.

Another misconception is that the air is the only transporter of heat. Actually the air and the oceans transport heat around the world. The oceans store carbon dioxide, heat, freshwater and salt. Seaweed stores more heat than the atmosphere, but the general differences are that heat can travel faster in the air than in the waters that feed different areas of the globe.

The Atlantic Ocean has the ability to (the Atlantic Heat Pump) transport more warm water to the Artic than the Pacific Ocean. Ocean currents have two properties; they travel by wind and density. The density is the amount of salt coupled with the ocean’s water temperature, this density is known as thermohaline circulation and acts as an ocean conveyor belt circulating cooler waters at its depth going in one direction and warmer waters that are less dense traveling in the opposite direction. Changes in this system brought on by melting ice and the absorption of fresh water into the oceans will change the chemical compound of the oceans. This in turn will interfere with the natural Atlantic Heat Pump function leading to a possible abrupt climate change. It is felt that the cooler period known as the Little Age Ice in Europe ending in 1850 was a result of the Atlantic Heat Pump water density change.

However, the major crisis at this time is not cooler weather but abrupt climate change as a result of warmer weather. Though the earth can be cooler in some places as evidenced by the Atlantic heat pump contributions, it is over all warming up at alarming speeds. We must become just as abrupt as the climate changes to come up with fast solutions to this world crisis.

According to the EPA, there will be no where to run to avoid the affects of global warming, from the deep south to the cold Alaskan weather, rising sea levels and temperature rising well affect all Americans. New England will experience major heat waves and Arizona and the west are singled out as major contenders for extreme high temperature elevations due to their activity as heat producing growing cities, with greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution. These cosmopolitan areas will continue to experience energy shortages, water shortages, wildfire and serious climate change. Right now these areas are seriously approaching the point of no return if nothing is done to remedy the situation.

The effects of global warming has already showed its telltale signs and climate change and global warming disasters will get worse during the next half century. The EPA report also ratifies several parts of previous documentation submitted by an international sponsored climate study spelling out the dire consequences of climate change released to the public in 2007.

Jonathan Overpeck, the director of The Institute of Planet Earth, Arizona State University, released a statement, stating that the United States Government has legitimized warnings of this 2007 International climate study. “The message is coming out loud and clear that climate change is very real.”

The report had several interesting findings specific to the United States. Among them were:

Extreme heat waves resulting in food shortages, droughts, longer summer seasons, floods, and intense storms.

Airborne and water related diseases will cause a rise in lung diseases, asthmas, and more.

Reports of heat induced deaths, will rise among the poor, young and elderly, hitting population in areas without air conditioning or a means to cope with the extreme temperatures.

Tourism, and cold water fisheries will suffer, and a there will be a strain on the governments to meet the crises in various areas as they arise. Millions of people will be affected by water shortages.

Greg Garfin, one of the study’s writers, states that the ecosystem of the Northern and Central Rockies may seriously change due to these predicted future climate changes.

However the study does not offer any solutions on how to stop climate change and President Bush has not agreed to restrict greenhouse gas emissions. He has only now admitted that greenhouse gas emissions play a part in global warming.

The report findings urgently caution that government leaders from the three governmental levels, municipal, state and federal, begin talks and find resolution for “long term sustainability” very quickly before it becomes too late.

The impacts of climate change on fisheries will be such that poor water, and water salinity factors, as well as water shortages will affect the food chain and commercial enterprises when the fish begin to disappear from worlds and seas. Fresh water fish are also targeted by the impacts of climate change.

The impacts of climate change can be insurmountable for freshwater trout, which are very sensitive, to even a slight change in temperature, so much so, that an entire stream of brookies could cease to exist. Trout will become very stressed by the water change, as will other freshwater fish such as pike and walleye bass. Though bass and bluegill are not as sensitive to temperature changes they will not escape other impacts of climate change. The constant readjusting of water levels from major storms, heavy rainfalls, and even droughts will tamper with their ability to reproduce affecting their eggs, larvae, and fry. In turn, the impacts of climate change upon the spawn will lead to fewer adult fish.

Some species of trout are on the endangered species alert and it is expected that an additional 42 and 90 percent of trout would be lost by the end of the century, depending on their geographic location. Also 40 percent decline of salmon population in the Pacific Northwest is projected as well. The added salinity in the water flowing into the rivers and tributaries because of rising sea levels will make the fresh water reservoirs inhabitable for freshwater fish that cannot tolerate salty water. Finally the water temperature and water level changes will also facilitate the growth of toxic plants such as hydrilla, and the giant salvinia.

Marine fish will also suffer from the impacts of climate change. Like the freshwater fish, marine fish will suffer from water temperature changes causes them to gasp for oxygen, die off, or dwindle in numbers. They will not spawn and lay eggs as often or in the same quantity as they do now. Some fish will migrate to different areas in search of a better habitat. This too will cause problems for the local populations that depend upon these fish for food and income. Scientists have already noted the differences in fish populations of Barents Sea due to climate and temperature changes in the water over a hundred year period. Similarly the population of codfish found in the Atlantic Ocean has fluctuated in accordance with the temperature readings of that Ocean as well.

Other marine life implicated, as being very susceptible to ocean climate changes are sardines, anchovies, pilchards, and most importantly herring. Changes in the zooplankton production because of wind variations affected the Jack Mackerel, a vital economic market in Tasmania.

Pacific Tuna is a major fishing industry, because of water temperatures in the water, Shipjack Tuna has migrated to other waters. North Pacific Sockeye Salmon have left the Pacific Waters for the Bering Sea.

Marine fish populations in general will decrease or migrate to other destinations and thus change the fishing industry while freshwater fish will dwindle in number and even die out completely due to the impacts of climate change upon the waters of the world.

Most scientists agree that humans are the reason for this present situation. Though the earth normally goes through climate change and global warming or cooler cycles, this phenomena occurs over many thousands of years, the fact that we are seeing rapid changes in our atmosphere (air) biosphere, (ecosystems), hydrosphere, (water) and cryosphere (ice and glaciers) points to anthropogenic involvement (intervention by humankind).

One climate change and global warming phenomenon being observed but has been a bit misleading is what is known as global dimming. When clouds become think with pollutants they expel the heat from the gases up into space meaning that less heat and energy will remain on the surface of the planet. Now this is where it becomes confusing, since the planet is warming up, our senses tell us that releasing hot air into space should correct the problem. However, the facts seem to point into the opposite direction. Let’s look at the situation more closely.

Global dimming is the gradual diminishing capacity of the irradiance (radiation) of the earth’s surfaces (clouds included). Scientists have been studying this phenomenon since the 1950’s. They have noted a decrease in about 4% of irradiance from the 1960’s -1990’s. Aerosol cans were targeted as the cause this dimming due to sulfate and other pollutants released into the air. Once the phenomenon was observed, aerosol can products were no longer readily as marketable consumer products and the situation was reversed. The scientists once again observed a global brightness as opposed to global dimming after the 1990’s.

Global dimming has interfered with the earth’s hydrosphere, tampering with its water distribution patterns; it has reduced the capacity for natural water evaporation thus gravely maligning rainfall patterns. Experts have suggested that the catastrophic droughts occurring in the 1970’s and 1980’s, in Ethiopia and killing millions of people were a result of global dimming. The Oceans in the Northern Hemisphere could not produce enough rain to travel down to Africa because the waters were simply not warm enough.

What makes it even more deadly is it masked the dangers of greenhouse gas emissions thus slowing our progress in eradicating the effects of climate change and global warming.

While cleaning up the effects of global dimming, the earth did get warmer because greenhouse gas emissions were pretty much ignored. Ecosystems and human health have already been affected. Thousands of people in Europe died during the intense heat wave of 2003.

Global dimming has shown us that climate change and global warming is not the result of just one single phenomenon, we must continuously look for possible causes.