Environmental Issues

The world is no doubt experiencing the effects of global warming. The production of greenhouse gases by mankind has been cited as the leading cause of global warming. According to scientific findings, carbon dioxide (the major greenhouse gas) production is estimated to be over 25 billion metric tons annually. Still, it is projected that such greenhouse gases productions will be 50 more by 2015. This has been attributed to the fact that industrialization has a major contributor to the global economic development will constantly keep on increasing. Additionally, deforestation, which is attributed to increased human population seeking for settlement and agricultural land, is another factor contributing to increased carbon dioxide in the earths atmosphere. Therefore, though mitigation practices are the ultimate solution to global warming, engaging in climate change adaptation practices remains a lone standing practical solution.

Adaptation as it relates to global warming is defined as engaging in adjustments of the world human systems to reduce vulnerability through increased resistance to climate changes. The world economy is evidently mainly builds on industrialization. Even during this modern information technology era, production industries are and will still continue by the driving force of economies. This is a clear indicator that the production of greenhouse gases is not likely to end. With such acceptable facts, it is quite clear that nations and individuals are left with adaptation as the only solution to the problems of global warming.

The world is currently experiencing unpredictable climate and weather changes as well as extreme weather conditions. Droughts, flood rains and strong winds, rise in sea water levels and melting of the world snow caps are just but examples of the impact of global warming. These negative effects of global are causing deaths and property loss annually. Many scientists have claimed that reduction of greenhouse gas production could only limit, but not end further temperature increases in the globe. This means that even when seeking a lasting solution like mitigation of global warming, the human community must engage in short term adaptive solutions. It is only through adaptation that a viable economic transition to safer production techniques can be realized.

According to research findings, one of the causes of global warming, though neglected by many is sharp reductions in the worlds forest cover. Scientific principles have it that plants are quite important in converting carbon dioxide into oxygen. However, the world forest cover has and seems to be sharply decreasing. This thus means that by increasing the worlds forest cover, global warming effects can be sufficiently reduced. Such an achievement will not only safe the future generations but also oversee the realization of a sustainable economic development through industrial development.
The world is made up of different nations, all of which have different laws and right to sovereignty. Of all nations, the developed nations are the major contributor to global warming. Such nations have however done little to reduce global warming gas production. This has been closely attributed to the fact that engaging in mitigation practices could greatly compromise their competitive economic advantage in the globe. Still, although developing nations are low producers of greenhouse gases, they remain major victims of climate changes due to economic challenges. Therefore, the main impact of global warming is in developing countries as they lack necessary adaptive capacity.

In conclusion, to mitigate the problem of global warming is a collective responsibility of all nations. However, dealing with the effects of global warming in the society seems to be an individual responsibility. Therefore, if the collective responsibility is failing as it is evident, individual adaptation to the problem remains the only practical solution.