jueves, 21 de febrero de 2013

EARTH IS MOVING TOWARDS A 4.0C TEMPERATURE RISE, CLIMATE SCIENTISTS WARN

 The disastrous effects of global warming - rising sea levels, extreme heat waves, crop failures and rise in health burden - could unfold faster than predicted as the world is moving towards a 4°C rise in global temperature, a new report from the World Bank has warned.
Climate scientists have projected that a 2°C rise in global temperatures above the pre-industrial levels could lead to widespread harmful effects of global warming.
Since countries are not doing anything to reduce greenhouse gas emissions despite commitments, the world is likely to warm by more than 3°C.




jueves, 14 de febrero de 2013

World running out of time to save polar bears.

Polar bears are widely(ampliamente) being associated as the clear negative sign of ongoing(continua) climate change phenomenon. The rapid changes in sensitive Arctic environment, mostly characterized by the ongoing ice cover loss are having devastating impact on polar bear population, and could even lead to the extinction of species, even before the end of this century if world continues business as usual scenario. In most simple words, polar bears need sea ice, and since sea ice is rapidly declining, the bears are in very serious trouble.


The worst part in this whole story is that the world still hasn't come up with the adequate conservation and management plans to save polar bears from extinction, and climate change threat is becoming scarier with the each new day. Scientists from University of Alberta have described the seriousness of polar bear situation by saying that ``just one very bad ice year could erase half of the world's polar bear population``.

 

The world definitely does not know what to do if the worst-case scenario occurs. The expected continuation of Arctic warming will not stop just because we want to, and will certainly not stop without the major global reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. What kind of polar bear management option would be the best? Difficult to say, particularly if world fails to reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions in foreseeable future.

 

At this moment, the most important thing is to think and act about this issue in advance, because the worst possible thing is to act once crisis already starts. Though as some would say crisis has already started.