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 In the same heading
 Unstoppable climate changeKeywords
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Unstoppable climate change
Article Unstoppable Climate ChangeWhile the Alentejo is forced to deal with water scarcity, which has already irreversibly affected the agriculture and cattle raising activities in this region, on the other side of the globe, Asian populations struggle to survive the floods that threaten their homes and lives. Climate changes that have been occurring in our planet cause environmental disasters, which are undoubtedly one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the modern society, being Man the sole responsible. The latest studies predict that the general situation will become worse in the long run, but there are still those who refuse to accept the reality and face this problem. According to the Third Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, published in 2001, the global average surface temperatures increased about 0. 6ºC during the last century, a figure that can reach 6ºC by the end of this century if the projections for greenhouse gases emissions (like carbon dioxide, also known as CO2) until 2100 are confirmed.
This global temperature increase is likely to trigger serious consequences not only for Mankind but also for every living species on Earth, including a rise in sea levels, of an estimated 9 to 88 cm, which will endanger coastal areas and small islands, and a greater frequency and severity of extreme weather events, like the ones happening in Asia and in Portugal, particularly in Alentejo. Among the many human activities that contribute to this climate change, the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation can be mentioned, as both cause emissions of CO2, as well as of other greenhouse gases. In order to bring climate change to a halt, global greenhouse emissions must be reduced significantly and urgently. As a means to achieve that reduction, the Kyoto Protocol was brought forth by the United Nations, and consensually approved in 1997. The Protocol establishes the legal values for the emission of harmful gases in the developed countries, and has been put into force since 2000, thus trying to reverse the situation and prevent (more) anthropogenic interferences in the climatic system. The group of countries that subscribed the Protocol collectively compromised to reduce the emissions of six greenhouse gases (namely carbon dioxide, methane, CFC's, PFC's, nitrous oxide and sulfurhexaflouride) in about 5% the values of 1990, being the targets for each country very different (the European Union is expected to reduce it in about 8%, having each member state different rates). Each country has to achieve its goal between 2008 and 2012, but great progress is expected by the end of this year. However, scientists have revealed that, in order to reach the supposed results, this reduction would have to be about an estimated value of 20%, instead of the stipulated 5%. Moreover, the governments of some countries still refuse to take on responsibilities and act accordingly to the Protocol they signed, like the USA, where a domestic policy was adopted in 2004, which is likely to increase the emissions of the above mentioned 6 gases in about 30%. This policy did not follow the procedures of the agreement. As far as the Portuguese policy is concerned, a 40% reduction seems far from reality. Environmentalists estimate that, by the end of this year, Portugal will be 50% above the limit for pollutant gases emissions established in Kyoto for the evaluation period (2008-2012). The consequences are already causing some hard damages in our territory, as 80% of it is undergoing either an extreme drought in Alentejo or a moderate one in other regions.
Article written by: Catarina Gama, Mariana Pires, Pedro Gomes, Rita Leite José Gomes Ferreira Secondary School, Lisbon, Portugal, 10º 2 |
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