Global temps spiking faster than nature can adapt

Although some people still refuse to accept it, global warming is a fact. All national science academies of all the major industrialized nations of the world unanimously agree that global warming is taking place. What is still subject to debate is just how much are humans contributing to the problem and how much of it is simply being caused by nature. And more importantly, what should we do about it?

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Earth's temperature has fluctuated dramatically over millions of years and there have been times when the average global temperature has been much higher or much lower than it is today. Scientists know that some of the warming and cooling process is entirely natural. However they have noticed a sharper than normal increase in global temperatures over the past century, and they believe unequivocally that this is the result of human activity.

Sharp changes in temperature are especially worrisome because organisms cannot rapidly adapt to such quick changes. Historically climate change has been a very gradual process, but this time it's occurring faster than on any other occasion in history.

Evidence for climate change isn't simply found in temperature readings. Humans can easily handle a couple degrees of temperature change one way or another. However the environment cannot, without time (at least hundreds of years) to adjust. Scientists are blaming global warming for mass die offs of plant and animal life around the world.

In the United States, once pristine primeval forests have started to die. It isn't the temperature that's killing them but rather the invasion of new organisms such as fungi and beetles and other such creatures that normally destroy trees. Typically, these organisms cannot live in the areas they have now invaded because in the past they have been kept at bay by seasonal cold temperatures. Scientists now believe that as the climate warms these organisms are able to expand their habitat allowing them to kill off virgin forests. Prime examples of this have been observed in Montana and Alaska over the past 20 years.

Some scientists are our even blaming global warming for the severity of the wildfires in Texas. The extended drought in that region has led to abnormally hot, dry weather, conditions that favor the rapid development of large wildfires.

In other parts of the world scientists are observing the expansion of deserts, longer, more severe droughts, and the spread of disease.

Scientists are uncertain if anything can be done to reverse the progress of global warming. They do agree however, that the problem will continue to get worse over the next century. Proposals to diminish or reduce the impact of human activity on the climate are controversial and often times carry an expensive price tag. Many Third World countries that are responsible for high emissions as they industrialize, have been asked to either curtail their development or to adopt expensive, cleaner technology.

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However these countries and their industries are least able to afford to change.
To address this challenge, wealthier nations such as the United States have been asked to subsidize clean development in the Third World. However many American industrialists and politicians are reluctant to do so since Third World countries will be working in direct competition with U.S. factories, thanks to globalization. 

One thing is certain however. Unless people come together and acknowledge the reality of global warming and agree on solutions, we will continue to see the deaths of forests, animals, and the spread of deserts, and disease. Much of the world will also see lengthier droughts. All of these things will shorten life spans, diminish resources, and a lead to a higher mortality rate around the world, even in the U.S..

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