Experts tell us we are releasing unacceptable levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If we continue at this rate, by 2070, the polar ice caps will completely melt causing sea levels to rise and all those idyllic islands and a large amount of the continents will be under water. The rainforests will wither away from drought or fires and destructive waves, floods and droughts will be commonplace.

Al Gore thinks that if change is not in place within the next 10 years, then it becomes irreversible.

We need the harbingers of doom. They stop us from destroying this planet. They are responsible for the improvement of the ozone layer. They warned us of the dangers of ozone layer depletion and unless immediate action was taken, then by 2050 the effects would be devastating to our health.

This led directly to the Montreal Protocol banning the use of CFCs in fridges and air conditioning. We still have fridges and air conditioning but without CFCs. Technology got us into that mess and technology got us out.

Experts warned us about acid rain and claimed it was a serious threat to life on earth. It was a bit exaggerated but it hastened the development of new technologies that reduced the release of nitrates and sulphates into the atmosphere.

The primary cause of global warming is our use of fossil fuel. By burning fossil fuel, we are releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The balance in the past was maintained by photosynthesis by plants and phytoplankton. They contain chlorophyll and in the present of sunlight convert carbon dioxide into glucose and releasing oxygen.

Today the level of carbon dioxide released is unacceptably high and in addition we are cutting down rainforests. This results in an imbalance.

In 1997, 38 developed countries laid down a framework to prevent global warming. They requested that by 2012 there must be a reduction of antropogenic carbon dioxide emission by 5% below 1990 level. This is part of the Kyoto Protocol. Sadly the US President in March 2001 renounced the protocol.

US have 25% of the world population but experts say it is responsible for 75% of greenhouse gas emission. While other countries are reducing emission, US emission, according to experts, continue to rise and is currently 15% greater than 1990 level.

Experts tell us we must act now. We must reduce the amount of carbon dioxide we release. To do this we must use alternative sources of energy, make better use of fossil fuel, plant more trees and protect the seas from pollution so that phytoplankton population remain high.

At present there is no obvious viable alternative. Nuclear power has safety problems but there are encouraging research on solar and hydrogen power. Photovoltaic, wind power and power from biomass are slowly being introduced but this process takes time.

Al Gore claims that he is carbon neutral. To achieve this cost money. Not every one can afford this. It takes up to 10 years to recover cost to convert to alternative source of energy. It is therefore important for everyone to make optimum use of energy.

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