A report of the effects of global warming on health published by WHO, has estimated around one million fifty thousand deaths every year due to global warming. Further it declared that each year five million people are suffering from health problems and diseases caused for this global warming. The rising concern over this matter has led many scientists and researchers to take a deeper look and prepare a plan to save human civilization from this onslaught.

Global warming has caused changes in temperature, ocean current flow, sea level ecosystem, economy, agriculture, industry, settlements and related to all these – the health and living. Warmer world has created congenial atmosphere for the breeding and life expanse of various virus, bacteria and carriers of infectious diseases. Few evidences of global warming leaving negative effects on human health are -

- The vectors distribution of infectious diseases have been altered for global warming.

- Heat wave resulted for global warming are causing deaths.

- The seasonal distribution of few species of allergenic pollen have been altered for global warming.

- Various extreme conditions of global warming like droughts, heat and cold wave, storm, flood, fire will increase the death tolls as well as injuries and diseases.

- Malnutrition and disordered development of children are few long term results of global warming.

- Global warming will cause increase of malaria, diarrhea, cholera, dengue, encephalitis and other diseases.

- There will be constant rising rate of mortality due to ground level ozone related diseases as well as high cardio respiratory morbidity for global warming.

Thus global warming will affect human health in two major ways – with extreme weather conditions and with rising infectious diseases. IPCC in a study of one of the most global warming affected area of Illionis, Chicago, has provided an apprehensive report that by 2020 extreme climate condition like heat wave will raise the climate average deaths to 400 and to 497 by 2050 from the present average of 191. European heat wave of 2003 is an example of its severity. Heat waves will even cause cardio respiratory complications resulting to high rate of deaths.

The results of ill health due to global warming and infectious diseases are already evident. Houston as well as many tropical countries are experiencing frequent outbreak of malaria, dengue and other encephalitis diseases. Even colder regions like Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Queens are severely suffering from malaria since 1990 as a result of global warming. McAllen of Texas also suffered a dengue epidemic in 1995. Florida, New Oreleans, Arizona, Mississippi, Texas, Colorado, and California – all are experiencing encephalitis epidemic for global warming since 1987. According to IPCC, 65% of world population will suffer from high risk of infectious diseases in near future. The risk itself will be increased by 20%, only as a result of global warming.

Facing such an impending calamity due to global warming, the requirement of proper planning and organized adaptation to new and changing condition has received a new dimension. Along with urgent and basic adaptation practices to fight the immediate effects, a longer planning and elaborate gradual methodology are also necessary to address the severity of future conditions resulted from global warming. A participatory approach to the holistic development of human health is expected to sober down the effects of global warming on health to some extent.

Author: Christophe Catesson

Thanks to Janet Schlarbaum

By Nick Tart

The earth’s climate has been in a constant state of fluctuation throughout its history. Of course there was the ice age but our planet has also gone through long periods of warmth. However, over the last 200 years the earth’s average temperature has been on a steady rise. This is the undeniable fact that our globe is getting warmer.

Causes

This change, known as global warming, is directly correlated with the Industrial Revolution. Ever since the Industrial Revolution humans have depended on the burning of fossil fuels as their primary source of energy. Burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, causes the emissions of dangerous greenhouse gases, predominantly CO2, into our atmosphere. Then these gases prohibit the heat from escaping into space, much like the glass panels of a greenhouse.

It is estimated that energy-related activities account for more than three-quarters of CO2 emissions. Of that three-quarters, more than half comes from stationary energy sources, such as power plants. While about a third comes from our transportation.

Just as CO2 emissions have been increasing, so has deforestation. Because trees naturally recycle CO2 back into oxygen, deforestation has caused the effects of burning fossil fuels to be exponentially harmful to our environment.

Some people have argued that the “theory” of global warming is completely inaccurate. They say that we are just going through another period of global warmth, and our planet will eventually cool down on its own. This is wrong.

It has been scientifically proven that:

1. Greenhouse gas emissions cause heat to be trapped within our atmosphere and
2. The Industrial Revolution of the last 200 years has emitted much more CO2 and other greenhouse gases than the earth has ever seen.

Effects

Climate change, global warming in particular, has had several environmental effects. Scientists have already observed some changes in our environment.

* Shrinking glaciers
* Sea-level rise
* Changes in the range and distribution of plants and animals
* Trees and flowers blooming earlier
* Lengthening of the growing season
* Rivers and lakes freezing later and melting earlier
* Thawing of permafrost

Our planet is suffering a process of global warming due to the atmospheric pollution produced by the industry emission of gases. A great threat for the planet is global warming producing what is known as the greenhouse effect. By global warming we understand “The increase in earth temperature produced by the burning of fossil fuels and other industrial processes that lead to the accumulation of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere (water steam, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and CFC)”. Of all gases that produce the greenhouse effect, (carbon dioxide) CO2, is the main responsible and is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels (carbon, petroleum and natural gas) to obtain energy. Each year, more than 7000 millions of tons of carbon dioxide are sent to the atmosphere, 2/3 of which are from the combustion of fossil fuels, while the rest is produced by deforestation and combustion of wood. Since 1896 it is known that carbon dioxide helps to avoid that infrared radiation escape to space, and this makes that a relatively warm temperature is maintained in our planet (greenhouse effect).

Sometimes it is used the name of climate change, that designates any weather change or anthropogenic climate change, where the direct influence of human activity is implicated. Global warming and greenhouse effect are not synonymous. The greenhouse effect enhanced by pollution, can be, according to most theories, the cause of global warming observed since the middle of the twentieth century, when there was and end to the stage know as the little ice age.

And what can we do to avoid global warming?

Of all possible things the easiest are:

* Walk or use a bike instead of a car.
* Consume only what is necessary, you can reduce in an important way the impact to the productive chain to the environment.
* Recycle garbage
* Reuse all we can, such as clothes, books, toys, etc.
* Reduce consume of electric energy.
* Regulate to comfortable temperature in winter and summer, for heating and air conditioners.

By Ian Pennington

The United States government is seriously taking responsibility to resolve the severe effects of global warming. There have been multiple occurrences of severe heat which is hotter than summer that constantly remain unexplainable to this day. “Are the effects of global warming real?” that’s what most people nowadays ask and the answer to the question is an unfortunate yes as its affects all forms of life whether human, animal or plant. It can bring suspicion or possible occurrences of drought, illness, health disorder and even death at worst.

As has been said above, global warming affects all forms of life from human beings to animals and plants. On humans, global warming or severe heat can cause illnesses and increase the chances of these diseases to spread to larger areas. Animals may also suffer from illnesses that may lead to death like dehydration and loss of the body moisture necessary for survival. Even sea creatures could also be affected by global warming as the water temperature would rise thus controlling the growth of marine life and their ecosystem.
Now is the time to believe, with all these information you will stop asking “are the effects of global warming real?” because it already is proven and supported with facts.

The thing that you should be doing today is providing good information dissemination about global warming and constant encouragement to your fellowmen to make them work with you and reach the goal of minimizing global warming. Now is the perfect time to control global warming issue because our condition is heading to higher stage or becoming severe. Temperature is totally going too high to the extent that sometimes people, animals and plants cannot bear it anymore. Get over on just thinking about “are the effects of global warming real?” rather find a way for its solution and its implementation so as to take part in giving cure to the world’s current disease known as global warming. We should all act regarding this issue because our world is deteriorating and getting weak defense against global warming.

Now that it is known that the effects of global warming are real and not just myths and make believes, it falls on our shoulders to try and make our world better as we alone have the power to do so. It is true, there is no way we can totally control changes of this magnitude but what we have to understand is that it is not about total control or eradication. But it is about effecting changes that could help in making our environment better for us and for our family to live on.

Thanks to Janet Schlarbaum

Global warming. For the last few years it has become a very much talked about and hotly debated topic. Is it real or is it just so much hogwash generated by uninformed scare tacticians trying to suppress free enterprise? Changing weather patterns around the globe seem to indicate that the earth may in fact be in the midst of a global warming cycle. Scientific data shows that the earth’s temperature is gradually rising and climate changes are being seen in areas all around the world as a result. We are already seeing moderate rising of sea levels. Storms are becoming more severe. Areas which don’t normally receive much precipitation are documenting higher than normal rainfall. Areas which would normally experience good rainfall levels are receiving less and less.

The ozone layer over the south pole is being depleted allowing more radiation from the sun to enter earth’s atmosphere helping to raise global temperatures, causing the arctic and antarctic ice caps to melt to levels not known of in thousands and thousands of years. Glaciers in various locations around the world once thought to be semi permanent are melting off and receding at alarming rates. The implications to mankind are enormous and potentially devastating. One half to two thirds of the worlds population live in coastal or low lying areas which could be totally eliminated by rising sea levels brought about by the melting of earth’s polar ice caps. Society as we know it could be totally devastated. Major coastal cities totally wiped out or at the very least made partly or completely uninhabitable. Agriculture severely crippled. World commerce severely disrupted. And the more the earth’s temperature rises the faster the effect is amplified. Some scientists are predicting that global temperatures could rise by ten to twenty degrees and sea levels rise as much as twenty feet or more by the middle of this century due to accelerated global warming.

Quite a scary scenario for our future and our coming generations future. But what is causing this phenomena? Is it all part of some sort of natural cycle of the earth or is it somehow being caused or at least intensified by the way we live and use and abuse the resources of our planet? It is very possible that it is part of a normal cycle of climate changes that the earth has experienced since it was created. The earth has gone through numerous climate changes including ice ages and periods of tropic and Sub-tropic forestation since it was created and started to evolve. But it is also quite possible that this warming cycle is being amplified by human interaction with the atmosphere which protects the earth. Interaction in the form of fossil fuels which emit carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the air which help trap greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Industrial air pollution and pollution from the cars we drive are very possibly the main culprits in the effects we are seeing and experiencing with our atmosphere. Since the beginning of the nineteenth century and the birth of the industrial age, pollution levels in our atmosphere have been steadily rising and as more of the world becomes industrialized the problem only gets worse as long as that industrialization relies on fossil fuels.

What can we as individuals do to help stem this rise in the pollution of our atmosphere and the possible contribution to global warming caused by the use of fossil fuels as our principal means of running our societies? First we can demand that our governments work on developing more earth friendly forms of energy. Wind, solar, geothermal, and other forms of energy which don’t emit harmful toxins into the atmosphere. Second, we can make changes in our personal lives which will help reduce the amount of pollution we as individuals create. The largest culprit among us is the cars we drive. Cars which use fuels which are improperly formulated to burn properly because oil companies formulate their fuels to only burn efficiently enough to actually allow our cars to operate, so that they can make as much money as they can off of their products without regard to the consequences to our planet.

Slowly, alternative fuels and fuel alternatives are being developed. Ethanol, Natural gas, hydrogen, biodeisel along with electric and solar powered vehicles. Hybrid cars which combine part time electric drives with conventional gas powered engines. These are all potential solutions to the pollution problems caused by our automobiles. Yet their full potential remains years away from full commercial development. However there are ways to actually make our present cars run better by improving the fuel mixture so it burns more completely thus eliminating the vast majority of pollution caused by the unburned fuel emitted as unburned hydrocarbon pollution. This can, thanks to committed independent inventors be easily and economically accomplished by incorporating hydroxy gas systems into our present cars. Hydroxy gas systems break down H2O into a burnable gas which when combined with the gasoline/air mixture creates a much better and cleaner burning fuel mixture which will eliminate almost all of the pollution emitted by our cars, but also increase the car’s gas milage substantially because these systems cause the gasoline to be almost completely burned up in the engine the way it should be if it was properly formulated to begin with by the oil companies.

These systems can be purchased pre built for a few hundred dollars or with proper plans can be easily constructed from readily obtainable materials for under a hundred dollars. There are numerous people and commercial entities who try to dispel and suppress this information either because they are too disbelieving that these systems can actually work or more importantly are the commercial entities who realize that these systems do in fact work and if people implemented this technology into their cars that these entities profits would be drastically affected.

It is ultimately up to each one of us to change the way we do things and do what we can to help reverse the damage which we as a race of people have done to the health of the planet which sustains us and all living things on this planet. Whether though real shortage of oil supplies are due to market speculation, if something like the cost of gas rising to five or ten dollars a gallon forces us to make those changes, then ultimately that is a good thing regardless of how much it forces us to change our lifestyles or the short term hardships it might impose on us compared to the effect of killing the only atmosphere we have.

Placed here by Janet Schlarbaum

In fact, the past nine years have all been among the 25 warmest years on record, a streak which is unprecedented in the historical record. For that to happen, it’s likely there has to be an underlying factor, and that factor seems to be global warming.

U.S. and global annual temperatures are now around 1.0 F degrees warmer than they were in 1900. The rate of warming has accelerated over the past 30 years, increasing at a rate of three times faster than the century-scale trend. It’s likely the increase in CO2 emissions has something to do with that rate increase.

According to an MIT study, there’s been a 100% increase in the intensity and duration of hurricanes and tropical storms since the 1970s, most likely due to the increased amount of CO2 emissions to our atmosphere, which has increased the Earth’s surface temperature, and warmer weather is believed to increase the intensity of tropical storms and hurricanes.

In fact, the levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide has increased by 31% between 1800 and 2000, going from 280 parts per million to 367 parts per million. Scientists predict that carbon dioxide levels could be as high as 970 parts per million by the year 2100.

According to the National Climactic Data Centre estimates, $100 billion of damage was caused by hurricanes hitting the U.S. coast in 2005 alone. The increase in severity of the hurricanes and tropical storms is most likely due to the increase of CO2 emissions, which heats up the Earth’s near-surface temperatures. In fact, the average surface temperature has increased by about 0.6 C (1.0 F) over the last 100 years. This is likely why snow cover and ice extent have decreased over the past few decades.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey predictions, Glacier National Park will have no glaciers left by the year 2030, further showing the rapidity of global warming and the impact it can have on our planet in the very near future.

According to the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, 400,000 square miles of Arctic sea ice have melted, which is threatening polar bear habitats and further accelerating global warming worldwide. That amount of Arctic sea ice is approximately the size of the state of Texas, and we’ve lost that in just the last 30 years, further emphasizing that we need to take action now before the damage becomes too severe for our efforts to really matter.

The sea level has risen by 4?-8? (10-20 cm) over the past 100 years, which is likely due to the melting of the polar glaciers, which is likely due to the increase in the Earth’s near-surface temperature, and that’s being increased by the increase in CO2 emissions into Earth’s atmosphere. This can lead to devastating effects for coastal communities because the sea level is rising, which means that when the sea comes in-tide, more erosion can occur, and if coastal communities are present, more damage done to them. In addition, losing the glaciers reduces the amount of usable fresh water on our planet.

It is also projected that 15-37% of all plant and animal species could be wiped out by global warming by the year 2050, which could further cause considerable damage to our planet’s ecosystem.

The United States is ranked nr.1 among large nations of being a global warming polluter, contributing 25% of emissions, even though the U.S. only makes up 5% of the world’s population. This provides more evidence that the U.S. Government must do more to combat global warming. In fact, six former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) leaders say that the U.S. is not doing enough to fight global warming. The fact that there have been NO bills passed by the U.S. Congress to cut global warming pollution further confirms what many EPA leaders are saying.

As you can see, there is statistical evidence that proves that global warming is causing changes to our planet, and changes that will do more harm than good. Governments and individuals need to pay close attention to these statistics in order to figure out ways to reverse the disturbing trends that are now occurring. The sooner we take heed of these statistics and implement changes that address global warming, the quicker we can reverse the disturbing trends and the less damage will occur to our planet and way of life.

Posted by Janet Schlarbaum

By Carl Ganser

Global warming is one of the major environmental issues that are haunting the people. Emphasis must be made upon what an individual can do to prevent global warming. Global warming refers to the increase in the temperature of the earth gradually which is affected by many factors. It is now a known fact that man is one of the main causes of it. The gradual increase in the temperatures is not a sudden process and has been there from a long time. But the rapid increase in development of the cities and technology has given rise to pollution which has causes the increase in global warming. Emissions from car, factories, burning of fossil fuel, use of CFC, deforestations have caused the global warming.

To prevent Global warming, one of the things that a person can opt for is use of alternative forms of energy production other than fossil fuels which give large amounts of carbon dioxide. Use of solar energy can be a good alternative which can be employed. Another thing they can do is to plant trees in their backyard or street which are natural controllers of the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere. Trees are usually cut down for paper production, thus using recycled paper can be a really good measure.

Limiting the usage of appliances or compounds which produces CFC can also help. CFC is the major reason for the depletion of the ozone layer causing global warming. Another reason for global warming is the emissions from cars. The world has seen a geometrical increase in population. This has lead to increase in the number of cars. Identifying fuel efficient cars, use of bio-fuels, correcting the engine designs or even using electric cars are great ways to reduce emissions. Preferring walking, cycling and transportation by bus, train can also help to prevent global warming. Organizing carpools can also be a good method that can be done to reduce emissions.

In home people can try to conserve energy and electricity thus helping to prevent global warming. Switching to CFL bulbs which uses less energy and a longer life time can reduce the electricity usage. Reducing the usage of heaters and coolers can also help. Switching of electronics and other appliances which are not in use, replacing old appliance with less energy consuming goods can also help to prevent global warming. Alternative power sources like solar energy generators for homes is a good way to make sure that you are getting your power from means that are good for your earth.

Global warming is also caused due to less knowledge about it. Therefore awareness should be provided mainly to children and those in the factories so that they can also think about ways to conserve energy and to prevent the global warming. The future generation must be encouraged and taught to save the earth, our habitat. The media has a major role to play in making people understand the importance of global warming and its concerns. Only a collected effort by the entire humanity can reduce the global warming, which is a deep rooted problem. Global warming cannot be removed suddenly but many of the measures mentioned above if followed by an individual can contribute to reducing and preventing the global warming. Together we can make things happen and it is up to each of us to ensure that we take all steps to reduce global warming for us and for our future generation.

Thanks to Janet Schlarbaum

By Jonathon Hardcastle

Global warming is thought of as one of the biggest threats to world security in modern times, and it is arguably already taking its toll in our weather system. By a combination of natural cyclical progression, and the impact of human behaviour and activity over the last century, the Earth is steadily seeing the effects of the global warming phenomenon. But what exactly is global warming, and exactly what impact could it have on our environment?

Global warming can be defined as an overall gradual increase in world temperature over time. This is measured by averaging Earth and Ocean temperature, and has shown a steady upwards trend over recent decades. Furthermore, it is thought that over the last half a century, this has been a result of human civilisation and industrialisation. One of the major contributors to global warming is what is known as greenhouse gas, which comprises largely of carbon dioxide from general human activity.

Global warming as a process is thought to be highly devastating in terms of its effect on the climate. ‘Climate change’ is a phrase which is often use in association with global warming, and it has potentially catastrophic consequences for the world in which we live. ‘Climate change’ also covers global cooling, which can also occur as a result of human activity and greenhouse gases, and reflects a substantial change in the world’s climate, which could change our habitat beyond recognition. This could be characterised by unusual weather patterns, resulting in more frequent natural disasters, which could in turn lead to political and social chaos in the decades and centuries to come.

There are a number of international political treaties which have been set up to change the progress of global warming, although their tangible upshots still remain to be seen. Through political cooperation, it is hoped that environmental targets can be met on an international scale, to make a real difference to the environment. However, at a personal level, there is significant scope for helping, rather than hindering the world in which we live, including recycling household waste, and reducing personal carbon emissions.

Global warming is arguably one of the biggest threats to human civilisation, and it is something which requires a drastic change in lifestyle to reverse. However, with a personal and political impetus, it is hopeful that the damage done to the planet can be reversed for future generations to enjoy.

However, new studies show that the atmosphere has actually been cooling since 1988 and indeed in the year 2008 it will be one of the coldest in several decades. Further, many of the top scientists a climatologist are now saying the global warming simply is not real, some going so far to say it is a bunch of hot air.

This is debate is further compounded with the fact that Al Gore was given a Nobel Prize for his docudrama; “Inconvenient Truth.” If global warming is really false and Al Gore received the Nobel Prize for his works then that is a blotch on the scientific community.

A few years back a survey was sent around to the public and over 80% of the people believed that global warming was real, now a more recent survey shows that 60% of the population in the United States does not believe the global warming is a reality. Much of this is no doubt because of the heavy handed headlines in the mass media in prior years and less since then, due to the election year headlines.

Does this mean global warming is no longer “Official” and if it is no longer official, does that mean we have all been snowed? Does this mean that the ice will not melt and the oceans will not rise and general havoc on all human civilizations is no longer to be of concern? Is global warming becoming very similar toY2K? How does anyone know what is real anymore?

Placed by Janet Schlarbaum