|
report confirms
world threat
Last week’s international U.N. report on global warming puts to rest any doubt that the threat is real. Even the president admitted as much in his State of the Union speech. That in itself was a revelation.
Hundreds of scientists from 113 countries said in the report that the unprecedented warming of the ocean and skies and melting of glaciers in just the past 50 years leaves little doubt that global warming is man-made and serious. The last nine consecutive years have been the warmest on record in the modern era.
What’s worse is that scientists say that the most serious signs of global warming have just begun to manifest themselves and may not be reversed for generations.
The report falls on the heels Exxon-Mobile’s announcement of a $39.5 billion profit for 2006. The global warming study also came the same week that government scientists said that political appointees in the Bush administration weakened and delayed reports to Congress of the seriousness of global warming.
Closer to home, Columbus County would stand to suffer considerably because droughts are predicted to become more pronounced, flash flooding even more prevalent and hurricanes more severe, which is not good news for our agrarian-based economy.
Sadly, the world’s two most industrialized nations, China and the U.S., are balking at a proposed international commission to deal with global warming because it might cost too much and mean job losses.
Yes, it might, but to overlook the seriousness of the report would be both foolish and immoral. The report is a call to action for all citizens of the world.