Changing the climate of the earth will also impact living conditions for humanity. People will be forced to deal with the effects of living in a warmer environment, which may mean hotter temperatures and growth of mold and mildew, as well as deal with the issues surrounding home modification to adjust to the new climate variable. There may be a need for increased air conditioning; air conditioners require energy to run, which is going to have to come from power plants. If the power plants are fueled by fossil fuels, the cycle is repeating and enhancing itself. Additionally, air conditioners are known strongholds of disease such as Legionnaires Disease, which may contribute to increased rates of contagion among the human population (Langholz & Turner, 2003).

Another problem that may likely result from global warming is the impact upon the food production system for humanity. Hotter climates may be non-conducive to existing agricultural practices. Pests and diseases encountered in agriculture may increase due to the warmer temperatures. Additionally, traditional zones of agriculture may experience either flood or drought, and the global climate variables will be affected by warmer global temperatures. Extreme high temperatures may necessitate population redistribution, which may force denser populations in smaller places.

Clearly, there is a need to address the problem of global warming, and it makes sense to include mitigation of human activities, to be on the safe side. The following section offers a course for sustainable action.

Sustainable Action Plan

The following plan is not meant to address the entire problem of global warming; rather this plan is meant to address one crucial aspect, and that is the destruction of the Amazon rain forests. Fearnside and Barbosa (2003) note that decreased forestation of the Amazon is a remedial plan that can reduce the impact of global warming (Fearnside & Barbosa, 2003). Additionally, Gorte and Sheikh (2010) note that deforestation is one cause of increased global warming (Gorte & Sheikh, 2010).

Action Items

The plan for developing a sustainable solution to deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest to reduce the effects of global warming is to establish ecotourism to support the local economies, and establish high-end agricultural product farms on small designated tracts of already cleared land that is managed in a sustainable fashion (organic farming, crop rotation, natural water methods, local products natural to the environment). This will require the formation of a nonprofit organization that has board members from the Brazilian government, spokespeople from the local tribes or their representatives, a United Nation's delegate, and a delegates from top first world nations to help provide support for sustainability and commitment to help in reducing the need for deforestation.

Order of Action Items

1. Establish the stakeholders involved in the issue; perform an environmental stakeholder analysis.

2. Invite key stakeholders to join a nonprofit organization to address the issue.

3. Form the organization, and establish rule-making guidelines.

4. Establish a 1, 3, 5, and 10-year plan for sustainability.

a. Research sustainable methods to reduce deforestation. These include ecotourism, sustainable agriculture, and cultivation of high-end sustainable products for the consumer market.

b. Perform strategy analyses on the identified methods.

c. Select 3-5 top feasible methods for sustainability...

Establish benchmarking procedures and designate responsible parties for plan implementation.
The following table summarizes the major points of the action plan:

Action Item

Action Steps

Timeline

Perform Environmental Stakeholder Analysis

Identify the relevant parties to the issue, use established stakeholder analyses guidelines for the analysis.

Months 1-3

Invite key stakeholders to join a nonprofit organization to address the issue.

Establish how to get in touch with the key people, the barriers involved (such as the need for translators), find out relevant governmental policies that must be followed for local tribes people communication.

Months 3-6

Formally establish the nonprofit organization

File relevant paperwork within the country of choice (as agreed upon by key stakeholders)

Months 6-8

Establish rule making and organization activities

Meet with organization directors and decide on rules of procedure.

Months 8-9

Research methods for sustainability to reduce deforestation; perform feasibility analyses to target plan options.

Establish task forces and identify community involvement possibilities; research and identify viable sustainability options to deforestation

Months 10-13

Decide upon sustainability options and create plans

Using elements of strategic planning, board directors will create short-term (1 year) medium term (3 years) and long-term (5-10) year sustainability plans.

Months 13-16

Create methods for follow up and benchmarking

Establish policies for implementation and benchmarking, which includes input from stakeholders and community leaders on timeline and resources for plan implementation and assessment.

Months 13-16 for establish of assessments and benchmarking;

Months 16 and ongoing for assessment of benchmarks as established in plan.

Conclusion

Global warming is heating up the world's atmosphere. Causes of global warming are both human-induced and naturally occurring processes. Self perpetuating cycles are found in ozone destruction and deforestation, with ongoing problems such as burning of fossil fuels and failure to establish collaborative efforts contributing to the problem. Deforestation is one clear area where mitigation measure could be established to combat the impacts of global warming. A sustainability plan could be established that involves leaders from the community, the government, and the world in creating a sustainable plan to reduce deforestation of the Amazon.

Bibliography

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