Environmental challenges and their global impacts

Environmental Challenges

Global Warming - Threats, Efforts and Results

The debate on the real existence of global warming is a long standing one. While some argue the real threats posed by the increased emissions of greenhouse gazes and the destruction of the ozone layer, others state that the propaganda has been intentionally created to create mass hysteria. Those who militate for the reality of global warming present several threats for our future well-being as individuals and as a planet. Some of these threats include:

the melting of the polar glaciers negative impacts over the natural habitats, resulting in the disappearance of several plant and animal species the bleaching and disintegration of the coral reefs more frequent and sever floods more damaging hurricanes (EcoBridge)

As these threats become more and more obvious, institutions across the globe begin to take action. Most of the efforts are forwarded by non-government environmental organizations. However, these often possess limited resources and their efforts may tend to go unnoticed. Examples of some of the most relevant environmental organizations which fight against reducing global warming could include EcoBridge, Plant a Tree or the Nicodemus Wilderness Project. Their measures revolved around wide series of actions the human kind could take to reduce pollution and improve the quality of Earth as a planet.

Realizing however the gravity of the matter and the reduced positive results non-governmental organizations were retrieving, state officials and institutions became involved in resolving the matter of growing global temperature.

The most intense efforts in this direction have been forwarded by the European Union. In a meeting held on the 8th and 9th of Match 2007, the representatives at the European Commission set a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 20% by the year 2020. The percentage could even be increased to 30% if the efforts are sustained by other countries outside the E.U. (Website of the European Commission, 2007).

Educational institutions have also taken an interest in the matter. Stanford University for instance has been engaged in promoting responsible behavior of the consumers. They have also conducted studies to reveal the impact of global warming and the performances achieved in reducing its negative effects. They have also promoted the sources of alternative energy (Stanford University, 1995).

The governments in several American states have also formed alliances to fight off the malign effects of global warming. "As more and more states band together to fight global warming, their efforts are moving beyond mere symbolism and becoming big enough to make a real dent in the problem [...] More than half of the nation's 50 states -- including populous California, Texas and New York -- have joined together in regional coalitions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, boosting the use of renewable energy and improving energy efficiency" (Kelly, 2007).