Global Climate Change the Increase

Global Climate Change The increase of CO2 emissions are expected to continue until 2150 when a decrease is expected to occur. The consequences are also expected to be dramatic. The continued melting of polar ice caps and glaciers will cause the sea levels to rise. This will result in greater flooding in areas already prone to flood and coastal cities globally may be forced to completely and permanently evacuate due to inhabitable conditions.

In addition, agricultural changes will cause ecosystems to be effected due to rising temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns. If this is accompanied by problems growing major crop plants in traditional areas, there would be food shortages and famine. The cost of food would also rise. Another global consequence of global warming is extreme weather. Some evidence of increasing storm intensity already exists and this trend is likely to continue. Hurricanes reaching category 4 or 5 will continue to increase.

All of these events are expected to be global in nature, regardless of location, wealth or development. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights includes additions made and agreed upon by the United Nations General Assembly. One such agreement is the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights which was adopted in December 1966. Article 12.2 of this Covenant requires parties to take specific steps to. include improving environmental and workplace health.

Article 28 of the Covenant states that everyone is entitled to a social international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this declaration can be fully realized.

Neither of the above Articles, nor any other Articles seem to address the protection of populations adversely affected by environmental changes although there is the requirement in Article 12.2 to take "specific steps to ...include improving environmental health." That could certainly be interpreted to mean that the signatory nations are required to improve environmental health however, it seems to apply to each specific nation and their citizens.

The entitlement portion of Article 28 also gives a nod to entitling populations a social and international order that allows the rights and freedoms to be fully realized. Again, it implies a sort of idea of supporting the freedoms and rights but no specifics are made. Overall, while the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an impressive document, it seems to have virtually no bite.

It also seems that many nations hold businesses and corporations to a standard that requires them to submit to laws regarding the environment but that is not a global position. For example, in Chernobyl when the nuclear reactor plant damaged the environment, lives etc., the Soviet Union covered it up and prohibited all inquiries. However, in the United States, the catastrophe at Three Mile Island was publicized and the clean up was extensive. Other man made environmental disasters have had similar outcomes depending on their location and nation.

The Declaration should have more specific guidelines, however, attempting to do so would likely result in most nations refusing to sign on. The intentions of the signatories to the Universal Declaration on Human Rights were at least admirable. But such intentions mean very little when application is the issue. Justice and humanity are not always met with an even hand. Potentially, the most adversely affected nations or groups in despair from global warming will be the poorest, least developed and least involved in the causes of global warming.

Is this justifiable? I think not. To address the consequences of global warming one must examine the greatest causes and effects. Fossil fuels, increased transportation in developed nations, wealthy companies and less distribution of wealth creates greater emissions. These emissions, as already stated, create global harm and potential global harm but in particular, drought stricken nations will become dryer, flood areas will become uninhabitable and crops will lessen created a greater food shortage in already starving countries.

How can humanity ignore these issues? Survival of the fittest? That is utterly unacceptable. The United States sends resources but refuses to sign the Kyoto Treaty which would be a covenant to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This is no longer something we as members of the human community should accept without comment. Other countries should also be required to provide resources, offer assistance, provide the needy with whatever will help in order to gain a foothold on the growing concerns in these underdeveloped nations.

Food should be provided to all mankind, water as well. Sometimes payments of reparation would be appropriate however, one must be aware of the chances in some countries that the type of government or leader or groups in charge could take such funds and never make any changes for their people. It could become difficult to assign blame in terms of who benefited.