Confronting Global Warming
It's tempting to be idealistic about fighting global warming and simply say 'stop' but that's too simplistic to be effective. Countries and corporations can't simply shut down their industry and tell people to live without the niceties of modern life, doing so simply isn't realistic.
Instead, those interested have developed a two pronged approach to combating the effects and results of global warming [http://www.resultsofglobalwarming.com]: Mitigation and Adaption. Mitigation, the more widely dicussed and controversial 'prong' of this attack deals with the best methods to reduce current and future carbon output. Adaption, on the other hand, is the concurrent recognition that global climate change is occurring and, at least partially, unstoppable and the approaches governments and people can take to prepare for those changes.
Mitigation
Mitigation, as previously stated, is the act of combating global warming directly. Typically this takes two forms: reducing the output of greenhouse gasses and increasing the prevalence and strength of carbon sinks. A primary method of reducing greenhouse gas concentration is a focus on developing new sources of alternative energy. Developed and developing countries (United States, Canada, Europe, India, China etc.) are increasingly looking towards energy sources such as nuclear power, solar power, geothermal power and hydro power. Other methods of reducing greenhouse outputs focus on conservation in such realms as transportation, housing construction, urban planning and avoiding deforestation as a partner of progress. Methods to develop carbon sinks (natural or man-made absorbers of harmful carbon gases) involve reforestation and man-made carbon capture devices.
Adaption
Adaption is the far less exciting of the two methods of dealing with global warming. It's less invigorating to deal with a negative than it is to fight it but regardless, humanity will have to adapt in some challenging ways over the next century. Local and national governments must learn to balance near term growth with long-term preparation. One important step nations can take is the development of regional and global trade networks. As countries that formerly were able to produce their own food begin to lose arable land they must adapt to such a change by reshuffling local economies to sustain themselves in other realms and trading for foodstuffs from still or newly arable countries. In that same, food source adaption chain of thought, scientists and farmer must work together to create strains of crops that will be more tolerant of unnatural climate change. Finally, on a global sense, the international community will need to assist impoverished nations as they struggle to balance growth and environment. Pollution, regardless of origin, can affect anywhere on the planet. First world countries will, to combat global warming, need to take an active role in battling its causes worldwide.
Instead, those interested have developed a two pronged approach to combating the effects and results of global warming [http://www.resultsofglobalwarming.com]: Mitigation and Adaption. Mitigation, the more widely dicussed and controversial 'prong' of this attack deals with the best methods to reduce current and future carbon output. Adaption, on the other hand, is the concurrent recognition that global climate change is occurring and, at least partially, unstoppable and the approaches governments and people can take to prepare for those changes.
Mitigation
Mitigation, as previously stated, is the act of combating global warming directly. Typically this takes two forms: reducing the output of greenhouse gasses and increasing the prevalence and strength of carbon sinks. A primary method of reducing greenhouse gas concentration is a focus on developing new sources of alternative energy. Developed and developing countries (United States, Canada, Europe, India, China etc.) are increasingly looking towards energy sources such as nuclear power, solar power, geothermal power and hydro power. Other methods of reducing greenhouse outputs focus on conservation in such realms as transportation, housing construction, urban planning and avoiding deforestation as a partner of progress. Methods to develop carbon sinks (natural or man-made absorbers of harmful carbon gases) involve reforestation and man-made carbon capture devices.
Adaption
Adaption is the far less exciting of the two methods of dealing with global warming. It's less invigorating to deal with a negative than it is to fight it but regardless, humanity will have to adapt in some challenging ways over the next century. Local and national governments must learn to balance near term growth with long-term preparation. One important step nations can take is the development of regional and global trade networks. As countries that formerly were able to produce their own food begin to lose arable land they must adapt to such a change by reshuffling local economies to sustain themselves in other realms and trading for foodstuffs from still or newly arable countries. In that same, food source adaption chain of thought, scientists and farmer must work together to create strains of crops that will be more tolerant of unnatural climate change. Finally, on a global sense, the international community will need to assist impoverished nations as they struggle to balance growth and environment. Pollution, regardless of origin, can affect anywhere on the planet. First world countries will, to combat global warming, need to take an active role in battling its causes worldwide.