Climate change as environmental challenge Essay

Climate change is the about imperative environmental challenge facing the planet. Due to intensified assurance on fossil fuels for energy, greenhouse gases maturation in the atmosphere and warms the demesne warts and all evident from the increasing ocean temperatures, widespread melting of black eye and ice and rising sea levels (http//www.pewtrusts.org).The warming observed in the last(prenominal) fifty years is very likely to have been caused by the increase greenhouse gases released by human activities like burning of fossil fuels, vote down use change and agriculture. The atmospheric concentrations of these greenhouse gases have significantly increase since the beginning of industrial revolution (http//ec.europa.eu).The Earths average ascend temperature since 1850 has risen by 0.76oC and is projected to increase from 1.8oC to 4oC in the end of the twenty-first century considering that there will be no additional relief measure apart from those already in place in 2000 (h ttp//ec.europa.eu). This increase in temperature may lead to severe snow and ice melting, changes in hydrological and biological systems, earlier migrations and shifting towards the poles of species geographic ranges.Adaptation measures are already being implemented and are essential to address the projected consequences. The European Union played a key role in the maturement of the major treaty addressing the issue on climate change, the Kyoto Protocol, agreed in 1997.The Kyoto protocol of cutting greenhouse gas emission to 8% down the stairs 1990s level in 2008-2012 has allowed the establishment of a global retort to the climate problem (http//www.pewtrusts.org) however this adaptation effort is limited. Less cushy mitigation measures will also be needed in rove to reduce the severity of climate changes impacts. It may be necessary to set mandatory limits and ratify national climate policies on reduction of greenhouse gas emission across all frugal sectors. Also switching to a more sustainable development paths link up to energy efficiency, renewable energies and conservation of natural habitats can make a major contribution to climate change mitigation.Works CitedPew streak on Global Warming. The Pew Charitable Trusts. 1996-2008. 3 June 2008 .Climate Change. The European Commission. 14 May 2008. 3 June 2008 .