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The first impacts of global warming
- increasing floods, droughts, spreading diseases and melting
glaciers - are now evident on every continent and in most
nations. The science is clear. Unless we reduce our use of
fossil fuels for energy, we can expect global warming to continue
and accelerate. We can expect impacts such as damage to our
coastal areas, accelerated rates of species loss, altered
agricultural patterns and worsening air pollution.
Dr. David Suzuki
The ten warmest years ever measured
occurred after 1981. Of these ten, the six warmest years all
occurred after 1990. Undoubtedly, the world is getting hotter.
Global warming is caused by emissions of carbon dioxide and
other gases. These gases blanket the world, trapping heat.
Their major source is burning fossil fuel: coal, oil and gas.
The resulting climate changes are a serious threat to all
living things.
How does global warming affect wildlife?
- Climate change may be disrupting the hibernation and migration
patterns of animals and birds, according to a recent study.
A study in the Feb. 15 issue of the Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences indicates that global warming
may pose special challenges to species that depend on seasonal
cues for their survival:
- Birds may sing a song of climate change:
- Gray whales may be starving, expert says. Researchers
have noted huge changes in the Bering Sea at all levels
of the food chain, and some have theorized that those changes
are part of an even larger disruption of ocean temperature
and biomass patterns.
- Climate change is threatening polar bears with starvation
by shortening their hunting season, according to a study
by scientists from the Canadian Wildlife Service.
- "But the early signs of climate change such as the
retreat of the sea ice and the changes in the food supply
do not bode well for the walrus."
What can I do?
Global warming is a major threat to wildlife and habitat,
but we can all take steps to mitigate its damaging effects.
Everyone has a role in cooling the pace of global warming.
For more information on global warming, its effects on wild
species and simple solutions, visit the following links:
Actionbioscience.org is a non-commercial, educational web
site created and managed by BioScience Productions, Inc. to
promote bioscience literacy by examining issues that will:
motivate the public to play an active role in bioscience education,
show how developments in bioscience research can affect everyone,
promote an understanding of biogeography and the biodiversity
of life, engage the public to reflect on the relationship
between human activity and the natural course of evolution,
foster a global community attitude of ecoliving and ecoculture
and encourage students to pursue studies in the biosciences
To meet these goals, the web site provides articles by scientists,
science educators, and science students on issues related
to seven bioscience challenges: environment, biodiversity,
human genome, biotechnology, evolution, new frontiers, and
bioscience education. In addition, the web site provides educators
with resources to enhance bioscience teaching.
The Green Lane Server is Environment Canada's Internet resource
for weather and environmental information. Topics include
Clean Air, Clean Water, Climate Change, Fresh Water, National
Pollutant Release Inventory, Nature, Species At Risk (Endangered
Species),
Weather and Environmental Predictions and What You Can Do
(Down to Earth Choices for Sustainable Living).
"Vanishing Wildlife and Habitat: the effects of Global
Warming may be measured in extinctions, not degrees".
The Sierra Club site's global warming section includes Environmental
Update, Global Warming Overview, News, Clean Car Campaign,
Maps, Articles, Factsheets, Clean Energy Alternatives and
Get Involved.
"This human-induced climate change threatens the survival
of many plants and animals as well as the well-being of people
around the world. Clearly we must address this problem now
using available solutions and technologies that reduce CO2
emissions".
Tackling the problem of global warming, the WWF site offers
solid information and some simple solutions: "Clean Energy:
Jobs for America's Future", "some easy things that
you can do today", articles and links.
This website is one of the richest sources of good information
on environment in general. It features many articles on global
warming and the effects of global warming. Included are "must
reads", such as "Signs of Global Warming",
"International Impact" (e.g.Stormy weather; Amphibian
declines linked to climate change; Marine diseases: symptoms
of an unhealthy earth; Rising oceans threaten to destroy ecosystems)
and "Methods of Preventions" (e.g., Biodiversity:
a buffer against climate change; Don't forget methane, climate
experts say; Sound science a good basis for political policy).
The foundation's website offers solid information and solutions.
"Climate change is one of the greatest environmental
threats facing us today. Yet because it’s a problem of
our own creation, the solutions are also well within our grasp".
Global Change Biology
Publisher: Blackwell Science
Launched in 1995, this major international journal publishes
the best quality research on the biological interactions of
all aspects of current environmental change affecting all
or large portions of the globe. This journal appeals to the
international community of researchers addressing the very
urgent questions of global environmental change.
Global Change Biology defines global change as any consistent
trend in the environment - past, present or projected - that
affects a substantial part of the globe. Examples include:
rising tropospheric ozone, carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide
concentrations;
increasing UV-B irradiation; global climate change; biological
sinks and sources of atmospheric trace gases; eutrophication;
Land use change; loss of biodiversity; biological feedback
on climate change; biological mitigation for atmospheric change
Volume 3, Issue 1, February 1997 to present, table of contents
only. Sample copy available.
Global Change
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE DIGEST: A Guide to Information on Greenhouse
Gases and Ozone Depletion. This electronic newsletter offers
(free) online news and information on climate change and ozone
depletion. Archived editions from 1998 and current edition.
California Global Warming Campaign
The most populous state in the country, California is home
to over 30 million people. In a country that is the world's
most egregious global warming polluter, California is second
only to Texas in carbon dioxide emissions. As the 5th largest
economy in the world, and a hotbed for innovative and progressive
thinking, California has a unique and vital role to play in
leading the fight against global warming.
The California Global Warming News is a free biweekly email
newsletter produced by California Global Warming Campaign.
To subscribe, visit the website.
The Network Newsletter
The Network Newsletter is intended for those interested and
involved in climate-related impact assessment. A publication
of the Environmental and Societal Impacts Group (ESIG) of
the National Center for Atmospheric Research focusing on climate-related
impact assessment. Includes editorials, brief news stories,
and conference announcements. Available online in PDF format
at
Welcome to Our Planet
Our Planet is the United Nations Environment Programme's
flagship magazine, reporting on environmentally sustainable
development around the world for people concerned about our
common future.
emagazine.com
E/ The Environment Magazine covers environmental issues such
as global warming, ozone depletion, acid rain, green living,
ecology, alternative energy, biodiversity, endangered species,
the non-profit community. E's website (electronic magazine)
offers free articles as well as archives, subscription information
to E/The Environment Magazine and a free sample issue of the
magazine.
Global Warming in a Politically Correct Climate:How Truth Became Controversial
by M. Mihkel Mathiesen, Zbigniew Jaworowski
Paperback: 176 pages
iUniverse.com
ISBN:0595140661
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Greenhouse:The 200-Year Story of Global Warming
by Gale E. Christianson
Paperback: 305 pages; Reissue Edition
Penguin USA
ISBN:0140292586
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The Carbon War:Global Warming and the End of the Oil Era
by Jeremy K. Leggett
Paperback: 352 pages
Routledge
ISBN:0415931029
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The Last Boy:
by Robert Lieberman
Hardcover: 512 pages
Sourcebooks Trade
ISBN:1570719438
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