by Michael Smith
On the 11 December 2008, European political leaders will decide what their response to global warming is going to be. Last year, they agreed to a 30% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Now, with the downturn in the economy, that deal is under threat and time is running out.
As a result, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and World Wildlife Fund through the coordination of the Climate Action Network (CAN) formed the campaign Time to Lead. Time to Lead is a movement that urges European citizens and organisations to act by contacting local legislators and issuing support of the 30 percent reduction in Europe’s own carbon emissions by 2020. Citizens act by joining the ‘call to action’ at http://www.timetolead.eu/.
The problem I personally have with this issue is that Global Warming, or better called, Climate Change, is, as far as I am concerned, and many scientists as well, a natural phenomenon rather than anything humanity had any dealings in. The Earth, our planet, has been doing this every so many years, manly that it has gone up to very high temperatures and then, some years, decades and even centuries later, it went back down to a mini ice age or two. History shows us this.
However, if there is a the slightest possibility that we have any chance by reducing our environmental impact we can keep temperatures low enough to make the planet safer for us to live then we must act, and act now.
We only have a few weeks until the all important vote so let’s make sure our voices are heard!
Aside from this, e.g. trying to get the temperatures kept on a level keel we must reduce our general impact on the environment and our environmental footprint.
We must do all we can to can in this quarter by especially reducing the pollution that we let lose upon our planet, the amount of refuse that we produce and such like. Reducing must come before we think about everything else in the “three Rs”. And reduce must be followed by reuse and re-purpose before we ever think of heading for the recycling bin and center. But, alas, I digressed a little.
For further information on the “Keep Global Warming below 2degC” campaign check out the website at: http://www.timetolead.eu/
© M Smith (Veshengro), November 2008
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Keep Global Warming below 2degC
