Tampus, Mary Grace G.

According to the article I have read entitled ‘Scientists sound the alarm in climate change report’ from the LA Times, the problem every country in the world faces is climate change. This problem concerns not only a handful of countries rather it is experienced by every country in the world and that this problem has long been present and keeps on getting worse.

Scientists have said that such problem is mainly caused by the emissions of burning fossil fuels. This combustion of fossil fuels has long been practiced way back the Industrialization era in the late 1800s. The burning of fossil fuels is one of the largest sources of emission of carbon dioxide which contributes to the thickening of emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere making the Earth too warm for living. With such conduct of humans, effects of the global warming are already being felt through the rising of sea levels, worsening ocean acidification, heat waves and severe droughts as well as constant flooding. Crops as well as availability of potable water source begin to run out and deteriorate at a dangerous level. Scientists also said that the measures and steps countries have taken to mitigate emissions are not enough and if it is not addressed quickly, worse and life-threatening effects than what we are experiencing today may be felt.

In order to remedy or give solution to the problem looming over countries, international negotiators meet in Lima, Peru this coming December to talk and establish parameters in laying down an agreement in cutting or toning down the heat emissions produced by every country in the world. Looking into the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate (IPCC) report, there is a lot to work on. International community has been pressuring the US and China, two of the world’s largest polluters, in curtailing emissions however it is still not enough based on the proposal US has made which talks on the proposal to combat climate change that would require countries to offer plans for curtailing greenhouse gas emissions on a certain schedule. According to the international community, this step is still not enough for it leaves to the individual countries on how much their cuts on emissions would be.

Personally, I agree that such proposal is not enough because we give the liberty to countries on the amount of emissions to be cut and how will the international community be assured that indeed they are cutting great amounts? I commend the yearly reports international organizations have been doing in revealing the grave situation concerning the emissions but is it an enough measure to save millions or billions of lives from the warming Earth? I don’t think so. Showcasing the problem is not enough. We should act now or we would be facing grave consequences. What the international communities should do is to pressure large companies through their government in finding a way to tone down or to treat their emissions to a minimum level. Impose high fines and all or rather campaign to consumers to choose the otherwise products of the other company which produces lesser emissions. International organizations together with the local organizations of different countries may also organize activities and drives such as ‘biking day’ or utilize the social media by exposing those cars smoke belching or companies with the smoke released from their factories.

We can do a lot of things in combating the global problem but we need dedication and the will to help in reversing the worsening conditions on climate change. It’s time to act now and it is time to stop lending a deaf ear to the issue or else it would all be too late.