It is important to note first that climate change is not seasonal variations in weather conditions but rather a changing of the long term weather trends as a direct/indirect result of man's activities. In geologic terms, a decade is rather insignificant but a cursory glance at world events seems to be validating what climate gurus have been urging for decades.
Climate change is a real challenge to the long term sustainability, adaptability, stability and survivability of life on planet earth. The planet functions on an extremely complex and interrelated feedback mechanism which means that CC has economic, social, political and ecological consequences that may not be able to be predicted or planned for. There is also the potential for various tipping points to accelerate the process spurring on further climate change. Here is one micro example of the nature of CC. Adverse and unusual weather in North America leads to lower yields of wheat in the North and fruits in the South pushing food prices up. As countries battle with the global economic downturn and economies decline, they are faced with imported inflation causing a surge in interest rates which further contract weak economic growth creating more unemployment and general poverty as well as the potential for social unrest. The Amazon is now experiencing a one in a century drought for the second time in a decade. For the first time ever, in 2011 the Amazon will become a net producer rather than sink for COc emissions. This is simply a frightening scenario for global climate. Storms are greater, stronger, deserts are widening, rains are moving, and the general confusion of seasons and fruit growth patterns is likely to continue.
The fact is the CC cannot be ignored on any serious grounds. It is the greatest challenge of the 21st century and poses a challenge to every single life form on Earth. It needs to be addressed with the fervour becoming of the threat is poses and combated with a united effort by both MDCs and LDCs since no state large or small is immune to its effects. If states continue to ignore their obligation to themselves and other states in favour of selfish goals and myopic aspirations, there will simply be nothing left to fight for in coming decades. Let us hope that the scenario envisioned by Hollywood in the movie The Day After Tomorrow remains fiction and not fact into the 21st Century.
