As divided as the world is regarding the theory of global warming and its accuracy or not, climate change has been affirmed in many ways. From arctic wildlife dying off to massive earthquakes and tsunamis taking place, evidence of a world increasing in temperature is available for review… but are humans to blame for the shift?
Science would deem so: Since the industrial revolution began in 1750, human beings have pumped 40% more CO2 and other heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. In effect, gases in the Earth’s own atmosphere – like water vapor (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) which absorb energy to slow or prevent the loss of heat to space – are retaining more heat than before, and in effect contributing to a hotter planet. This (in simple explanation) is the “greenhouse effect”.
One effect of a hotter world means that glaciers and ice caps are breaking off and melting into the ocean. And for the first time in history, a recording of the largest glacier doing just this was recorded:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC3VTgIPoGU]
Shot on May 28, 2008, Adam LeWinter and Director Jeff Orlowki caught a historic breakup at the Ilulissat Glacier in Western Greenland. The entire calving event lasted for 75 minutes, and over that period of time the glacier retreated a full mile across a calving face three miles wide. Nothing like this has ever been recorded on camera to date.
If process of this video does not leave your mouth gaping in shock, then likely no other protest from nature will.
Whether the theory of global warming is legitimate or not is not really the concern, the lack of awareness and refusal to change unsustainable habits is. Every person has the opportunity to participate in positive or negative change every day, and it is for this reason that the individual must be educated and inspired to participate in intelligent, co-creative development.
There are simple ways everyone, everyday, can reduce their carbon footprint and help slow climate change. In effect, a more positive world outlook may result, as our actions today shape our future tomorrow and the world for generations to come.
