小海白地球拯救隊

香港文理書院 - [環保新聞]
Effects of global warming 'unstoppable ( 海峽時報 (新加坡) 2007-02-03 )

THE verdict is out.
That gas-guzzling SUV you drive, the air-conditioner that you leave humming through the night - they are responsible for global warming.
Worse, the damage from such human activities that consume fossil fuels is unstoppable and will last centuries.
The result: Worsening killer heatwaves and floods, devastating droughts, and stronger hurricanes and tropical storms, say 2,500 scientists from more than 130 countries.
Global temperatures and sea levels will also continue to rise, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said yesterday in a bleak assessment of the future of the planet.
It predicted that by 2100:
Temperatures will rise by 1.8 deg C to 4.0 deg C; and
Sea levels, an area of particular concern to Singapore because of the threat of flooding here, will rise by 18cm to 59cm.
It could be another 10cm to 20cm more if a relatively recent phenomenon, the melting of polar ice sheets, continues.
The scientists also used their toughest language yet to point the finger for such problems at humans, saying it is 'very likely' humans are the cause of global warming. In scientific language, this means they are at least 90 per cent certain of the cause.
In their previous report in 2001, they had said a link between human activity and global warming was only 'likely' - a 66 per cent possibility.
In fact, some scientists had wanted the phrase 'virtually certain' to be used, implying 99 per cent certainty. But this was toned down after objections from some countries which rely on fossil fuels to power economic growth, including China.
Nevertheless, the report has sounded a dire warning over the impact of greenhouse gases pouring into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels - they are already at their highest levels in 650,000 years.
Temperatures also rose by 0.7 degC in the 20th century, and the 10 hottest years on record have happened since 1994.
UN Environment Programme head Achim Steiner urged governments to revitalise stalled talks on long-term emissions cuts. 'Feb 2, 2007, may be remembered as the day the question mark was removed from whether (people) are to blame for climate change,' he told a news conference.
Leaders, scientists and environmental groups have urged governments and corporations to reduce emissions.
Said French President Jacques Chirac: 'Faced with this emergency, now is not the time for half measures. It is the time for a revolution, in the true sense of the term.'
The Kyoto Protocol - a plan for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases by 2012 - has been severely weakened since the US - the top source of greenhouse gases, pulled out in 2001.
The report is the first of four this year. The next one - due in April - will discuss in depth the effects of global warming.
Responding to the report, Singapore's National Environment Agency said last night that it is commissioning studies to look at the impact of climate change on Singapore.
These studies, on rainfall patterns and the effects of extreme weather, among other things, will help in planning measures to deal with the impact of the changing climate.
Meanwhile, National Institute of Education geography lecturer Chang Chew Hung said the greatest disruptions here from climate changes would come from freak weather conditions such as flash floods - similar to those that have drenched the country over the last two months.
He added, though, that Singapore would not be submerged.
Singapore Environment Council executive director Howard Shaw said: 'Enough has been done as far as legislation can do, but not enough is done by the people. You need a lifestyle change by the people themselves.'
ailien@sph.com.sg
wycin@sph.com,sg
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KYM NG AND HO AI LI
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS

文章編號: 200702038970030

私隱聲明