Efforts To Control Global Warming
The total consumption of fossil fuels is increasing by about 1 percent per year. No steps currently being taken or under serious discussion will likely prevent global warming in the near future. The challenge today is managing the probable effects while taking steps to prevent detrimental climate changes in the future.
Damage can be curbed locally in various ways. Coastlines can be armored with dikes and barriers to block encroachments of the sea. Alternatively, governments can assist coastal populations in moving to higher ground. Some countries, such as the United States, still have the chance to help plant and animal species survive by preserving habitat corridors, strips of relatively undeveloped land running north and south. Species can gradually shift their ranges along these corridors, moving toward cooler habitats.
There are two major approaches to slowing the buildup of greenhouse gases. The first is to keep carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere by storing the gas or its carbon component somewhere else, a strategy called carbon sequestration. The second major approach is to reduce the production of greenhouse gases.
Damage can be curbed locally in various ways. Coastlines can be armored with dikes and barriers to block encroachments of the sea. Alternatively, governments can assist coastal populations in moving to higher ground. Some countries, such as the United States, still have the chance to help plant and animal species survive by preserving habitat corridors, strips of relatively undeveloped land running north and south. Species can gradually shift their ranges along these corridors, moving toward cooler habitats.
There are two major approaches to slowing the buildup of greenhouse gases. The first is to keep carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere by storing the gas or its carbon component somewhere else, a strategy called carbon sequestration. The second major approach is to reduce the production of greenhouse gases.