Heroes of the Environment 2009

From saving wild mountain rivers in China to measuring the Arctic's icy expanse, from protecting the lush forests of Africa to conducting a feisty online debate, our green heroes are informed by this simple notion: We can all make a difference

As they searched for glimmers of hope in the wreckage of the world economy earlier this year, politicians, economists and commentators used one phrase so repeatedly it became something of a mantra for our times: In crisis, opportunity. Nowhere does that maxim apply more than to the problem of climate change. The financial crisis only crippled a global system; climate change is hurting the globe itself.

This December, world leaders will gather in Copenhagen to discuss new goals to reduce the greenhouse-gas emissions that fuel global warming. With a new President in the White House, there is a chance the U.S. will finally inspire progress on climate change — and not just frustration. But nothing's certain, and the real leap forward won't happen until China and India both sign on to the idea that the economic growth they need and want will be worthless if their citizens are constantly fighting off natural disasters or don't have enough water to drink or to irrigate their crops.

It's easy to think that all the hard decisions are in the hands of our leaders alone. Not true. As the men and women in the following pages prove, we can all make a difference. Pen Hadow, leader of a daring survey across the Arctic to measure the thickness of sea ice, puts it this way: "Turning off a standby light once won't make a difference. Do it for the rest of your life and that amounts to something. And if everybody's doing something, then we're moving in the right direction." We hope our environmental heroes provide both inspiration and action. Like financial pundits, most of them embrace the idea that a crisis also presents opportunity. They are heroes because they set out to discover what that opportunity might be.

World’s mightiest glaciers

Denying the evident and embracing the obscure never makes sense. This is what the climate skeptics had been doing for a long time in rebuffing the sure signs. They just can’t see constant flooding, infrequent monsoons, wet and dry extremes, inundating islands, heat waves and the melting of glacial caps. Even the recent study conducted by the University of Leeds deducing the faster melting rate of Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica is sure to be ignored. However, in fact, world’s mightiest glaciers are giving in to evermore mightier universal mercurial upsurge.



Since 1980, global warming has forced some glaciers to disappear while some others are on the verge of extinction. If the outlet glaciers of the Greenland and West Antarctica kept on melting, the coastal regions worldwide will face the brunt for sure. If it happens elsewhere, notably the Andes of South America, the Himalayas in Asia, western North America, the Alps, Africa or subtropical South America, the aftermath will be equally appalling.

Glacier Peak Wilderness in the North Cascades of Washington has shown ample signs of recession during 33 long years.

Global Warming

Global warming means increase in the average temperature of Earth’s surface air and oceans. Global warming is basically increasing greenhouse gas concentrations resulting from human activity such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation. Due to Global Warming Global surface temperature increased 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) during the last century. According to IPCC natural phenomena such as solar variation and volcanoes produced most of the Global warming from pre-industrial times to 1950. Global warming increases with the increase in human’s carbon foot print. Global warming is a calculated and agreed upon phenomena and many are considering Global Warming as a bigger threat to man kind then a 3rd world war. Accusers accuse irresponsible human developmental and capitalism for Global warming. Honesty demands self accusation for Global warming as every action taken by man kind has a consequence and can contribute towards warming. ECO Watch dogs are blaming Global warming on major industrialized countries. Owing to Global warming an IPCC report indicate that global surface temperature will probably rise a further 1.1 to 6.4 °C (2.0 to 11.5 °F) during the twenty-first century. Increase in Global Warming will cause sea levels to rise and will change the amount and pattern of precipitation, probably including expansion of subtropical deserts, as Global warming is causing continuous retreat of glaciers, permafrost and sea ice is expected, with the Arctic region being particularly affected. Most studies about Global Warming focus on the period up to 2100. However, Global warming is expected to continue beyond 2100 even if emissions stop, because of the large heat capacity of the oceans and the long lifetime of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Global Warming’s other likely effects include shrinkage of the Amazon rainforest and Boreal forests. Global Warming is being blamed for sudden increases in the intensity of extreme weather events such as floods, tsunamis and acidic rains. Extinctions of many species and changes in agricultural yields are credited on Global Warming too. Global warming continues to be a hot Political and public agenda.

Global Warming Shockers

TO FIND MY GLOBAL WARMING SHOCKER PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGE BELOW!


GLOBAL WARMING SHOCKER

MY GLOBAL WARMING SHOCKER IS THE AFTER EFFECT OF CALCULATING MY GLOBAL WARMING CONTRIBUTION.