Global Warming

Even though the global temperature has been changing for millions of years, this is the first century in which we are seeing global changes occur quickly relative to the time that human and animal life activity has been documented. Human-induced changes to global temperature are now evident, whereas the changes in the past were seen as natural phenomena. For example, in the prein-dustrial era the concentration of C02 measured 280 parts per million; by 2005, that had increased to 382 parts per million.

Despite mounting empirical evidence of global temperature change over the past few centuries, it is only relatively recently that scientists have taken note of global temperature changes and publicized them. The 1970s was the first decade in which the general public began to take note of environmental issues. In the United States this occurred through the efforts of environmentalists and scientists who pressured government to institute sweeping changes to U.S. environmental policy. Subsequently, more than 15 national acts of environmental legislation have focused on a range of issues from clean water to endangered species. These new forms of environmental legislation did not, however, take into account increases in fossil fuel emissions that occur with increased global dependence on manufacturing, energy generation, and automobile use. The U.S. [Page 599]Environmental Protection Agency, created in 1970, did not provide the U.S. auto industry with fuel emission or miles-per-gallon standards, which eventually resulted in millions of tons of carbon entering the atmosphere every year. By not recognizing this serious emission problem, policymakers did not acknowledge changes in potential carbon loads to the atmosphere. Scientists now estimate that global warming will continue, despite our actions to slow the changes. There is concern that we will quickly near what is said to be the ultimate carbon threshold of 480 parts per million in our planet's atmosphere.

The science behind global climate change is complicated. It takes time to establish patterns and understanding of the problem. The U.S. Congress heard first testimony on global warming in 1973; following that, an international campaign was launched to explain the future dangers if such a problem were to be ignored. Scientists predicted global catastrophes such as the melting of the polar ice caps, coastal flooding, and widespread migration of affected populations. We have finally begun to acknowledge the connection between fossil fuel emissions and increased global temperature. However, there remains ongoing debate over whether the problem exists as fact or is a theory.

Increased media coverage of global warming has been due in part to former Vice President Al Gore's 3-decade-long research and investigation into climate change, which culminated in the Academy Award-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, a national theatrical film release; a book of the same title; and an international lecture series. Public awareness of this issue has increased, and individual and community efforts to help reduce the impact of global climate change are more widespread. It is not yet clear to what extent social behavior is following public sentiment that now supports societal action to curb the impacts of global climate change. Longitudinal, empirical research will be needed to determine these outcomes.

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