by Linda Lau
   
    For the past week, representatives from 190 countries met in the General Assembly debating one of the most prominent problems of our times-Global Warming. But while all representatives agree that the greenhouse effect has already affected every country in all forms, no solution can be found. Strong developed countries as United States have long since agreed to prevent further damage to the environment but underdeveloped third-world countries call out in defiance claiming they must have access to industries that produce waste in order to establish strong economies.

    First of all, all representatives of the summit were very clear about the current situation of the environment. The problem is that if people continue to cut forests down and pollute the environment without cleaning it up, there will come a point where the damage is irreparable. The burning of fossil fuels from the 20th century until now has considerably overpowered the carbon dioxide used by plants or dissolved in the ocean waters. Over a century, the percentage of carbon dioxide has nearly doubled. Furthermore, many industries have still produced more CFCs, nitrous oxide, and methane, which are also greenhouse gases.

    The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group of 2500 world's leading scientists state that the environmental changes will have a catastrophic effect on human health, natural ecosystems and coastal areas. The resulting warming of the atmosphere have proved serious effects as the glaciers of Greenland and Antarctica melt on the average of an eighth of an inch per decade. Such melting has caused local governments of low coastal areas such as Miami or New York City to apprehend floods. Weather patterns have also changed notably-from the past century, the average temperature has increased by 6 degrees Farenheit. While this might not seem like a lot, this increase of the 21st century is higher than the past 10,000 years. The number of people getting skin cancer, a result of being exposed to UV radiation caused by sunlight unfiltered by the ozone, has also increased over the past century.

    Obviously, this problem needs serious attention and study. Still, for over a century, none of the nations could all agree on a plan to stop this threat. Third-world countries argue that it isn't fair for developed countries to restrict their industrial output or the usage of forest lands as a result to lower pollution since the developed countries had already depleted theirs to get to where they are now. One representative states that his country "should be entitled to do as [they] please with the resources and should not be held responsible for the needs of other nations." The defenders of the proposed plan argue that global warming is no longer a one nation problem but that of everyone. Thus the remaining jungles, rainforests, and oceans do in fact belong to everyone; they should be left there to serve all of humanity.

    Once again, Global warming has caused many foreheads to wrinkle with frustration and apprehension. What must we, as a whole, do about it? None of the representatives truly know. The only hope is that a solution causing the diminishing of or at least the stagnation of the hazardous situation in which we put ourselves in will be found soon. While we might have the time to argue what is fair, push Mother Nature further into a corner and she will retaliate without care of the punished.