Thoughts on Global Warming

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change representing over 110 countries reported that they are in excess of 90% certain that the major reason for global warming are humans. Their report states that even if we were able to stop emitting gases that trap heat at the present time, it would still take about a century for the climate heat rise to abate.

Coming up with policies that will actually work seem like a daunting task to me. I read recently that even the city of Kyoto, Japan, the location for the Kyoto Accord to limit heat-trapping gases hasn't been able to even come close to the goal that was set. This is not because Japan has not made giant strides in conservation, but because of the booming population and the need for more energy, they have not been able to come anywhere close to hitting the goal. That, of course, does not mean that the U.S. doesn't have the responsibility to clean up our own act, but coming up with workable strategies seem truly formidable to me.