| Well..... The greenhouse effect is the natural process by | | | | symbol and the benefits that it brings. With nearly 2.5 |
| which the atmosphere traps some of the Sun's | | | | billion between these 2 countries, this increased car |
| energy, warming the Earth enough to support life as | | | | ownership could cancel out any gains made in the |
| we know it! | | | | West through reducing factory and car emissions. |
| When humans cut down trees or burn fossil fuels, they | | | | Scientists and those in the know predict that |
| release extra carbon into the atmosphere, increasing | | | | climate-induced floods, rising sea levels, more frequent |
| the greenhouse effect. Mass deforestation around the | | | | and intense hurricanes, famine, drought and conflict |
| world at an unprecedented rate is making the problem | | | | could also reverse recent gains in reducing poverty |
| worse year by year. | | | | around the world and that the USA and UK will be |
| Unfortunately, due to this climate change the earth is | | | | affected by all or some of the above. |
| getting warmer as temperatures at the Earth's | | | | Climate change presents a significant challenge to the |
| surface have increased by an estimated 1.4°F | | | | UK and to the international community. Recent Climate |
| (0.8°C) between 1900 and 2005. The past decade | | | | Change Conferences in Montreal and the G8 and the |
| was the hottest of the past 150 years and perhaps | | | | Gleneagles Summit have attempted to co-ordinate the |
| the past millennium. The hottest 22 years on record | | | | international response to climate change. |
| have occurred since 1980, and 2005 was the hottest | | | | There are also enormous opportunities if we are willing |
| on record. | | | | to take action. Government, business and individuals all |
| The Kyoto Protocol on cutting carbon dioxide | | | | have a part to play, and all of us will benefit from rising |
| emissions, believed to be the key cause of global | | | | to the challenge of reducing the harm to the |
| warming, expires in 2012 and does not require major | | | | environment. |
| developing nations to make reductions. In addition, the | | | | While some of the effects of climate change may be |
| US has rejected it. Increasing car usage around the | | | | positive, such as longer growing seasons in certain |
| world is leading to carbon dioxide emissions increasing | | | | countries and longer, hotter summers in the UK. These |
| not decreasing. As incomes rise in India and China, they | | | | positive impacts are unlikely to be sustained as the |
| are obviously looking at car ownership as a status | | | | globe continues to warm. |