10 November 2004

by Anai Rhoads

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Veriana Media - A 144 page Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) report on global warming was released in Reykjavik, Iceland Tuesday which details drastic changes in the Arctic.

The data was gathered over four years through the cooperation of 300 scientists and native peoples of the Arctic regions of North America.

The report stated, "Over the next 100 years, climate change is expected to accelerate, contributing to major physical, ecological, social and economic changes, many of which have already begun."

According to climate models, the Arctic is expected to lose 50 to 60 percent of ice by 2100 and by 2070 the Arctic may be tepid enough to cease all ice sightings in the summer months. The Kyoto Protocol seeks to reduce emissions by at least 7 percent by the year 2012.

The document confirms previous data that suggest global warming is caused by emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. A separate study by Britain's Nature is expected to be released in September 2005, that will suggest the Arctic melt may actually release more carbon dioxide into the air.

Other causes for the softening of the tundra were noted in the report, which include the overpopulation of humans, and disruption of marine life by overfishing.

More formidable greenhouse gases that are not known to occur naturally are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), which emanate from a variety of industrial sources.

Although the United States co-sponsored this study, the Bush administration rejected the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, citing a reduction of future economic growth.

The United States is the biggest contributor to global warming, releasing upwards of 25 percent of the world's industrial gases. China and India percentages are not far behind. While it is crucial that America join the Kyoto Protocol, scientists believe any attempts to reduce CO2 emissions now will not be sufficient to curb the destruction of the Arctic.

The report was also sponsored by Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden, all of which have ratified Kyoto.

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Pentagon Ignores Own Climate Research

©2004 Anai Rhoads. Reproduction must be authorised in writing only, and altering the material and this copyright is prohibited and protected by international law.