Musings

Global Warming and Polar Bears

Recently the Bush Administration listed the polar bear, native to the icy waters of the Arctic, as and endangered species. This statement came from the White House shortly after the Bush Administration admitted, for the first time, that climate changes around the world are behind the potential extinction of many species, including polar bears. The government issued a statement saying, “ We've reviewed all the available data that leads us to believe the sea ice the polar bear depends on has been receding. Obviously, the sea ice is melting because the temperatures are warmer.” However, many people are questioning the Bush Administration’s overdue epiphany on the terrible consequences of the imminent global warming nightmare. If the problem is so “obvious”, then it should not have taken the government so long to admit to the predicament of the sudden climate change.
The final verdict regarding the polar bear’s admittance on to the endangered species list was in the hands of The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, and they have also proposed listing polar bears as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. Although the government has finally woken up and realized that changes in the climate may have something to do with the endangerment of many wild animals, The Bush administration still rejects the proven scientific thesis that human activity is contributing to global warming. Due to their stubbornness regarding the future and conservation of the environment, the US government has resisted capping greenhouse gas emissions, claiming that it is not beneficial for American businesses and workers. Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, are produced by burning fossil fuels, which trap heat in the atmosphere. Experts claim that rising temperatures could raise sea levels and cause more droughts, floods and heat waves. The US’s opposition to the obviously beneficial reduction of greenhouse gas emissions also led them to reject the Kyoto Protocol, the famous document that was added on to the international treaty on climate change, assigning mandatory targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to the nation that ratified it. So far many countries, including Canada, Russia, India, and the countries making up the European Union, have ratified the document, and have begun to clean up the air hey breathe; however, America only remains a signatory of the amendment and therefore does not adhere to its many advantageous features. Without this valuable and useful guideline that will lead towards a healthier Earth, the US will have no chance in cleaning up its act, improving conditions for mother nature, and reducing the risks and consequences of global warming.
It is only recently that the US has become increasingly concerned about the environment, this time in the form of polar bears; however, without a plan to lower pollution and reduce the risk of global warming, what good will putting the polar bear on the endangered species list do? Being that the Bush Administration was late in realizing the problems of climate changes, they must take extra initiative to reduce the problems of global warming, which the entire world faces, and rescue the environment and animals, including the polar bear.

posted by thethoughtless @ 4:23 PM