Calamity and Catastrophe

Update: The Kyoto Protocol enters into force on February 16.
Concentration of carbon dioxide now stands at 372 parts per million, levels above 500 ppm are though to pose a "dangerous" level of interference with the climate system. The Kyoto Protocol aims to reduce these greenhouse gas emissions 5.2 percent below 1990 levels (350ppm) by 2012.
______________________________________________________
Looks like lots more calamity and catastrophe are ahead. Even as some scientist continue to debate over global warming, the signs are apparent, bears in Estonia are waking early from hibernation, Australia suffers its worst drought in 100 years and multiple hurricanes hammer Florida... (ref. Jan 11 entry)

Many climate scientists say that floods, storms and droughts will become more frequent. Rising temperatures could also force up ocean levels, swamping coasts and low-lying Pacific islands.

On Friday, the brains at NASA indicated that 2005 could be warmest year recorded. The warmest year at the world's surface since records began in the 1860s was 1998, followed by 2002, 2003 and 2004, according to the U.N.'s World Meteorological Organization.

Even now a coalition of countries (141 at present count) is attempting to arrest the forecasted continued rise of global temperatures by bringing into force the Kyoto protocol - an agreement aimed at curbing emissions of gases from cars and industry, blamed for trapping the Earth's heat.

But premilinary statistics had already shown that this alone might not be enough to effect any changes to reverse the current state of global warming.