Global Warming a major threat for human life

Global warming is certainly a controversial subject, and usually the most heated debates (no pun intended) concerning our planet’s changing climate occur during a cold snap whether it be the one we had in December or the current one we’re in this month. Some even denounced global warming after our slightly cooler and wetter than normal summer. But is it fair disregard the possibility of global warming because of a few anomalies?

Since ancient times, people have believed that human activity could affect the environment. The discovery of past ice ages shows that Earth's climate is in constant flux and that throughout history, scientists have searched for the cause of these changes. Though scientists discovered the greenhouse effect in the late 19th century, the theory of global warming wasn't accepted as a scientifically proven fact until 1992 when the United Nations held a Conference on Environment and Development. Today, global warming is a widely accepted reality and speculation about its effects range from the hysteria to the acceptance. Newspapers chronicle the slowly changing climate and the actions that have affected that change. The Global Warming Archive provides access to thousands of articles on the environment and the scientists who documented its change.

From developing nations to industrial countries, global climate affects everyone and newspaper articles tell the story of nature's dramatic impact on history. NewspaperARCHIVE.com, the largest newspaper database available online, has provided a free archive on the history of global warming granting access to thousands of original newspaper articles. The archive includes articles on the early discoveries of scientists, the development of technology, pollution, the greenhouse effect and global summits and treaties dedicated to the topic of global warming. Click on the timeline above to view newspapers in chronological order or begin searching newspaper articles with your own key words.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee took a major step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It approved a bill that would cap releases of heat-trapping gases and create a national market to trade pollution credits. The bill comes on the eve of talks that will set the stage for a new international treaty to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The old treaty the much-discussed Kyoto Protocol that the United States refused to sign is set to expire in 2012. Any new agreement will have to ask more of developing countries including China and India that were exempted from previous limits. But the United States can’t credibly ask them to reduce their emissions if it refuses to curb its own.

The climate change bill approved last week faces many serious challenges before it can be considered by the full House of Representatives. It already has been watered down to satisfy some powerful interests. But that hasn’t stopped critics from mounting a major disinformation campaign to defeat it.

Aside from our string of severe weather, it is important to realize Kitsap is not the center of the universe. Yes, it has been devilishly cold here this past winter, but that does not mean it’s been this cold everywhere. On a global scale, scientists will tell you the earth is warming ever so slightly. Some will even tell you it is warming at an alarming, life-threatening rate.

If we do not start reducing our global warming liabilities now, we will be overwhelmed with the debt later. We can’t do that by wallowing in denial.