For several years, scientists have been saying that the world's climate is warming up. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) the year 1998 proved to be one of the hottest years on record (WMO 1998). If unchecked, global warming may have two affects that are of interest to us - changing of vegetation and the possible raising of sea levels and the inundation of coastal towns and cities. Sweda (1993) concludes that the magnitude of change in vegetation will surpass what has taken nature 10000 to tens of millions of years to accomplish. Both the vegetation change and flooding could spell economic and social disaster for the countries involved. Scientists attribute the increased emissions of gases (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride) to the atmosphere as the primary cause of global warming. These gases - known as greenhouse gases--tend to trap the sun's heat. Major sources of greenhouse gases include the burning of fossil fuels (gas, oil, and coal), forest destruction, and agriculture. With increasing human populations and development, increased emissions to the atmosphere are probable thus increasing the risks of global warming. Whether or not global warming is a reality, nations are reacting in a positive manner.
