The Truth About Climate Change

The governments of the cold climate regions of the Earth are not reacting to global warming because they will not be negatively affected by it; in some cases they will be positively affected. This needs to be brought up to the common man of the cold climate countries so that there is an alternative reason why some of the wealthy countries are not contributing to preventing climate change as much as the equatorial countries, that are going to be affected by it most, need them to be.

This is a very important question because the countries that are the richest; America, Japan, China, Russia, and some Northern European countries, are not going to be hit as hard, or at all. May it also be noted that this countries are the ones that are polluting the atmosphere the most and are one of the major causes of global warming. If these countries are in large, turning a blind eye to global warming, it affects the fight to prevent it from occurring to drastically. “Some nations may actually benefit from the change, being able to grow more food and enjoy a less extreme climate. Rather more are expected to be losers, with poor, densely populated countries struggling to cope with more frequent drought and flooding. And some wealthy countries may be able to be almost indifferent – their climate changes will be slight and the necessary adaptations cost less than 1 per cent of GDP.” (Schoon).

Environmental Correspondent for Independent News, says that, “A grouping of more than 30 small island states, some of whose members fear they may disappear under rising sea levels, are calling for a new treaty protocol under which the developed countries would cut their carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent between 1990 and 2005.” (Schoon). However he goes on to argue that the big countries that are not being affected by global warming are going to vote against doing this because they would lose money in doing so. This is a perfect example of how the countries who were the cause of climate change refuse to be the solution for it. These small countries are not even going to exist anymore if climate change is put to its own devices.

The countries in the North are apathetic about the fate of the countries in the tropics. In Revkin’s article, he gives claims that, “We have a message here to tell these countries, that you are causing aggression to us by causing global warming,” Uganda President Yoweri Museveni said in February. “Alaska will probably become good for agriculture, Siberia will probably become good for agriculture, but where does that leave Africa?” (Revkin). This quote from the President of Uganda gives a perfect picture of what could be in store for the countries near the equator. Most of the population of the world lives near the tropics, and just think what would happen if the tropics became a harsh place to live. There would be no crops that would be able to be grown in abundance in the area so it would be impossible to grow your own food. Also, diseases like malaria would spread over the entire region and possibly kill millions.