Rising temperatures, rising concern

Although there are those who maintain that the phenomenon either does not exist or else is not as serious as is being claimed, the majority view - certainly within the scientific community - is that global warming is not only very real, but that it represents the most significant environmental issue of our time. An issue that, if not addressed properly and promptly, could have a profound effect on the future of the Earth and its inhabitants.

IPCC statistics reveal that overall the world's temperature has risen by 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.6 degrees Celsius) over the past century, and is projected to increase by a further 3 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 to 5.5 degrees Celsius) by 2100. As Dr. Greg Marland, a climate expert with the U.S. Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Centre, puts it: "I have a mantra - Fix, change, tinker or cope. Fix the current energy system, change the current energy system, tinker with the climate system, or cope with the changes that come about as a result of global warming. "My feeling is that we're going to end up doing a lot of coping."