Is global warming a myth? In a word: yes! But only because of what it implies. The media for years has used Global Warming to describe the changes in our climate as predicted by scientists. Whilst some areas will see an increase in average temperatures, many places will see a cooling, or other weather effects.
Today scientists use the more accurate term ‘climate change’ to describe what is happening to our planet. Whilst the average temperature over the entire planet is predicted to increase (ergo ‘global warming’) the changes will not be equal in every corner of every continent.
The planet’s temperature increase is predicted to lead to stronger, but fewer hurricanes and typhoons around the world. It will also change the distribution of rainfall around the world; causing an increase overall, but changing the distribution and leading to more droughts and floods, rather than sustained evenly distributed rainfall.
So too the UAE could be in for more rainstorms and weather events. In fact, the UAE is in a unique position; although it has some of the world’s largest reserves of oil and gas, it is also at the forefront of sustainable energy and strives to lead the world in reducing harmful carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
With summer rapidly approaching and the temperatures rising, we are reminded that the UAE has one of the highest carbon footprints per person in the world. If we all turn our air conditioning in our homes and cars down by just one degree, we could collectively save a large amount of carbon.
For a one stop shop on with everything you need to know about climate change head to http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/interactive/2011/aug/15/everything-know-climate-change
By Emma Kirkman
