Our+Position.



Our team's position on global warming is more on the "going green" side of the climate change spectrum. We believe that humans have in fact been contributing to the recent rise in the level of global warming, and that we need to take responsibility for out irresponsible past actions, or we will have some very serious consequences. We believe that global warming, if not decreased, will take its toll on agriculture, the environment, and definitely the economy. We believe that although going green will be expensive, it will pay off in the end. The state of the economy is probably the biggest factor affecting what should be done about global warming. What people do not realize is that by not doing anything about global warming, we could lose more money than by contributing to the "going green " movement. At this moment in time going green will be somewhat taxing on our already injured economy, but this does not mean that we should put off acting on climate change until we are in a completely stable economic state again: this could be years, and by then it might be too late. If we do nothing about global warming, simply because of fear of losing money, in the future we will lose just as much if not more wealth because of increases in health costs, the prices of natural disasters and damages to agriculture, and we would still have increases in energy costs.


 * __THE ECONOMY and AGRICULTURE__**
 * If global warming is not slowed down, then the economy will pay the price.** Agriculture is a major part in the world's economy, and what affects the growth and well-being of agriculture? The environment. And as everyone knows, global warming directly affects the environment. If conditions for growing a crop is affected by a changed pattern of temperature, weather, or change in the ecosystem, the crop will not be able to grow. Many crops rely on water to grow, although it is predicted that with global warming there will be a 7% increase in precipitation, the increase in heat and evaporation will make that 7% increase insignificant. The increase needed would actually have to be far more to even equal the amount of water available for use we have today. Here, desertification becomes an issue, as areas aren't able to receive enough water and life is unable to prosper in that area.


 * //Extreme Weather-//**
 * Many crops need water to grow, but they also need** **suitable land**. Scientists say the global warming is causing, and will continue causing, an increase in severe storms and weather. Just between 1990 and 2004 did level 4 and 5 hurricane in the Atlantic-Caribbean-Gulf of Mexico area increase in number from 16 to 25. In the western Pacific area, it went from 85 to 116, this increase is happening all over the world. These storms ruin crops, wash away crops, and wash away the top soil needed to grow crops. If these severe storms continually destroy and damage to land needed to grow crops, where will the crops grow? Along with these severe hurricanes, long periods of drought are expected.


 * //Effects of Temperature Change-//**
 * Temperature changes also play a role in the prospering of agriculture**, directly and indirectly. Certain crops can only grow properly in certain temperatures, so therefore they are only grown in specific areas where the temperature is right. If the climate in that area increases or decreases in temperature, then crop will not grow well anymore, if it even will grow at all. And relying on just "shifting" agriculture to a place where the climate is right, might not be enough to save the crops. Temperature also effects animals that impact agriculture. Insects that are needed pollinate crops and allow them to grow, are relocating to climates that allow them to survive, because of the changes in climate. These animals that relocate, do not belong in the new ecosystem they go to, and can mess up the new ecosystem. Overpopulation occurs, and insects that don't usually belong destroy agriculture in the area.

//**Population and Resources-**//
 * So how are //we// contributing to the endangerment of our agriculture?** We are using up our resources to a point where it is excessive. Deforestation, [[image:ethinol.jpg align="left"]]some of the technology we use to enhance agriculture, and processes such as ethanol fuel production are examples of this. In these processes we use up our resources and contribute more excessive Carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, contributing to the problem of global warming, and as explained previous, global warming could have enormous effects of our agriculture. The global population is growing at an ever quickening rate, and more people means using more resources. If flooding occurs and agriculture is damaged because of the effects of global warming how will we provide the resources needed for these people to survive? If we do not act now to start a decrease in global warming, the future generations will pay the price of our delay.

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