As a result of many factors, the climate has changed in recent years. These changes have been perceived around the world and has allegedly affected many forms of life around the globe. Global warming is one of the names this phenomenon has received, but there are theories that speak of a global cooling problem, especially in some regions of the planet.

Usually this phenomenon is attributed to high levels of pollution that our modern, industrialized lives expel a mother nature that, despite not being alive, has managed to self-regulate, regulate and even for centuries.

Days, weeks, months and years have passed, but there seems no clear way to resolve the issue. At most, a variety of publications, some more disturbing than others, try to remind ourselves occasionally that the problem is still there and that unless we take action on the matter, we must bear the consequences for generations.

Today I decided to gather some information that is publicly available and an analysis of the topic. The first item on the list was trying to clarify what is global warming. To my surprise, I found that was a perfectly normal natural phenomenon that allows for life on the planet. To summarize, I would say that the sun’s rays bounce off a few times in and out of the planet, warming the atmosphere in the process, until finally managed to get out.

What is causing the problem is that pollution, mainly-but not exclusively carbon dioxide pollution causes the sun to bounce a few times more than they should. As a result, the temperature seems to be rising everywhere in a slight but noticeable.

So far, it seems that the only two things we need to do is stop sending CO2 and other polluting gases into the atmosphere and start planting more trees to plants to absorb excess carbon dioxide on the planet. However, apart from that it is much easier said than done, this is not the only approach to the problem.

So far the solutions have come from the hand of technological change, more stringent regulatory sanctions, to establish tax or subsidy polluter who develop products “green” or environmentally friendly. All these measures have had mixed success, the fact is that the planet’s environmental situation is getting worse and increasingly irreversible.

Taking into account this should analyze the relationship between the environment and the system of capitalist production, thinking because so far as economy and ecology are conflicting issues. For us the key solution to environmental problems is environmental education at all levels and sectors of society (productive or not).

Indeed we believe that the main outlet (not only, as this must be accompanied by other measures to cut economic, political, technological, etc.). Comes from the hand of education, in this case of environmental education. This is a fundamental tool to achieve a change in attitude and behavior in society, not only producers but also consumers all over the world.

In nature, things just are. They are traversed by criteria or value judgments or moral, socially constructed elements as a tool of subjugation and domination of the supra-species towards conspecifics. This is easily demonstrated, since according to evolutionary theory and accept that the earth has an approximate age of 4,500 million years, nature has built its own cycles without human presence that emerges only in the last two million years.

In nature has not yet been able to verify that elephants do transcendental meditation, or that monkeys attend mass on Sundays. Likewise, the lion king’s monarchical status is another maneuver by the ruling class to further lead to magical thinking and natural, the need for a hierarchical system or class, which justifies the presence of drivers and messianic saviors for the human herd. Walt Disney’s work in this regard, it has operated effectively through his work in the minds of children.

Biodiversity is the variability among living organisms, terrestrial, marine and aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity within species, between species and within and between ecosystems.

Human cultural diversity could be considered as part of biodiversity. Because it has some attributes that could be considered solutions to problems of survival in particular environments (nomads, crop rotation). It also help people adapt to environmental change.

Cultural diversity is reflected in the diversity of language, religious beliefs, practices of land management, art, music, social structures, the selection of crops in the diet and all attribute of society.

Many of the least disturbed ecosystems in biodiversity across the planet are in Latin America (Patagonia, Amazon, tropical mountain forests, the concentrations of marine Atlantic or the South Pacific and the Tepuyes to them must also add the Antarctic).

Tropical forests are the key to store the world’s biological diversity. The same was developed by 100 million years of evolutionary activity (forming an irreplaceable gene bank). Occupy only 6% of land area, and live there for more than half of all species on earth.

The reduction of biodiversity is a direct consequence of human development, because many ecosystems have been converted into impoverished systems that are less productive, economically and biologically. You might say, inappropriate use of ecosystems and disrupt their operation also involves a cost.

The conservation of biodiversity is a change in attitude from a defensive posture (protection of nature against the impact of development) to active work that seeks to meet the needs of biological resources of the population while ensuring the sustainability over time of Earth’s biotic wealth.

Lands
Wetlands (marshes, mangroves) are among the ecosystems that generate more life. Hence its huge ecological importance and danger of disappearing. The first overall assessment reveals that more than 1,200 million hectares of land (equivalent to the combined area of China and India) have suffered serious degradation in the last forty-five years, according to data from the World Resources Institute.

Waters
Contaminate water is life itself. The entire life cycle, reproduction and food of man, animals and the sea is profoundly affected. At present, all the world’s oceans are affected by oil spills. Nearly every year, spilling into the sea 3.5 million barrels.

The Air
Any particles of solid or gaseous material that accumulates in the atmosphere and reaches negative effects for life or the environment is considered polluting. Air pollution can be concluded, is an old problem. A century ago, was caused mainly by smokestacks that testified to the rise of the Industrial Revolution. Today, they have diversified sources and effects have expanded.

However, in a study entitled ‘Environment and Human Security’, have indicated that there is still time to reverse this situation if steps are taken and improved weather forecasting systems worldwide.

Catastrophic flooding

Experts added that this situation of alarm was evident late last month with the floods that devastated farmland in Haiti and the Dominican Republic and caused more than a thousand deaths.

Created by the UN General Assembly in 1973, the University brings together experts in research, training and dissemination of knowledge related to pressing global problems.

The experts added that an estimated one billion people, ie one sixth of world population living in areas that will be the scene of the worst floods of the century.

Currently, only floods affecting over 530 million people worldwide, causing an average of 25,000 deaths a year, destroying homes, disease and loss of crops and livestock.

Irrational use of land

According to experts at the university, this situation has been exacerbated by the unsustainable and irrational use of land and other human actions.

“In a world more humid and hot as science predicts, the upper Northern Hemisphere will likely see more storms, while summers in some inland areas will be drier and prone to drought,” said Janos Bogardi, director of study.

According to the study, the most affected region will be Asia, where during the last decades an average of more than 400 million people have been hit by floods.

The experts have reported that the annual cost of floods and other climate-related disasters (mainly in developing countries) is between 50,000 and 60,000 million dollars, a sum equivalent to all the development aid given to countries donors.

Widespread problems

But problems are not limited to developing nations, also affect the industrialized countries, said the report. In Europe, the flood caused a hundred deaths in 2002, affected 450,000 people and caused losses estimated 20,000 million.

In the U.S., where 50 people died and damage was done by over 50,000 million due to overflow of the Mississippi River in 1993, floods are charged an average of 25 persons each year since 1980.

According to experts of the United Nations University, these problems will double in the areas most likely due to an expansion of climate processes (droughts or floods), the increase in sea levels and the continued deforestation.

“What is needed most urgently to the increasing risk of flood disasters is greater global capacity to monitor and forecast extreme events” of the climate, has emphasized Bogardi.

“With better information, you can install better warning systems and infrastructure to identify new strategies,” he added. But more than anything, according to the expert, “what is needed is to change the international mindset of the reaction (…) and charity to anticipation and prevention.”

The countries are very generous when it comes to help after the disaster, but much less so when it comes to making preparations to face, he added.