What Can Be DoneMeasures -- heavily dependent on teamwork and political will -- can slow the rate of global warming and help the world cope with the climate shifts that occur.Reducing emissions. Burning oil and coal more efficiently, switching to renewable forms of energy, and developing new technologies for industry and transport can attack the problem at the source.Expanding forests. Trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but deforestation -- the current trend -- liberates additional carbon.Changing lifestyles and rules. The cultures and habits of millions of people -- essentially, whether they waste energy or use it efficiently -- have a major impact on climate change. So do government policies and regulations.Coping. Steps have to be taken to limit damage from consequences of global warming

Accomplishments to date . . . and ChallengesTechnology versus politics and economics* Between 1990 and 2000, total greenhouse-gas emissions of industrialized countries actually declined (by 5.6 per cent) -- but that reflected unusual circumstances. Emissions of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union fell by 37 per cent. That more than compensated for an 8.2 per cent increase in emissions among developed countries elsewhere. The real work -- worldwide economic progress combined with reduced emissions -- has yet to be accomplished. * Technology already exists that could stabilize and even reduce greenhouse gas levels within a few decades. Getting such technology in place – such as using renewable energy sources – is politically and economically difficult.

* Economic systems and governments currently aren't arranged for accomplishing greenhouse-gas reductions. Cutting emission costs are immediate. The benefits, such as fewer severe storms, floods, and droughts will occur in the future and will benefit people everywhere, whether they pay for the relevant technology or not. It is hard to put a price on these positive outcomes. * If laws and regulations around the world aren't equally demanding, businesses in countries that don't require greenhouse-gas reductions will be able to operate more cheaply and sell their products at lower prices (in the short term) than businesses in countries that require more climate-friendly behavior resulting in competitiveness problems. * No-regret options can reduce emissions and pay for themselves through greater efficiency and lower operating costs . . . but even those require up front investments.

Examples of progress to date

* Denmark stabilized emissions between 1990 and 2000 by switching to more efficient methods of electricity generation and by shifting from coal to renewable energy and natural gas. * Germany achieved a considerable reduction in CO2 emissions by economic restructuring resulting from reunification, through reduced use of lignite, and greater use of wind. There also were substantial cuts in methane emissions from coal production, waste management, and agriculture.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Scientists sound the alarm•It fell to scientists to draw international attention to the threats posed by global warming. Evidence in the 1960s and '70s that concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere were increasing first led climatologists and others to press for action. It took years before the international community responded.

• In 1988, the IPCC was created by the World Meteorological Organization and the UN Environment Programme. This group issued a first report in 1990 reflecting views of 400 scientists stating that global warming was real and urged that something be done about it.

IPCC•The Panel's findings spurred governments to create the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It was ready for signature at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development -- the "Earth Summit" -- in Rio de Janeiro. •The IPCC does not conduct its own scientific inquiries, but reviews worldwide research and issues regular assessment reports. •The IPCC's findings, because they reflect global scientific consensus and are apolitical, form a counterbalance to the highly charged political debate over what to do about climate change. IPCC reports played a major role in the negotiations leading to the Kyoto Protocol, a second, more far-reaching international treaty on climate change.

The Kyoto ProtocolThis international agreement sets legally binding targets and timetables for cutting the greenhouse-gas emissions of industrialized countries. The Protocol shall enter into force on the 90th day after the date on which not less than 55 Parties, which accounted for at least 55% of the total CO2 emissions for 1990 have approved it. In November 2004 Russia ratified the protocol bringing it into effect. On 16th February 2005 the Kyoto Protocol entered into force!!

Table: Total carbon dioxide emissions of Annex I Parties in 1990Party Emissions (Gg) PercentageAustralia 288,965 2.1Austria 59,200 0.4Belgium 113,405 0.8Bulgaria 82,990 0.6Canada 457,441 3.3Czech Republic 169,514 1.2Denmark 52,100 0.4Estonia 37,797 0.3Finland 53,900 0.4France 366,536 2.7Germany 1,012,443 7.4Greece 82,100 0.6Hungary 71,673 0.5Iceland 2,172 0.0Ireland 30,719 0.2Italy 428,941 3.1Japan 1,173,360 8.5Latvia 22,976 0.2Liechtenstein 208 0.0Luxembourg 11,343 0.1Monaco 71 0.0Netherlands 167,600 1.2New Zealand 25,530 0.2Norway 35,533 0.3Poland 414,930 3.0Portugal 42,148 0.3Romania 171,103 1.2Russia 2,388,720 17.4Slovakia 58,278 0.4Spain 260,654 1.9Sweden 61,256 0.4Switzerland 43,600 0.3UK 584,078 4.3USA 4,957,022 36.1Total 13,728,306 100.0(31 out of 34 have ratified)