International discussions regarding global warming concluded last week, including more than 2,700 delegates from 180 countries.  The talks are leading up to a UN summit in December, at which a successor to the Kyoto Protocol is planned to be developed.

Action to slow global climate change is urgent – and not just because of rapidly melting glaciers and threatened species around the world.  Climate change threatens our food supply.  Temperatures will reach such a high degree over the coming decades that we may not be able to sustain important crops, according to a study published Science on January 9.  Studying data from 23 climate models, scientists concluded that there is:

“more than 90% chance that by the end of the century, average growing-season temperatures would be hotter than the most extreme levels recorded in the past.”

While some may argue that plants will do better in the heat, studies show the opposite is true over time.  Major heat waves in the past have resulted in decreased crop yields between 30-40%.  Of course, scarcity causes a spike in prices, and everyone suffers.

What’s more, but as the world-wide climates shift, some areas will become barren.  Too dry to produce anything.  Large areas of Africa are particularly at risk.

Can you imagine if the situation became permanent?  That is, if the “heat wave,” is not just a blip, but the norm with which we have to deal each and every year?  The most serious predictions are that half the world’s population could face a food crisis resulting from global warming by 2100.

It is an Inconvenient Truth that we’ve done little to nothing since Al Gore’s documentary was released three years ago:

As shown last week, countries wrangle with each other as to “who will do what, when,” rather than work together to address the crisis at hand.  Time Magazine reported last week:

“Developing countries like China pushed wealthier nations to accept tough short-term carbon emission targets, demanding cuts of at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020. But developed nations demurred, refusing to commit to new cuts now, even though their existing commitments would lead to a reduction of only 4% to 14% below 1990 levels by 2020.”

We don’t have the luxury of time to wait to see what other countries will do as part of the next UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. We do not have an endless ability to adapt to a warmer earth.   Its time to drastically reduce CO2 emissions, through every means possible.

“If we fail, a warmer future won’t just be uncomfortable; it will be downright frightening. “We need to wake up and take care of this,” says [one researcher]. “We won’t have enough food to feed the world today, let alone tomorrow.”

What are you doing in your community to address global climate change?  Please share any inspiring stories.

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1. Greenpeace challenges President Obama to be a leader on global warming