No one can overestimate the harmful effects of rapid climate change. Countries around the world, especially advanced economies, are stepping up their efforts to fight global warming. However, their action has not been enough to drastically reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. More efforts are needed to prevent catastrophic consequences and to save the Earth before it is too late.
South Korea is ready to take more responsibility on global warming. And the government has been stepping up cooperation to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It is also preparing measures for a new international accord on combating climate change to replace the United Nation's Kyoto Protocol that will expire in 2012.
But, there are growing fears that the world cannot contain global warming without taking revolutionary measures. For example, the annual average temperature here in South Korea is expected to climb from the present 13.6 degrees Celsius to 14.8 degrees in 2020, 16.6 degrees in 2050, and 18.6 degrees in 2080. It is apparent that South Korea will turn into a subtropical country well before the end of the 21st century.
It is widely believed that local farmers will no longer be able to grow apples as early as 2030, while pine trees, common in the country, will disappear rapidly. People are likely to experience the wide-ranging effects of global warming in every sector of society in several decades. What matters is whether we can adapt ourselves to the rapid climate change.
Most people are skeptical that we can lead a decent life without suffering from the fallout of the warming. In a seminar Wednesday, the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs disclosed a study on how to ensure food safety in the wake of climate change. According to the study, the occurrences of malaria and Hanta virus diseases will increase 3 percent and 22 percent, respectively, every time the temperature rises by 1 degree centigrade.
The institute forecast that cases of cholera, bacillary dysentery and other contagious diseases will jump 35.3 percent in 2020, 49.3 percent in 2050 and 64.9 percent in 2080 due to climate change. It also warned that the nation will face growing problems with avian influenza, and new strains of viruses, threatening the health of not only animals but also humans.
Bird flu is now raging throughout South Korea. The health authorities are being criticized for failing to take the appropriate action to contain the disease in its early stages. Some experts say that the spread of the virus in spring and early summer is unusual, pointing out that the outbreak has much to do with climate change.
It is imperative for the nation to establish an effective system to prevent contagious diseases from threatening public health. In addition, the authorities should promote research on such diseases and develop vaccines and drugs to combat them. What's more important is to take fundamental measures to combat climate change.