ed Subtropical Korea

Global warming is real but little has been done to slow the climate change. Despite the expiration of the Kyoto Protocol at the end of next year, the global conference in South Africa this week is unlikely to produce a new binding accord on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to replace it.

The world has seen the hottest temperatures in the last decade. Greenhouse gas emissions are at their peak. The World Meteorological Organization has warned that without more aggressive efforts to reduce emissions, the world will miss the chance to prevent the global average temperature from rising to more dangerous levels.

Global warming will occur four times faster in the future than over the past century. The Korean Peninsula will see a rise in temperature by up to 3.7 degrees Centigrade with rainfall jumping by 15.6 percent by 2050 if the current greenhouse gas emissions continue. The peninsula will become a subtropical zone. The summer period will start from the middle of May and last until early October.

Korea is the world's seventh largest emitter of greenhouse gases. The National Assembly should pass a bill to control the emissions as soon as possible. The government should map out comprehensive plans to help the people adapt themselves to climate change. Global warming will increase the frequencies of diseases. It is also transforming the farming and fisheries sector. Supply and demand predictions will change for electricity and raw materials. Information provision on weather changes should receive added priority. Social infrastructure investment is necessary to prevent landslides and other calamities.

Climate change has become a reality we cannot avoid. A sense of urgency is necessary. The piecemeal and voluntary efforts to curb emissions of greenhouse gases are inadequate in slowing climate change. Heavy emitters such as the United States and China should not be in the passenger’s seat.