Global warming isn't new. Everybody knows about it, everybody talks about it. It is no secret. But how long will it be before we see actual consequences? In the past years, we have heard various news about the polar ice caps melting, and worldwide pollution, and we have seen various initiatives being implemented by some governments and non-governmental organisations. According to the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), global warming will be unstoppable, therefore irremediable, if the world doesn't commit to green technologies by 2014... that's a little more than 4 years from now.
According to their research, total greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are estimated at 463 parts per million. And we are dangerously close to 475 ppm, point at which according to studies reversing the damages will be impossible, and runaway climate changes will be more likely. But if we can get to a comfortable spot of 400 ppm, we will be able to prevent massive damage and worldwide catastrophes.
And now, we start to see the consequences. According to a study by the University of Ohio, the ice and snow caps of mount Kilimanjaro are disappearing. If current conditions persist, Kilimanjaro's glaciers will be gone within the next 20 years. The plateau shrank (melted) 85% when compared to 1912. And 26% of this shrinkage happened in the last 8 years. The disappearance of Mount Kilimanjaro's ice caps would have an effect on Tanzania's economy, as it welcomes around 40000 visitors each year. But more concerning is the fact that if we don't do something today, not only these ice caps will be gone, but global warming will be unstoppable.
Sources:
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/11/02/kilimanjaro.glaciers/index.html
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2009-10/wwf-report-we-have-until-2014-stop-global-warming
