| Summary/Abstract |
Climate change is the result of global warming, which in turn is due to burning fossil fuels for steam and electricity generation. Accumulation of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the earth atmosphere causes greenhouse effect. Disastrous consequences are melting of glaciers, snow and ice sheets, rise in sea level, changes in rainfall pattern, frequent extreme weather events, heat waves, droughts, flash floods, yield loss of crops, ocean acidification, loss of biodiversity, land inundation, etc. Mitigation methods are fuel switching to renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass and nuclear for energy generation. With the new mandate of Obama administration to switch over to renewables of coal based power plants in the US, the difference in appropriate response to climate change between Europe and North America will recede. This, if implemented, would usher a new lease of hope for the present and future generations.
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