Last week's damning United Nations report on global warming has painted a grim picture of environmental calamities and prompted a flash flood of international response.
The European Union has so far shifted to the forefront, proclaiming itself to be the "leader" in combating the looming environmental crisis, which is predicted to open a barrage of droughts, floods, famines and the disappearance of Greenland altogether from planet Earth.
"The EU should give a clear signal to our partners worldwide that it is time to move from words to action," said the European Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas in the Environment News Service (ENS) report.
Mr. Dimas also called for a more co-ordinated effort from the developed nations, especially the US, which remains the largest emitter of heat-trapping gases in the world.
"There is no way a single group of countries will be able on its own to tackle climate change," he commented, while pushing for an "urgent start" to international talks on global warming.
The U.N. report, compiled by 2500 scientists from over 130 countries, is the first of a series being published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) this year. It will culminate in November with the release of a "synthesis report", which will outline steps to avoid the apocalypse scenario presented so far.
The cost to the planet, in human and financial terms, would be incalculable, says the report. EU experts have admitted that rising temperatures will kill an extra 11,000 people in Europe a year within 10 years.
Residents of Italy and Spain will suffer most from drought, fire, dry soil and other climate-change related factors. However, the hotter weather would save 20,000 people who would otherwise die from the cold, reported the UK's Western Mail.
France Takes Charge
Promoted by the grim perspectives, France has taken its own initiative to form a new environmental body, which will police the planet and have the potential power to punish violators.
Spearheaded by President Jaques Chriac, the plan has already been approved by over 140 nations, mostly from Europe, within two days of the U.N. report's release on Friday February 1.
"It is our responsibility. The future of humanity demands it," said Mr. Chirac in an Associated Press report, while also expressing regret that "some large, rich nations" are "refusing to accept the consequences of their acts"—a reference to the heavyweight polluters such as the U.S., China and India, who together produce over 50 per cent of world's greenhouse gas emissions.
Other Support
Mr. Chirac's drive was applauded by the U.S. Former Vice President Al Gore.
"We are at a tipping point…We must act, and act swiftly…," said Mr. Gore, who has received world-wide acclaim for his Oscar-nominated documentary on the perils of global warming.
Newly appointed U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon also confirmed that climate change will be one of his "top priorities" over the next five years of his term.
"The report highlights the scientific consensus regarding the quickening and threatening pace of human-induced climate change," said Mr. Ban, reported the ENS.
Grim Reality
However, it is perhaps Indonesia's Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar who brought the issue into perspective. The poor nation stands to lose about 2000 islands by 2030 due to climate change.
"It is very, very serious," Mr. Witoelar told reporters. The rising temperatures and evolving weather patterns are already affecting rice production – one of the major food sources in Indonesia.
To date many countries have failed to comply with the 1997 Kyoto Protocol—a benchmark target plan for cutting down greenhouse has emissions, which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 5 per cent from 1990 levels.
It has been ratified by 169 countries, but the U.S. and Australia remain the only industrialised nations that have refused to commit to the targets.