Climate change realities hitting G8 and China

Climate change is sure to be one of the dominant issues when the leaders of the eight largest industrialized powers meet in Heiligendamm, Germany, this week for their annual summit. The reality of the human link to global warming is accepted worldwide.

In its Fourth Assessment report, the United Nations-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) offered its strongest language to emphasize that earth's climate is warming and humans are largely responsible.

Climate change not only has a major impact on the ecological environment around the globe. It also poses a severe challenge to the production, consumption and lifestyle of human society. How we respond to climate change now will shape our future.