Editorial

In spite of the presence of forms of “climate change scepticism and denial”, evidence for the warming of our planet over the past decades is now overwhelming. Scientists are also increasingly confident that many of the patterns associated with global warming are linked to an anthropogenic influence on climate. It is clear that climate can change not only due to long-term natural variations but also due to human intervention. Mankind’s activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and changing land surface processes are having a discernible effect on the global climate, and these processes will impact upon the functioning of many of the planet’s natural systems. A build-up in the atmosphere of carbon dioxide (and other minor climate-altering anthropogenic pollutants gases) is widely recognized as the major culprit of these phenomena. So, global climate change is having and will have profound implications for the quality of life of hundreds of millions of people. New climate will modify our geography, history and everyday way of living. There are people (and scientists) who believe that the world is in the early stages of a truly catastrophic era (the so called “alarmists” who exaggerate the degree and threat of global warming likely to enhance their status, funding, and influence with policy makers); surely the rate of climate change may be unprecedented in the history of our planet. No doubt that climate change is a threat to our future, but also to our natural and cultural heritage as well as overall welfare and sustainability