EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

Africa is the poorest continent in the world. The effect of global warming is reported to affect the continent’s wildlife considerably. The poor countries in the continent are not in a position, economically to do much to address this global phenomenon. Or, whether the African countries are paying environmental penalties for the emissions of the developed countries? They continue to emit the gases to support their energy requirements to sustain industrial developments.

Probably, the forestry is the main revenue earner for many countries of the continent. However, South Africa is far more developed and reported to be contributing to the emission of greenhouse gases significantly. That is 318 million tones of carbon dioxide (2003 data). During the same year United States released 5871 million tones! Global green house gas emissions exceed 25 billion tones annually.

Another major contribution may be from methane gas, which is produced during the decay of vegetation - trees, leaves and other forestry products. Methane is a much stronger, more effective greenhouse gas as compared to carbon dioxide. One should look at this seriously since industrial emissions are low due to under development of the African counties.