Globalization and Global Warming The great problem of global warming is a decision problem between mankind and nature

that requires very important steps on an international level. The economies of the world are expanding, and so is the dependency of mankind of oil and fossil fuels. This is negatively affecting the environment at an increasing rate, and makes the environmental challenge for humanity even more difficult to face. According to the author, this is an issue much more important than the clash of civilization, because the increasing demands of globalization are increasing the problem of global warming, since the replacement of fossil fuels with alternatives forms of energy very expensive and not possible within the technological and economical capabilities of today. In the article "The Global Dilemma: A Game against Nature", the author Jan-Erik Lane asks the question whether humanity survive the future energy-environment crisis. To put more focus on the importance of this issue, the author includes a quote from British scientists who said that the environmental crisis which humanity should be ready to face is more important "than the themes of a clash of civilizations or Islamic terrorism". The first cause of this environmental and energy crisis is the increasing demands and expansion of globalization which is forcing countries and economies around the world to use more energy from fossil fuels and exploit the resources of the earth more and more each day. This is leading to a "green house effect", which is negatively affecting the climate and has very heavy results.

One part of globalization is the expansion of businesses through international companies and industries around the world. This process will demands more and more transport and

the usage of air, sea and oil every day. These demands will put more and more pressure on the environment and as a result, on the climate. For example, globalization is increasing the use of cars, air tourism, and therefore producing more and more carbon dioxide into the air, which affects the environment in many ways, such as: increasing the climate temperature, increasing the acidity of the sea and melting the ice in the north and south poles. These will have drastic effects on global warming and also on the safety and condition of mankind. Another cause for global warming which the article talks about is the very expensive and sometimes impossible ways of creating alternative energy other than fossil fuels. The author says in his article about alternative energy that all the different kinds of alternative energy have their own problems and risks. It is either that they will require fossil fuels in order to be produced, or they are extremely expensive or risky, such as solar energy and nuclear energy. In addition to that, the innovations and technological capabilities that would be needed to face the environmental challenges are not guaranteed to come anytime soon and maybe they would be too late. Because of all those causes and negative effects on the environment and the climate because of globalization and its demands, mankind faces very big challenge in avoiding a global environmental crisis that can threaten its existence. In the authors opinion, in order to face this crisis in a good and safe way, countries around the world need strong regional and international governance mechanisms that can properly decide and make rules that would protect the environment and limit the effects of global warming on humanity. For example, those decisions can protect oceans and seas, work on the privatization of endangered species and put more regulations on the use of energy.

Finally, the features of globalization are very demanding and depend a lot on fossil fuels, which is increasing the danger of global warming especially that alternative energy cannot be produced as easily and quickly as needed. This is the case with the production of energy from hydrogen, methane or solar energy. In my opinion, international efforts and coordination by all countries is very important because all countries share a part of the responsibility in the problem of global warming, especially that globalization involved them all and not just one country or two.

Bibliography: 1) Jan-Erik Lane (2005). The Global Dilemma: A Game against Nature. Aussenwirtschaft, 60(2), 135-147. Retrieved May 1, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database.