Climate change seems already to be causing weather-related disasters, and the problem is likely to get worse, according to a recent report conducted by scientists at Vrije University in Amsterdam and released by the World Wildlife Fund. Like others before it, the report predicts more droughts and violent storms. It also anticipates that much of the extreme weather to come will hit countries south of the equator, many of which have fewer resources to deal with disasters. Meanwhile, climate scientists are arguing over the best way to tackle global warming, a debate likely to heat up (ahem) after being highlighted in a prominent New York Times article. Many say that the main goal should be reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, the most abundant greenhouse gas, but others, most notably influential NASA climate expert James Hansen, contend that it could be more practical to focus first on reducing less common but more powerful substances that contribute to climate change, including methane, ozone, and soot.
