Roundup Ready - Monsanto

GLOBAL CHALLENGE #4: CLIMATE AND ENERGY OPTIONS
THE ISSUE
As the world’s population continues to grow and as nations develop, the world’s need for food
and energy continues to increase. This means more burning of fossil fuels, the world’s primary source of power
for transportation, manufacturing, utilities, and agricultural production. The combustion of fossil fuels creates
carbon dioxide, which is emitted into the Earth’s atmosphere and becomes a major contributor to the creation
of the greenhouse effect. These gases trap some of the sun’s heat energy and, as they get thicker, increase the
temperature of the Earth’s surface, a phenomenon known as global warming.
Although there are uncertainties associated with the science of global warming, climate change
could affect the larger challenge of sustainable development. The impact of climate change, climate policy
responses, and associated socio-economic development could directly affect the ability of many countries to
achieve sustainable-development goals. Globally, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC), it is very likely that the 1990s were the warmest decade and 1998 the warmest year on record. There
is new and stronger evidence that most of the global warming observed in the past 50 years is attributable to
human activities although natural factors may also play a role. 18
The best way to manage the carbon in the atmosphere is to reduce our need for fossil fuels.
Another way is to increase our use of low-carbon and carbon-free fuels and technologies. A third way is to
capture the carbon in the ground and store more carbon in the soil.
Carbon sequestration potential of agricultural lands worldwide (sustained for 50+ years)
is 850-900 million metric tons of carbon per year or 11 percent of the estimated 8 billion metric tons of
carbon per year believed to be contributed by human activity. Sequestration on other lands such as forests,
grasslands, rangelands and biomass crop lands also help. 19
Carbon Dioxide Concentrate*
CO2 (PPM) / RADIATIVE FORCING (WM 2 )
The past 100 years have seen a steep climb in
atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide
(CO 2). Levels of CO 2 remained steady for about
800 years before that.
Variations of the Earth’s Surface Temperature
for the Past 140 Years (Global)*
DEPARTURES IN TEMPERATURE IN ºC
(FROM THE 1961-1990 AVERAGE)
While the Earth’s temperature varies over time, a
steady increase in average temperature has been
seen since 1860. The average temperature of the
Earth was higher in the year 1998 than at any
other time in the past 140 years.
* Source: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, 2001 Synthesis Report.
340
320
Carbon Dioxide Concentration *
CO 2 (PPM) / RADIATIVE FORCING (WM 2 )
360 1.5
300
280
260
0.8
0.4
0.0
-0.4
-0.8
Variations of the Earth’s Surface Tempature
for the Past 140 Years (global) *
1,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 1,800 2,000
DEPARTURES IN TEMPERATURE IN ºC (FROM THE 1961-1990 AVERAGE)
1,860 1,880 1,900 1,920 1,940
1.0
0.5
0.0
1,960 1,980 2,000
{ MONSANTO COMPANY 2004 PLEDGE REPORT: PAGES 18-19 }