Environmental Issues - Global Warming

For the last one-hundred years the earth’s surface temperature has been on the rapid rise leaving scientists to wonder what the state of the earth will be in the years to come. If this problem continues it seems that the future could hold some major problems for society as we know it.
To have any chance of getting this problem under control it seems that we will need to change certain aspects of our lifestyles. The fact that our society is emitting so many greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is one of the major concerns when it comes to stabilizing the problem. Our society has become so accustomed to a certain way of living I feel it would be hard for the majority to change. The problem is, if we don’t change consequences such as species extinction and a rise in sea level will occur. Although there are other aspects in the world such as volcanoes that contribute to global warming, humans have played a crucial role in its development. Humans will also have to play a crucial role if we plan on getting this problem under control.
We have known about this problem for so long and still refuse to really take a stand and try to control it knowing it could cause fatal outcomes in the future. The Kyoto Protocol calls for a limitation on the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere (Wikipedia “global warming"). The problem is the United States is one of the few who has not ratified this Protocol. Which some will say would be a knock on the United States but of the countries who have signed the Protocol who is actually enforcing it? Just because you put it in writing does not guarantee it will be followed.
It seems if we are ever going to stabilize this problem we will have to begin with two of the most powerful countries in the world, whom also happen to be the two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases the United States and China. With how technologically advanced these two countries are it would seem that drastic improvements will need to be made if the world stands a chance of stabilizing global warming.