Fareed Zakaria in the February 17 issue of Newsweek believes that even if we start immediately to take measures to mitigate the warming that is already occurring it will take decades before greenhouse gases will begin to diminish.

He thinks that the only alternative we have is to begin - at the same time that we work on reducing the gases - an adaptation process to live in a "drier, hotter climate".

He quotes Frances Cairncross of the British Association for the Advancement of Science as saying: "This may involve, for instance, developing new crops, constructing flood defenses, setting different building regulations or banning close to sea level."

She also pointed out that adaptation processes could move forward fast. "Unlike plans to slow down global warming, which require massive and simultaneous international efforts, adaptation efforts can be pursued by individual countries, states, cities and localities."

One thought that keeps recurring to me is that it is almost irrelevant what process started this warming. I think that #1, we have to recognize and address the things that we are doing that exacerbate its effects and #2, if we want to continue to live in an inhabitable world we have to take the steps to see to it that we can.