ABSTRACT
The Earth's atmosphere is being changed at an unprecedented rate by pollutants resulting from human activities, inefficient and wasteful fossil fuel use and the effects of rapid population growth in many regions. These changes represent a major threat to international security and are having harmful consequences over many parts of the globe. Perceived national interests are central to the politics of climate change, and the ability of the global community to avoid dangerous levels of climate change. New Zealand is less vulnerable than Australia due to its location at higher latitudes and a climate more moderated by the oceans, which will slow warming over land. The Kyoto Protocol commits developed nations and countries in transition to achieve quantified reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Global warming is expected to have profound effects on India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, although there are large uncertainties about the relative effects on the summer monsoon rains of global warming with/without taking account of aerosol effects.
