the future under business-as-usual global warming.

Under almost every scenario, the Appalachian Mountains, from Georgia north to Maine, turned from green to brown. As the planet warms and dries, the scientist told me, the hardwoods in the eastern forests are likely to burn down-- and not grow back. From Atlanta north to Pittsburgh, the country all starts to looks like a Houston Savannah. And this process, could be well underway by 2025.

A properly financed, public-private global transition to high-efficiency and renewable energy technologies holds the potential for an unprecedented worldwide economic boom.

A global public works program to rewire the planet would create millions of new jobs all over the world.
It would begin to reverse the widening gap between the North and the South.
It would raise living standards in developing nations without compromising the economic achievements of industrial nations.
And in a very few years, the renewable energy industry would eclipse high technology as the central driving engine of growth of the global economy.
What is missing is neither the technology nor the know-how. What is missing is the vision.

Actions You can take to Stop Global Warming

Calculate and offset your carbon dioxide footprint at www.carboncounter.org.

Make your vote count at the voting booth and cash register -- choose environmentally conscience candidates and products. www.lcv.org

Replace your 2 most-used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.

Plant a tree native to your region - they suck up carbon dioxide and produce clean air for us to breathe. Log onto www.americanforests.org

Replace one appliance or piece of office equipment with an energy-efficient model - look for the energy star label. www.energystar.gov

Gas usage has a huge impact. Consider alternatives-walk, ride a bike, use public transit, carpool, or drive a fuel-efficient, hybrid vehicle such as a Toyota Prius.