Today Earth Day is being celebrated around the world. People are coming together to pay tribute to our amazing planet and its natural beauty. While we are showing our appreciation of the Earth, we are also reminded of the many threats facing it, not the least of which is global warming.

Many nations around the world recognize the danger climate change poses to the planet and are taking actions to reduce the impact of humans on our surroundings. Unfortunately, however, the United States has yet to even acknowledge that global warming is real, never mind that it is potentially catastrophic.

So far, we have already seen the potential destruction that global warming can cause in the United States . Just a few examples are:

• Snowpacks in the Sierra Nevada are shrinking and will almost entirely disappear by the end of the century, devastating the source of California’s water.

• Eskimos are being forced inland in Alaska as their native homes on the coastline are melting into the sea.

• Glaciers are disappearing in Glacier National Park in Montana. In 100 years, the park has gone from having 150 glaciers to fewer than 30. And the 30 that remain are two-thirds smaller than they once were.

Beyond our borders, scientists are predicting how the impact of global warming will be felt around the globe.

It has been estimated that two-thirds of the glaciers in western China will melt by 2050, seriously diminishing the water supply for the region’s 300 million inhabitants. Additionally, the disappearance of glaciers in the Andes in Peru is projected to leave the population without an adequate water supply during the summer.

Water is too precious a resource to put its future at risk. We rely on it in our daily life – for ourselves and for agriculture that produces our food supply. The threat our water supplies face from the effects of global warming should not be taken lightly.

Global warming is a very real problem and it is only going to get worse unless we take action. It is primarily caused by greenhouse gases that are produced from fossil fuel consumption.

It is imperative that we reduce these emissions. We have the technology and the know-how to create more fuel efficient, cleaner-burning technology, we just need to use it.

First, we need to reduce the amount of energy we consume by using energy efficient technologies and appliances. We also need to improve the fuel efficiency of our vehicles by supporting hybrids and requiring SUVs to have the same fuel efficiency as passenger cars.

Second, we need to explore renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind power, geothermal and biomass systems. They don’t produce carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases, and have little or no impact on the environment while generating electricity for homes and businesses nationwide.

Finally, the United States should participate in international negotiations on climate change. We refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, one of the best examples of international cooperation to sustain the world’s environment. Nevertheless the treaty went into effect earlier this year with the support of more than 140 nations, including all 25 members of the European Union, Russia and China.

Although the United States has only 4 percent of the world’s population, it accounts for about 25 percent of the greenhouse gases. It is time that the United States step up and take responsibility for our actions and our impact on the world.

It is ironic, though, that our economic reality is driving progress when it comes to increasing automobiles’ fuel efficiency. Skyrocketing gasoline prices are leading motorists to think about fuel efficiency when choosing their next vehicle. Quarterly auto sales reflect that buyers are buying smaller more fuel efficient cars and sales of the big, luxury, “souped up” vehicles have dropped significantly.

Even SUV sales have slowed. First quarter 2005 deliveries of these vehicles are down compared to the same period last year – for example sales of the Ford Excursion is down by 29.5%, the Cadillac Escalade by 19.9%, and the Toyota Sequoia by 12.6%.

On the other hand, the Toyota Prius hybrid had record sales in March with a 160.9% increase over the previous year, and J.D. Powers & Associates is predicting that smaller cars, such as the Chevy Cobalt and Ford Focus, will increase their market share over the next several years.

Consumers are sending automakers a wake up call by demanding more cars that get better mileage. Car makers should listen.

Global warming is a problem that is not going to go away if we ignore it. On the contrary, it will only get worse. The time to act is now.