Since “climategate” was publicized at the Copenhagen conference in November last year, the attitude of the general public has sparked a conspicuous shift on the issue of climate change. According to the results of a Gallup poll released last month, a large number of Americans believe the importance of global warming has been magnified by some scientists. The percentage of respondents who said there are exaggerations went up from 30 percent in 2006 to 41 percent last year and 48 percent this year, according to the Taipei Times (“Fear-mongering on climate change,” April 1, page 8).

However, it is definitely true that serious natural catastrophes have been taking place more frequently worldwide during the past decade. In Taiwan, Typhoon Morakot, which devastated the ­Kaohsiung area in August last year, is a memory of acute grievance for Taiwanese.

In fact, our country is suffering from serious natural threats, such as rising sea levels, gradual water shortages and decreasing fish stocks. Even though we cannot predict how harmful the greenhouse effect to the planet is going to be in the immediate future, we should still deal with the most fundamental cause of climate change — large-scale carbon dioxide emissions and other destructive human activities.

There are many pragmatic ways to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions we produce, such as carpooling, making use of public transportation, improving the use of pastures and reforestation.

Another alarming hazard related to climate change affects insect pollination, such as the honey bee colony collapse, which has begun to threaten the successful pollination of billions of dollars of crops in the US. How to prevent the spread of these diseases is also a crucial issue in relation to climate change.

We in Taiwan should live up to our responsibility for the preservation of our planet as well as safeguarding the future of our children. For Taiwan, Morakot has taught us a severe lesson.