Global warming has been on the rise for many years now. Scientists have predicted that if we do not take control and effectively curb this global problem by the end of the century, we will be doomed. Global warming is caused by human use of fossil fuels, including coal, oil and natural gas, which cause the Earth's atmosphere to be overloaded with carbon dioxide, causing disruption to the climate with many disastrous consequences. Some consequences of global warming include drought, massive fires, hurricanes and climate change, which constitutes the greatest environmental and humanitarian crisis of our time. The problem is larger than that, however: global warming is an immediate crisis that has a lasting effect on us, both environmentally and economically; animal extinction is increasing, the outbreak of war can cause even more damage, sustainable development can bring us a bright future. Many species of animals are endangered, but I took the time to research the great panda. The giant panda bear is one of the most loved and adored animals in the world and I am proud of this belief. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), in 2004 the number of pandas left in the wild stood at 1,600, which is terribly worrying. Pandas live in the bamboo forests of the high mountains of western China, where they are considered a national treasure. Pandas play an important role in the bamboo forest, as they roam their habitats, spread seeds and facilitate the growth of vegetation. They also bring enormous economic benefits to local communities through ecotourism. If they make the area more sustainable, it will improve the quality of life for the local people and the pandas. May 12, 2008 in Sichuna, Ch...... middle of paper ......really has an impact on our future at an extremely higher cost; saving the environment will produce world peace, animals and their habitats will live longer, we will be able to save more money, cancer rate, mortality rate and obesity rate will see major decrees. A clean and safer environment can lead to an improved lifestyle; cycling is fun and eco-friendly. The first step is always the hardest, but that heart-swelling feeling and smile on the face will be priceless when they look over their shoulder and see their footprints leading the way for others to follow. Works Cited Dell'Amore, Christine. “Did the pandas sense the arrival of an earthquake in China? » NationalGeographic.com. National Geographic News, May 15, 2008. Web. November 3, 2013. Gore, Al. “Global warming is an immediate crisis. » Read for today. Ed. Gary Goshgarian. New York: Pearson Education Inc., 2008. 181. Print.