Last week a young woman, knowledgeable and passionate, sat in my office and spoke of the effects global warming was having on our world. The online Wikipedia Encyclopedia defined global warming as the "observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation into the future."

Last week, President George W. Bush, spoke of global warming as an established fact. During this last week in January, scientists from around the world are meeting in Paris to finalize an authoritative report on climate change, expected to be a grim warning of rising temperatures and sea levels worldwide.

AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein and AP National Writer Matt Crenson, reported, "While critics call the panel overly alarmist, it is by nature relatively cautious because it relies on input from hundreds of scientists, including skeptics and industry researchers. And its reports must be unanimous, approved by 154 governments - including the United States and oil-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia.

"The early versions of the new report predict that by 2100 the sea level will rise between 5 and 23 inches (12.7 and 58 centimeters). That's far lower than the 20 to 55 inches (51 to 140 centimeters) forecast by 2100 in a study published in the peer-review journal Science this month.

Other climate experts, including NASA's James Hansen, predict even bigger sea level rises." This is important information for us, for there is the fear this will mean the world's coastlines are swamped much earlier than most thought.

Although some parts of the world have experienced an unusually warm winter, while we here in the Panhandle have had temperatures hovering in the 30's and 40's, it may be difficult to believe that global warming is occurring.

Whatever we think, I think it is necessary that we keep informed about the possible effects and do all we can to help make a difference.

We'll be hearing lots more about this in coming years. In the meantime, keep those jackets and coats handy!