It's an inconvenient truth but global warming is no longer confined to the political domain. It has transcended all boundaries and concerns the entire human race.Owing to greenhouse gas emissions, the carbon dioxide percentage has increased at an alarming rate and engulfed the planet earth like a blanket.According to a report by Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global greenhouse gas emissions have grown since pre-industrial times, with an increase of 70 per cent between 1970 and 2004.Prognostics of doomsday believe that rising global temperatures would gradually melt the polar ice cap. The resultant increase in sea levels would then cause widespread floods, damage agriculture, livelihood and pose a grave threat to humans.Although the United States and European Union concur that the next 15 years will be decisive in averting a global warming disaster, they disagree on a common approach.While the US recommends switching to cleaner energy sources, Europe proposes new set of binding targets on reducing emissions.Developed vs DevelopingThe thorny issue of how best to tackle climate change is expected to dominate the G-8 (Group of Eight most industrialised nations) summit.Since developed nations like the United States are the largest contributors to climate change, the onus falls on them to bear majority of the economic burden for the same. They can provide crucial assistance to developing nations through transfer of knowledge, new and better technologies and funds."The US is investing billions of dollars in clean energy technologies and coming up with new ways to share these technologies with other nations. Through the spirit of innovation, we will help developing nations grow their economies and be responsible stewards of the environment," said George W Bush, US President.However, the developing nations cannot shun all responsibility, as simply put, there's no time for complacency and the next few years are crucial.Under the Kyoto Protocol, 38 industrialised nations must reduce their gas emissions by an average of 5.2 per cent below 1990 levels, during the period 2008-2012.However, growing developing countries like China and India are outside the framework - President Bush's key reasoning for abandoning Kyoto. Since then, the United States' carbon dioxide emissions have increased to more than 15 per cent above 1990 levels.Amid projections that China would even exceed the United States in total greenhouse gas emissions by 2010, there are growing concerns over the extent to which these newly developed economies have a right to increase their industrial emissions.As the subject is caught in a whirlwind debate, concerted efforts are needed on part of both the developed and developing nations. The global warming threat requires an urgent global response to bring about any effective change