There are two meanings to the axiom that the 21st century is the century of the environment: (1) Global environmental problems will become more serious, and (2) environmental problems will be the driving force of economic development.
Already, since the beginning of this century, significant climatic changes have been noted in the world, although there is no clear scientific evidence linking the recent changes to a rise in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide.
For example, an abnormally large number of typhoons have hit Japan, while hurricanes with winds gusting up to 80 meters per second have slammed into Florida. Killer heat waves and cycles of droughts and floods have wrought havoc in wide regions of the world.
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