Climate Change and You
Climate Change is an increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth. It is a term most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases. It is different from the term “global warming,” because climate change is more broad and refers, in the wider sense, to natural changes in climate.
Climate change has occurred in cycles on Earth as the result of natural influences throughout the history of the planet; however, the current warming we are experiencing and that is expected to continue is purported to be the result of human-caused increases in greenhouse gases, specifically carbon dioxide.
There is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere now than there has been in the past 650,000 years. Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere and acts like a warm blanket that holds in the heat. This phenomenon is called the “greenhouse effect.”
One thing to keep in mind is that having some greenhouse gases in our atmosphere is not bad. We do need some warmth on the Earth or we would not have the proper narrow range of temperature that allows us to have the right conditions for breathable air, clean water and mild weather.
In fact, the Earth in general would be too cold to inhabit without some greenhouse gasses or the greenhouse effect. However, it is believed that humans have begun to tip the balance and overload the atmosphere with too many greenhouse gases from our cars, factories and power plants – gasses that trap more heat and can lead to devastating changes in our environment. If we don’t start fixing the problem now, we are in for extreme temperatures, rises in sea level and more destructive storms.
Climate change affects us all. We only have one planet, one home, that sustains the lives of all of the living things on it.
Climate change itself is not bad and is a normal part of our Earth’s history. The difference with the climate change we are experiencing now is that it is said to be human-caused and happening at a faster rate than previously predicted by scientists. Climate change is expected to mean the melting of ice, flooding of coastlines, increased health risks and more extreme weather conditions and events in our lifetime and the future.
According to the National Academy of Sciences, the Earth’s surface temperature has risen by about one degree Fahrenheit in the past century, with accelerated warming during the past two decades. Since the Industrial Revolution, more and more greenhouse gases have been added to our atmosphere as a result of automobiles, factories and power plants.
Because there are uncertainties surrounding climate change (e.g., how much warming, how fast and how devastating), it is a difficult topic for some to comprehend and explain. What is known with certainty is that human activities are adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, and that these gases have been shown to warm the Earth.
The risks that climate change poses are real. Because the exact nature of these outcomes is still an unknown, and may not be known for decades, we must use our best judgment guided by what we do know from science to help with our response.
The U.S. EPA has a comprehensive site with additional information about the impacts of climate change. You will find more information there about the impacts of climate change on:
