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Global Warming is a FACT The Earth's climate has always varied so the term climate change is now generally used to describe the changes caused by human activity - specifically greenhouse emissions such as carbon dioxide and methane which build up in the atmosphere and trap heat. It seems that in the last 100 years the Earth's temperature has increased about half a degree Celsius. This may not sound like much but even half a degree can have an effect on our planet. Glaciers and ice shelves around the world are melting. The loss of large areas of ice on the surface could accelerate global warming because less of the sun's energy would be reflected away from Earth. The warming trend is expected to result in glacial melting, rising sea levels, droughts, increased severe weather events like tornadoes and hurricanes, species extinctions, and a harder life in general for humanity. So consider your Earth now. |
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Conventional wisdom agrees that industrial pollution, carbon dioxide emissions and an increased use of fossil fuels are directly contributing to a global warming trend. You can help decrease greenhouse-gas emissions by recycling - rubbish that doesn’t get recycled ends up in a landfill site, generating methane. Methane is more damaging than carbon dioxide. Don’t burn rubbish, this releases carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons into the atmosphere. Plant trees and other plants where you can. Plants take carbon dioxide out of the air and release oxygen.
Can We Stop Global Warming?
Though scientists warn that global
warming will likely continue for centuries
because of the long natural processes
involved, there are a few things we can do
to decrease the effects. Basically, they
all boil down to this: Don't use as
much of the stuff that creates
greenhouse gases.
For some great information visit
www.wwf.org.uk
On a local level, you can help by using less
energy. The electricity that operates many
of the devices in our homes comes from
a power plant and most power plants
burn fossil fuels to generate that power.
Turn off lights when they're not in use.
Take shorter showers to use less hot water.
Use a fan instead of an air conditioner
on a warm day.
For some great information visit
WWF's Earth Hour 2011