What Is Global Warming

Global Warming. Julia Tachyns’ka

Global warming is already having significant and harmful effects on our communities, our health, and our climate. Sea level rise is accelerating. The number of large wildfires is growing. Dangerous heat waves are becoming more common. Extreme storm events are increasing in many areas. More severe droughts are occurring in others. We must take immediate action to address global warming or these consequences will continue to intensify, grow ever more costly, and increasingly affect the entire planet—including you, your community, and your family. What's at Stake

Global warming is happening now. The planet's temperature is rising. The trend is clear and unmistakable. We are the cause. We are overloading our atmosphere with carbon dioxide, which traps heat and steadily drives up the planet’s temperature. Where does all this carbon come from? The fossil fuels we burn for energy—coal, natural gas, and oil—plus the loss of forests due to deforestation, especially in the tropics. Science46% energy production29% other chemicals25% deforestation

Scientific Evidence. Scientists know that certain gases trap heat and act like a blanket to warm the planet. One of the most important is carbon dioxide (CO2), which we release into the atmosphere when we burn fossil fuels — oil, coal, and natural gas — to generate electricity, power our vehicles, and heat our homes.

I. The Planet’s temperature is rising Trends in temperature readings from around the world show that global warming is taking place. Over the past 130 years, the global average temperature has increased 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit, with more than half of that increase occurring over only the past 35 years. The pattern is unmistakable: The 12 warmest years on record have all occurred since 1998 and every one of the past 37 years has been warmer than the 20th century average.

II. Increased CO2 is the primary driver of global warming. Detailed measurements of atmospheric CO2 levels have been taken continuously for more than 50 years. The data show that CO2 levels have steadily increased every year. Today they are 25% higher than in 1957. As CO2 levels increase, the pace of warming accelerates. Satellite measurements confirm that less heat is escaping the atmosphere today than 40 years ago. Though other heat-trapping gases also play a role, CO2 is the primary contributor to global warming. The climate has changed many times in the geologic past due to natural causes — including volcanic activity, changes in the sun’s intensity, fluctuations in Earth's orbit, and other factors — but none of these can account for the current rise in global temperatures.

Impacts. Global warming is already having significant and costly effects – and these consequences will only intensify as the planet’s temperature continues to rise.- Global warming is accelerating the rate of sea level rise and dramatically increasing flooding risks- Wildfires are increasing and wildfire season is getting longer- Climate change has significant implications for our health, including increased air pollution and a longer and more intense allergy season.- As temperatures increase, more rain falls during the heaviest downpours, increasing the risk of flooding events.

Solutions. Reduce emissions. We must significantly reduce the heat-trapping emissions we are putting into the atmosphere. As individuals, we can help by taking action to reduce our personal carbon emissions. But to fully address the threat of global warming, we must demand action from our elected leaders.

Solutions. Stop deforestation. Tropical deforestation accounts for about 10 percent of the world’s heat-trapping emissions. Reducing tropical deforestation can significantly lower global warming emissions and plays an integral role in a comprehensive long-term solution to global warming.

Solutions. Fight misinformation. Why has it been so difficult to achieve meaningful solutions to global warming? Media pundits, partisan think tanks, and special interest groups raise doubts about the truth of global warming. This barrage of misinformation misleads and confuses the public — and makes it more difficult to implement effective solutions.

Thank for your attention!