GLOBAL WARMING
Global warming is the long-term heating of
Earth’s climate system observed since the pre-industrial period (between 1850
and 1900) due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning, which
increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s atmosphere.
The term is frequently used interchangeably
with the term climate change, though the latter refers to both human- and
naturally produced warming and the effects it has on our planet. It is most
commonly measured as the average increase in Earth’s global surface temperature.
Since the pre-industrial period, human activities
are estimated to have increased Earth’s global average temperature by about 1
degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit), a number that is currently increasing
by 0.2 degrees Celsius (0.36 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade. It is unequivocal
that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land.
WHAT CAUSES GLOBAL WARMING??
Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide (CO2) and other air pollutants collect in the atmosphere and absorb sunlight and solar radiation that have bounced off the earth’s surface. Normally this radiation would escape into space, but these pollutants, which can last for years to centuries in the atmosphere, trap the heat and cause the planet to get hotter. These heat-trapping pollutants—specifically carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and synthetic fluorinated gases—are known as greenhouse gases, and their impact is called the greenhouse effect.
Though natural cycles and
fluctuations have caused the earth’s climate to change several times over the
last 800,000 years, our current era of global warming is directly attributable
to human activity—specifically to our burning of fossil fuels such as coal,
oil, gasoline, and natural gas, which results in the greenhouse effect. In the
United States, the largest source of greenhouse gases is transportation (29
percent), followed closely by electricity production (28 percent) and
industrial activity (22 percent).
Curbing dangerous climate change requires very deep cuts in emissions, as well as the
use of alternatives to fossil fuels worldwide. The good news is that countries
around the globe have formally committed—as part of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement—to lower their emissions by setting new standards and
crafting new policies to meet or even exceed those standards. The not-so-good
news is that we’re not working fast enough. To avoid the worst impacts of
climate change, scientists tell us that we need to reduce global carbon
emissions by as much as 40 percent by 2030. For that to happen, the global
community must take immediate, concrete steps: to decarbonize electricity
generation by equatibility transtioning from fossil fuel–based production to renewable energy
sources like wind and solar; to electrify our cars and trucks; and to maximize
energy efficiency in our buildings, appliances, and industries.
WHAT ARE THE OTHER EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING??
Each year scientists learn more about the consequences of global warming, and each year we also gain new evidence of its devastating
impact on people and the planet. As the heat waves, droughts, and floods
associated with climate change become more frequent and more intense,
communities suffer and death tolls rise. If we’re unable to reduce our
emissions, scientists believe that climate change could lead to the deaths of more
than 250,000 people around the globe every year and force 100 million people
into poverty by 2030.
Global warming is already taking a toll on the United States.
And if we aren’t able to get a handle on our emissions, here’s just a
smattering of what we can look forward to:
· Disappearing glaciers early snowmelt, and severe droughts will cause more dramatic water shortages and continue to increase the risk of wildfires in the American West.
· Rising sea
levels will lead to even more coastal flooding on the Eastern
Seaboard, especially in Florida, and in other areas such as the Gulf of Mexico.
·
Forests, farms, and
cities will face troublesome new pests,
heat waves, heavy downpours, increased flooding. All of these can damage or destroy agriculture and
fisheries.
·
Disruption of habitats
such as coral reefs and alpine meadows could drive many plant and animal
species to extinction.
·
Allergies, asthma, and
infectious disease outbreaks will become more common due to increased grow pollen-producing ragweed, higher levels of air pollution,and the spread of conditions favorable to pathogens and mosquitoes.
Though everyone is affected
by climate change, not everyone is affected equally. Indigenous people, people
of color, and the economically marginalized are typically hit the hardest Inequities built into our housing,health care , and labor systems make these communities more vulnerable to the worst
impacts of climate change—even though these same communities have done the
least to contribute to it.
IS THE UNITES STATES
DOING ANYTHING TO PREVENT GLOBAL WARMING???
We’ve started. But
in order to avoid the worsening effects of climate change, we need to do a lot
more—together with other countries—to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and
transition to clean energy sources.
Under the
administration of President Donald Trump (a man who falsely referred to global
warming as a “hoax”), the United States withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, rolled back or eliminated dozens of clean-air protections, and
opened up federally managed lands, including culturally sacred national monuments , to fossil fuel development. Although President Biden has
pledged to get the country back on track, years of inaction during and before
the Trump administration—and our increased understanding of global warming’s
serious impacts—mean we must accelerate our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
Despite the lack of
cooperation from the Trump administration, local and state governments made
great strides during this period through efforts like the American Cities Climate Challenge and ongoing collaborations like the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative . Meanwhile, industry and business leaders have been working
with the public sector, creating and adopting new clean-energy technologies and
increasing energy efficiency in buildings, appliances, and industrial
processes. Today the American automotive industry is finding new ways to
produce cars and trucks that are more fuel efficient and is committing itself to putting more and more zero-emission electric vehicles on the road.
Developers, cities, and community advocates are coming together to make sure
that new affordable housing is built with efficiency in mind , reducing energy consumption and lowering electric and
heating bills for residents. And renewable energy continues to surge as the costs associated with its production and
distribution keep falling. In 2020 renewable energy sources such as wind and
solar provided more electricity than coal for the very first time in U.S. history.
President Biden has made action on global
warming a high priority. On his first day in office, he recommitted the United States to the Paris Climate Agreement, sending the world
community a strong signal that we were determined to join other nations in
cutting our carbon pollution to support the shared goal of preventing the
average global temperature from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above
preindustrial levels. (Scientists say we must stay below a 2-degree increase to
avoid catastrophic climate impacts.) And significantly, the president has
assembled a climate team of experts and advocates who have been tasked with
pursuing action both abroad and at home while furthering the cause of environmental justice and
investing in nature-based solutions.
IS GLOBAL WARMING TOO BIG A PROBLEM FOR ME TO HELP TACKLE??
No! While we can’t
win the fight without large-scale government action at the national level, we
also can’t do it without the help of individuals who are willing to use their
voices, hold government and industry leaders to account, and make changes in
their daily habits.
Wondering how you can be a part of the fight against global warming? Reduce your own
carbon footprint by taking a few easy steps: Make conserving energy a part of
your daily routine and your decisions as a consumer. When you shop for new
appliances like refrigerators, washers, and dryers, look for products with the
government’s ENERGY STAR® label; they meet a higher standard for energy
efficiency than the minimum federal requirements. When you buy a car, look for
one with the highest gas mileage and lowest emissions. You can also reduce your
emissions by taking public transportation or carpooling when possible.
And while new federal
and state standards are a step in the right direction, much more needs to be
done. Voice your support of climate-friendly and climate change preparedness
policies, and tell your representatives that equitably transitioning from dirty
fossil fuels to clean power should be a top priority—because it’s vital to
building healthy, more secure communities.
You don’t have to go it alone, either. Movements across the country are showing how climate action can build community , be led by those on the front lines of its impacts, and create a future that’s equitable and just for all.
