Some
believe that global climate change is one of the biggest problems
threatening the future of our planet. Over the last decade or
so, the average temperatures have been higher than usual all
around the world. These warmer conditions have caused unusual
melting of ice capped mountains and of glaciers at the earth's
poles, as well as more severe weather conditions and loss of
wildlife habitat. Sea levels are also rising and scientists
worry that many highly populated places will soon be in danger
of severe flooding. Most scientists believe that these are not
just random occurrences but that the earth's climate is actually
changing.
Natural
causes have changed the earth's climate in the past, but scientists
believe that these current changes are due to human activities,
and that they are larger and are happening faster than at any
other time in modern history.
The
current changes in the earth's climate are mostly due to the
burning of fossil fuels, like oil, coal and natural gas, to
run our cars and heat our homes. When fossil fuels are burned,
carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide
is a greenhouse gas, which means it helps trap heat. This is
called the greenhouse effect. Life on earth could not exist
without carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The greenhouse
effect keeps the earth warm - without it, heat would escape
from the atmosphere and the earth would be too cold to support
life. In addition, plants need carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.
This allows them to grow and produces oxygen as a waste product,
which all animals, including humans, need to breathe. But burning
fossil fuels creates much more carbon dioxide than plants can
take in, and the levels of carbon dioxide and other 'greenhouse
gases' in the atmosphere are rising, trapping in too much heat.
Global climate change isn't just something to worry about in
the distant future - it is already causing problems today that
will get worse if we don't work to solve it. The key to solving
the global climate change crisis is to reduce the amount of
greenhouse gases we emit into the atmosphere. This is something
that nations have been actively discussing, but because all
humans use energy, it's also something that each of us can help
with, too.
There
are lots of ways that you can help, like reducing the amount
of energy you consume, switching to clean energy sources, whenever
possible, helping to educate your friends, family and community,
and advocating for legislation that will help reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
