Global warming, if unchecked, will cause water shortages, rising sea levels, major extinctions, increases in extreme weather, more heat related deaths, and reduced agriculture output, hurting economies across the globe. These are the conservative estimates of thousands of scientists.
Below is a very basic primer on global warming. We have, as much as possible, provided links to other sites that we believe provide excellent explanations on this topic. |
THE EARTH IS WARMING
Over the past century, the planet has warmed about 1 degree F. While this is only a small amount, we are already seeing effects - Glaciers are disappearing, permafrost is melting, and some animal extinctions may have been caused by this rapid change.
Climate Map - A map by the Union of Concerned Scientists showing places that have already felt the effects of a warmer earth.
While the climate is complex, the basic forces behind global warming are simple. Through burning fossil fuels, we add greenhouse gasses, the most important of which is carbon dioxide, to the atmosphere. These gasses act somewhat like a blanket, trapping heat and warming the earth. Here is a simple explanation. |
THIS IS A PROBLEM
While the Earth has only warmed 1 degree F in the past century, it is likely to warm many degrees this century, somewhere between 2 and 11 degrees F. A small warming may not be too bad, but the higher numbers could be disastrous. The amount of warming depends largely on how many greenhouse gasses we emit. We do not want a much hotter planet. A recent report summarized the dangers:
Major Extinctions on Land - Many animals will not be able to adapt.
Major Extinctions in the Ocean - Coral reefs are in major danger.
Water Shortages - Increased droughts, but also 40% percent of the world's population receives their water from snow and glacier melt - snow and ice that will not be there in a warmer earth.
Sea Level Rise - Likely to rise about half a meter this century and keep rising. Hundreds of millions of people may be flooded.
Stronger Storms - Many say that we are already seeing this with increased hurricane intensity.
Agricultural Losses - a large warming is bad for world food production.
Increased Inequity - The people least able to cope with these changes are poorer nations.
More Heat Waves - We may see more events like the 2003 heat wave in Europe that killed tens of thousands.
Many of these problems will affect your community this century, as well as communities continents away. This is a problem we all face. |
THERE IS AGREEMENT
The science of global warming has reached a consensus - We are making the planet warmer through burning greenhouse gasses. You may hear many different arguments about why it isn't happening, or why we are not the cause. We suggest if you hear one of these arguments, consider these websites:
How to talk to a climate skeptic - A compilation of arguments that refute just about every nay-sayer position.
The Scientific Consensus - A thoughtful piece on what scientific consensus means, written by climate scientists at realclimate.org.
The IPCC Report - The consensus of thousands of scientists that the earth is warming, and that this current warming is anthropogenic (caused by humans).
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We use fossil fuels for transport and producing electricity. We cannot stop using them overnight - It will be something that we work towards for many years. But we must start now if we are to succeed. Below are a few things you can do. We'll be talking about many more solutions along our journey. |
PERSONAL ACTIONS
Choose a Fuel Efficient Car - A guide from Environmental Defense.
Change a Lightbulb - Another suggestion from Environmental Defense.
Buy Energy Star Appliances
Get an Energy Audit on Your House - This will tell you where you are wasting energy, and utilities often provide this service for free - Contact yours!
Ride a Bike - This is not for everyone, but for those who can bike to work or school, it saves money and is good for your health. It is a win-win situation, and even if you can't bike, you can support bike lanes in your community.
Contact Your Lawmaker - They were elected to represent you. Tell your lawmakers that you want action. Our government must set up incentives for us to invest in renewable energy, improve laws for car fuel efficiency, improve rules for building efficiency, and set mandatory limits on carbon dioxide emissions.
To find your legislator's contact information you can look here.
To keep up on these issues you can sign up for an organization that provides email action alerts. Here is one example. |
THE SOLUTIONS ARE GOOD FOR US AND OUR ECONOMY
The world is already moving towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and if the United States doesn't invest in solutions to global warming, we will be at a disadvantage. On the other hand, if we make major investments, we will have a major competitive advantage in the 21st century economy. The Apollo Alliance argues this point very well.
Also, reducing fossil fuel use also has many other benefits. It would reduce smog in cities, improving public health. It could reduce destruction of land and communities due to coal mining. It could provide more energy security and reduce political instability. It would be a better world, and it would be better for your community.
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