Global Warming
...2006
Contents
INTRODUCTION 1
THE GLOBAL WARMING ISSUES 2
WHAT'S BEING DONE 3
IN DEPTH 4
EFFECTS 5
WHAT CAN I DO? 6
BIBLIOGRAPHY 7
The issue
The worldwide community has reached an agreement about the global climate; the world is undoubtedly warming. This warming is the result of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from human activities, such as industrial processes, changes in land use, and deforestation. If we continue, the temperature is expected to rise by 400% by 2100, and warming in the U.S. is expected to be even higher. This warming will have real consequences on the world, for with warming, also comes additional sea-level rises (which will gradually flood coastal areas), changes in rain patterns, increased risk of droughts and floods, and a number of potential challenges for public health.
Addressing climate change is not an easy task. To protect ourselves, our economy, and our land from the effects of climate change, we must reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. To achieve this goal we must fundamentally transform the way we power our global economy, shifting away from a century's legacy of unrestrained fossil fuel use and its associated emissions in pursuit of more efficient and renewable sources of energy. Such a transformation will require society to engage in a concerted effort, over the near and long-term, to seek out opportunities and design actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases are developed by burning fossil fuels. Atmospheric concentrations of carbon have increased nearly 30%; methane concentrations have more than doubled; and nitrous oxide concentrations have risen by about 15% all since the beginning of the industrial revolution. The atmosphere's heat trapping capability has been enhanced due to these increases. The result of this is an increase...
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