Climate Change

Are you concerned about climate change? This is a question asked around the world as
weather conditions become more extreme and cause more damage to areas inhabited by
people, plants, and animals. Is human activity the cause of climate change? If so, what
effect will this have on the planet? If the climate is actually changing, is there anything that
we can do about it?

Scientists believe global warming is caused by human activity, and this leads to climate
change. As fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas are burned to produce energy, carbon
dioxide (CO2) is released into the atmosphere. These CO2 emissions have a direct
impact on air temperature by absorbing and retaining more energy from the sun. This is
also known as the "Greenhouse Effect." Scientists have detected a measurable increase
in both CO2 emissions and in the average air temperatures around the world over the last
100 years. The relationship between the two is clear, but ignoring the effects of global
warming could have devastating consequences.

Worldwide, increasing air temperatures have resulted in more precipitation in some

areas while other areas have become drier. The severity of strong storms and high winds
has increased. Ice that normally remains intact year round at the north pole is melting,
creating more open water which absorbs more heat. Permafrost in Canada and Greenland
is also showing signs of melting. All of these events indicate a warming planet.

Despite an abundance of evidence that climate change is now upon us, there are many
who remain skeptical of the science. However, time is of the essence and we need to start
changing our behavior immediately while the science is still being debated. The prudent
thing to do now is to develop alternatives to coal and gas consumption. Not only does this
improve air quality, it also becomes a source for new jobs and clean industries that
produce solar, wind, and geothermal energy. Additionally, the construction industry has
seen a boom in recent years of new, dense housing located closer to places where people
work. It has also been shown that corporations and consumers can save money by
recycling, by reusing once-discarded materials, and by reducing waste. Actions taken to
reduce a carbon footprint become a "win" for all who are involved.

Ultimately, the truth of the situation will be revealed. Scientists acknowledge that the
Earth's climate naturally changes over long durations of time; however, careful
measurements of air and soil samples show that human activity has greatly accelerated
climactic changes in a short amount of time. The planet is now covered with cities,
highways, machines, and human beings whose activities are directly impacting the
environment. To say that the presence of nearly seven billion people does not have an
impact on the Earth's ecosystem is to live in denial of the facts and the evidence that
prove the Earth's climate is, indeed, changing.