Overview

Throughout the Earth’s geological history the atmosphere has gone through cycles of warming and cooling driven by factors including solar radiation and volcanic eruptions.  The planet is rapidly warming today, but this time the cause is human activities.  

By burning fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas – and cutting down forests, we are releasing gases that are thickening a heat-trapping blanket around the Earth.  The major global warming gas is carbon dioxide – Concentrations in the atmosphere are one-third greater now than at any other time in 650,000 years.

The result is global warming that is causing disruptive climate change.  Global warming is altering wind patterns and ocean currents, shifting the circulation of moisture and water through the atmosphere.  Severe droughts and extreme storms are significantly increasing.  Major sea level rises are also projected.  

Because humans are causing global warming, we can cool it down and stabilize the climate.  The most important steps are to use energy more efficiently, replace fossil fuels with clean energy sources such as sun and wind, and protect forests.  By taking these steps we will not only stem global warming – We will also provide secure energy supplies and generate new jobs and prosperity in clean technologies.