What You Can Do - Climate facts

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Climate change is a very complex issue: and it can sometimes be difficult to find objective sources of information about the causes of climate change, its potential environmental and socio-economic consequences and the adaptation and mitigation options to respond to it. Here, we have gathered some basic information based on information from the the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). WMO and UNEP established IPCC in 1988 with the aim to provide decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change.

Global Warming describes a current trend in average temperatures around the world increasing as a result of human activity. Using temperature measurements from historical records and current land and sea stations, in conjunction with satellite data; any doubt as to whether our planet is warming has been dispelled. Sea ice is retreating, glaciers are melting, species are migrating or disappearing and spring temperatures arrive earlier each year.

Warming over this century is projected to be considerably greater than over the last century. The global average temperature since 1900 has risen by about 1.5ºF. By 2100, it is projected to rise another 2 to 11.5ºF. The U.S. average temperature has risen by a comparable amount and is very likely to rise more than the global average over this century, with some variation from place to place.

What is the greenhouse effect?
The Greenhouse Effect is related to global warming in that it's the reason why excess heat from the surface of the Earth isn't dispersed into space. The glass on a greenhouse allows one type of radiation in, but reduces the amount another type can escape; causing the interior of the greenhouse to remain warm. This is what we are experiencing on our planet - gases such as carbon dioxide and methane act as the glass; allowing solar radiation in, but preventing heat from escaping.

What human activities are linked to global warming?
Unfortunately, just about everything connected with modern society is a contributor. The cars we drive spew carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, as does coal powered electricity generation, production processes for many of our goods. Even the millions of livestock we keep for food play their part by producing methane.