Causes of Climate Change

Abstract

Scientists in the world have reached an overwhelming consensus that climate change is real and caused primarily by human activity. Greenhouses gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) trap heat in the atmosphere and regulate our climate. Greenhouse gases act like a blanket. The thicker the blanket, the warmer our planet becomes. At the same time, the earth’s oceans are also absorbing some of this extra carbon dioxide, making them more acidic and less hospitable for sea life. The increase in global temperature is significantly altering our planet’s climate, resulting in more extreme and unpredictable weather. For instance, heat waves are becoming more frequent and many places are experiencing record droughts followed by intense rainfalls.

Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, to generate energy has the greatest impact on the atmosphere than any other single human activity. Globally, power generation is responsible for about 23 billion tons of CO₂ emissions per year – in excess of 700 tons every second. Coal is especially damaging to our atmosphere, releasing 70 % more carbon dioxide than natural gas for every unit of energy produced.

Forests help protect the planet by absorbing massive amounts of CO₂, the most abundant type of pollution that causes climate change. Unfortunately, forests are currently being destroyed or damaged at an alarming rate. Logging and clearing land for agriculture or livestock release huge amounts of carbon dioxide and other harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It also diminishes those regions’ ability to absorb carbon pollution.