By Nick Tart

The earth’s climate has been in a constant state of fluctuation throughout its history. Of course there was the ice age but our planet has also gone through long periods of warmth. However, over the last 200 years the earth’s average temperature has been on a steady rise. This is the undeniable fact that our globe is getting warmer.

Causes

This change, known as global warming, is directly correlated with the Industrial Revolution. Ever since the Industrial Revolution humans have depended on the burning of fossil fuels as their primary source of energy. Burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, causes the emissions of dangerous greenhouse gases, predominantly CO2, into our atmosphere. Then these gases prohibit the heat from escaping into space, much like the glass panels of a greenhouse.

It is estimated that energy-related activities account for more than three-quarters of CO2 emissions. Of that three-quarters, more than half comes from stationary energy sources, such as power plants. While about a third comes from our transportation.

Just as CO2 emissions have been increasing, so has deforestation. Because trees naturally recycle CO2 back into oxygen, deforestation has caused the effects of burning fossil fuels to be exponentially harmful to our environment.

Some people have argued that the “theory” of global warming is completely inaccurate. They say that we are just going through another period of global warmth, and our planet will eventually cool down on its own. This is wrong.

It has been scientifically proven that:

1. Greenhouse gas emissions cause heat to be trapped within our atmosphere and
2. The Industrial Revolution of the last 200 years has emitted much more CO2 and other greenhouse gases than the earth has ever seen.

Effects

Climate change, global warming in particular, has had several environmental effects. Scientists have already observed some changes in our environment.

* Shrinking glaciers
* Sea-level rise
* Changes in the range and distribution of plants and animals
* Trees and flowers blooming earlier
* Lengthening of the growing season
* Rivers and lakes freezing later and melting earlier
* Thawing of permafrost