What is climate change?
Climate change is the worldwide gradual temperature increase due to change in the earth's atmosphere. These changes have been caused by the increase of greenhouse gases being released into our atmosphere.
The effects of climate change can already be seen today. The ten hottest years on record have all occurred since 1990, and the stark increase in the number of high-powered cyclones and hurricanes, like Harry and Katrina, have been directly attributed to climate change. But this is only the beginning. An increase in temperatures of just a few degrees will have wide ranging effects. The ocean will begin to be too warm for the Great Barrier Reef to survive and the melting of the polar icecaps will cause the sea level to rise, putting major coastal cities and small islands at risk.
What are greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases are gaseous compounds such as carbon dioxide and methanol, which when released into the atmosphere cause the "greenhouse effect", effectively trapping the heat from the Sun within the Earth's atmosphere.
What produces greenhouse gases?
-
burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.
-
using electricity generated by burning fossil fuels.
-
some aspects of farming: raising cattle and sheep, use of fertilisers and some crops.
-
clearing land.
-
breakdown of food, plant wastes and sewage.
-
many industrial processes such as making cement and aluminium.
