| Everyone is taking notice, even the most unlikely politicians. But do you actually know what climate change is and what it will mean for you and future generations?
Here are some FAQs and important links:
1. What is the Greenhouse Effect?
The earth’s climate is regulated by radiation from the sun. One-third of the radiation that hits the earth is reflected back in space and the remainder is primarily absorbed by the earth’s land and oceans. This process warms the earth and causes the earth to emit infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere capture much of this radiation, thus trapping this heat energy inside the earth. Therefore, the earth’s atmosphere acts like glass on a greenhouse. This is a naturally occurring process that allows for life on earth. However, human activities are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which in turn has accelerated the greenhouse effect. This cycle is considered the main contributor to global warming.
For a detailed diagram of these atmospheric processes see United Nations Environment Program, The Greenhouse Effect at http://www.grida.no/climate/vital/03.htm
2. What are greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases are those gaseous constituents of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, that absorb and emit radiation at specific wavelengths within the spectrum of infrared radiation, or heat, emitted by the Earth's surface, the atmosphere and clouds. This property causes the greenhouse effect. The principle greenhouse gases that enter the atmosphere because of human activities are:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
- Fluorinated Gases such as Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
For more information on these greenhouse gases see U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Greenhouse Gas Emissions at http://epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/index.html
3. Why is the climate changing?
The naturally occurring greenhouse gases outlined above have always been present in the atmosphere. However, since the Industrial Revolution more of these gases have accumulated in the atmosphere as a result of human activity. This has lead to an increase in solar radiation that is trapped in the atmosphere making the earth warmer. Since the Industrial Revolution the concentration of carbon dioxide has increased globally by 35% which is the highest it has been for the last 420,000 years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that human activities which increase greenhouse gas concentrations are “enhancing” the natural greenhouse effect, resulting in a changing climate.
For more information on the changes to the earth’s climate see IPCC, 2001: Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/wg1/index.htm and the Pew Centre Global Climate Change, The Causes of Global Climate Change at http://www.pewclimate.org/docUploads/PewSB1-Attribution-SMALL_102606.pdf
4. How is the climate changing?
Examples of how the world is experiencing the impact of a changing climate include:
- North America has warmed by about 20F during the past century and could potentially warm between 2- 4oF over the next century.
- Overall, global land precipitation has increased by about 2% since the beginning of the 20th century.
- The sea level has risen 1.8 mm per year since 1950 and that rate is accelerating.
- There have been fewer frosts and the ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland are shrinking.
- The timing of physiological processes in plants and animals is changing throughout the world, and populations are shifting their distributions.
For more information on how the climate is changing see IPCC: Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability at http://www.grida.no/climate/ipcc_tar/wg2/index.htm and the Pew Centre Global Climate Change, Climate Change 10: Science and Impacts at http://www.pewclimate.org/docUploads/101_Science_Impacts.pdf
5. What might this mean for you and for future generations.
The Climate Institute’s website describes the potential consequences of climate change that are of special concern to people living in the United States and Canada.
The following pages explore the impact of climate change in greater detail.
6. What can I do?
Reading about the potentially devastating effects of climate change can make it seem like solutions are hopeless. But as an individual, you can make a difference!
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website outlines actions you can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
The Climate Institute provides some suggestions for assuming personal responsibility for climate change.
The Yale Student Environmental Coalition (YSEC) has compiled a fifty-page guide that provides tips on how to minimize your ecological impact everywhere from the home to the office.
- All it takes is turning off a light as you walk out of a room, taking public transportation, eating more locally produced foods or unplugging appliances when they are not in use. Such simple, everyday actions help reduce the amount of energy we use and hence the amount of extra greenhouse gases we put into the atmosphere. Check out the links below for more information on climate change and ways in which you can help solve this global problem.
Sources and Links
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Climate Change http://epa.gov/climatechange/index.html
The U.S. EPA provides a comprehensive database of climate change links.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC]
http://www.ipcc.ch/.
The IPCC was created jointly by the World Meteorological Organisation and the United Nations Environment Programme in 1988. The IPCC is responsible for compiling and synthesizing the growing body of scientific literature on climate change. The comprehensive assessments of IPCC form the scientific basis for climate change policies.
A Beginner’s Guide to the UN Framework Convention http://unfccc.int/resource/beginner.html
This page, hosted by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat, provides a beginner's guide to climate change and the convention.
Pew Center Global Climate Change
http://www.pewclimate.org/
The Pew Center on Global Climate Change was established in 1998 as a non-profit, non-partisan and independent organization. The Center's mission is to provide credible information, straight answers, and innovative solutions in the effort to address global climate change.
Connecticut’s Official Climate Change Website
http://www.ctclimatechange.com/
A site that provides information on the Connecticut Climate Change Action Plan 2005, progress in implementing the 55 actions in the plan, success stories on action throughout the state, and other information on the Connecticut climate change initiative.
DOE’s Consumer Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/
A site with information on options for saving energy and using renewable energy at home, at work, in your community, and while driving.
Energy Star
http://www.energystar.gov/
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. It works with the private sector to develop voluntary partnerships for the production and use of energy-efficient equipment.
European Commission’s Climate Change Website http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/home_en.htm
This site provides information on international climate change negotiations and programs within the European Commission.
NOAA Climate Program Office
http://www.climate.noaa.gov/
The Climate Program Office (CPO), created in October 2005, incorporates the Office of Global Programs, the Arctic Research Office, and the Climate Observations and Services Program and, coordinates climate activities across all of NOAA.
NSW Government Department of Environment and Climate Change http://www.greenhouse.nsw.gov.au/what_is_climate_change.
This Australian site provides a succinct introduction to climate change. | 
