Climate Change

​When we talk about climate, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the temperature in an area. Africa typically has a high temperature and therefore, we think of it as having a hot climate. Antarctica is usually cold so it has a cold climate. Climate is an area’s average weather, including temperature, precipitation (rain, snow, etc.), humidity, wind and even seasons. The problem we face now is human-made climate change. What we are doing is changing our climate much faster than Nature intended and that's what’s causing the problem.

​NASA has reported a global average temperature increase of 1.4° Fahrenheit since the 1880s, and stated that nine out of the ten warmest years have happened since the year 2000. These records date back 134-years.

​One of the most significant ways we affect our environment is the large amount of greenhouse gases we emit, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2). How does this create global warming and climate change? It all comes down to the greenhouse effect. The greenhouse effect is when the layer of gases in the atmosphere absorbs heat from the Earth to keep it warm like a blanket or sweater keeps you warm. The gases that do this (including carbon dioxide) are called greenhouse gases. They are very important, without them, most places on Earth would be too cold to live in. But when there’s too many of them, it can cause the surface temperature of the Earth to rise.

​The biggest way we create carbon dioxide is by burning fossil fuels to make energy to run our cars, light our homes, charge our phones, etc.

​Fossil fuels are fuels that are found in the Earth's crust and contain carbon and hydrogen, which can be burned for energy. Coal, oil, and natural gas are examples of fossil fuels. Humans use fossil fuels for energy, for example we can use coal to keep our house warm. These fuels need to be burned for energy and this causes CO2 to be released, this is what is causing an excess amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

​As we increase the temperature on Earth, we start to melt the ice caps that exist on huge land areas. There is so much water trapped there, that when the ice melts, it causes sea levels to rise and extreme weather events like flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes to occur. Also, when the ice melts, many animals lose their homes and can die.

​Some of the things we can do to help include: 

Using energy-efficient light bulbs.

Carpooling and using public transportation or walking.

Turning down our air conditioner in the summer and furnace in the winter.

Using green energy sources like wind and solar power to create electricity.

Recycle products to save energy.

Using less electricity at your house to conserve fossil fuels