Causes of Global Warming

Global warming is the basically the adding of excessive amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere where greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide accummulate and trap heat that normally would escape into outer space.

Greenhouse Gases and Global Warming

Lots of greenhouse gases occur quite naturally and they are needed to create the greenhouse effect that keeps the Earth warm enough to support life. However, the causes of global warming is the over-reliance of traditional fuels such as oil, coal and gas by mankind for our energy needs.

We drive cars without batting an eyelid. We use electricity from huge polluting, coal-fired power plants. We heat our homes with oil or natural gas. When we do this, we release carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. Why do this, when we can use green energy which is being produced in large amounts by the utility companies now.

Another source of greenhouse gases is the large-scale deforestation that is happening across the world, because fewer trees means less carbon dioxide conversion to oxygen.

Scientists say one days' deforestation is equivalent to the carbon footprint of eight million people flying to New York. Just think about that for a moment.....

Reducing those catastrophic emissions can be achieved most quickly and most cheaply by halting the destruction in Brazil, Indonesia, the Congo and elsewhere.

According to the latest audited figures from 2003, two billion tons of CO2 enters the atmosphere every year from deforestation. That destruction amounts to 50 million acres - or an area the size of England, Wales and Scotland felled annually.

The Consequences of Global Warming

As the concentration of greenhouse gases grows, more heat is trapped in the atmosphere and less escapes back into space.

This increase in trapped heat changes the climate and alters weather patterns, which may hasten species extinction, influence the length of seasons, cause coastal flooding, and lead to more frequent and severe storms.

For a more in-depth look at climate change go to Greenfacts

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