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Global Warming
 

  Historically we've had significant climate changes.  The Ice Age, for example, eventually was taken over by our warmer period.  Right now there is serious concern because things are getting warmer at a much faster pace.  And some areas are warming faster than others; the northern ice cap, for example, is warming at twice the global rate.

The earth's atmosphere works to trap heat to keep us warm.  Carbon dioxide emissions also trap heat.  Carbon dioxide is released naturally when plants decay or burn.  At the same time, trees and majestic forests absorb carbon dioxide so everything stays in balance. 

However, today, the immense burning of fossil fuels for cars and industry, and the burning of coal and natural gas has increased carbon dioxide emissions tremendously.  As if that wasn't bad enough, we have also eliminated vast forests and replaced them with housing, farming and industries, which in turn use more fuels.  Carbon dioxide levels have not been this high in over half a million years.  We are out of balance. 

Global warming is real.  Emissions are working to trap more of the sun's heat inside the earth's atmosphere causing a warming of the planet.  So you live in the cold climate and think this might be a good thing?  It's much bigger than that!   If we continue doing the same things we've done, over the next several years, we human beings will have irreversibly and negatively impacted our world, our life, our future and our children's future.  And in as few as 25 years, we will feel it's impact locally.  It is predicted that by 2100, the Arctic will have lost more than half it's ice causing an enormous impact on the world, and in the summers might have no ice at all.

Global warming is causing:

  • the Arctic ice and Greenland ice sheet to melt, meaning more water will fill our land
  • areas to flood inhabited areas as sea levels rise
  • coral bleaching that will damage fisheries and habitats
  • a change in ocean currents and temperature
  • harsher weather conditions, including more devastating hurricanes (oceans are the warmest they've been ever and that creates severe hurricanes)
  • extreme weather climate changes from heat waves to tornados, typhoons, blizzards, wind storms, and even extreme cold in areas not normally cold
  • clean water supplies to be more limited
  • droughts in some areas and flooding in others
  • warm waters are forcing algae to move causing Coral Bleaching of our Reefs (here in the Keys!) Coral protects coastlines from erosion, flooding and storm damage. Without algae, coral loses it’s color and becomes susceptible to disease.  Without algae, fish leave or are faced with extinction.  Without fish, tourists no longer come to snorkel impacting our economy.  Not to mention the impact on the food chain!
  • an imbalance in our delicate ecosystem and loss of biodiversity
  • extinction of plants and wildlife due to weather changing habitats including migratory birds, amphibians, and Arctic animals (like polar bears, for example, which won't have ice as land to hunt and survive.)  It is believed that half of all species are already being impacted and studies indicate that by 2050, 35% of land plants and animals (a million different species) will become extinct!  Plants and animals are more sensitive to changes than humans; remember that the canary was used in the coal mines to detect unsafe levels of methane gas and carbon monoxide and low oxygen levels.
  • deadly disease to spread (and could cause epidemics)
  • less food supply, fewer plants, bushes, trees, and crops
  • leaner and fewer animals and births with the limited food supply
  • even more greenhouse gasses (arctic ice had trapped carbon dioxide for millions of years, as it melts, those are released into the atmosphere)
  • even more solar radiation to be absorbed by our world (ice and snow reflect about 90% of all solar radiation back into space.  With global warming, we will have less ice and snow to do that.) causing continued warming and even more melting of ice and snow (which would, of course, allow the big gas companies to get at even more fossil fuels under the ice that was once there so they would be happy) and further impacts upon our environment and our future

As global warming continues, our communities, homes, livelihoods, children, family, our lives and future are at stake.

More than half of the global warming is caused by greenhouse (carbon dioxide) emissions.  Instead of sitting helplessly while big companies pump more carbon dioxide into the air, instead of closing our eyes like our U.S. government* who refuses to even recognize global warming is an issue, we have a duty, and thankfully, the ability to take action and help solve this potential crisis.  Countries around the world are working to cap carbon dioxide emissions and stop global warming.  Each and every one of us has an impact on our future.   Each of the choices we make will impact our future.  If just you and I decide to make a few simple changes, we will help stop this problem from escalating.  In addition, and as a great bonus, by doing these things we will save money, make the future brighter in other ways, and create a healthier and safer place to live for us and our children.

Here are some simple steps to get started.

Take the Ecological Footprint Quiz to see how you impact the world's Global Warming.

Get the book:

 

An Inconvenient Truth
by Al Gore

 

  
     
  *The U.S. government has refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol most of the nations of the world have signed in order to set mandatory caps on CO2. And the U.S. has refused to set meaningful fuel-efficiency standards for cars. These are two of the biggest, most important actions the U.S. government can – but won't – take to save our planet.  - Earth Day Network  
     
 

 

  
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