It’s hard to believe that even now, in 2019, a good portion of the world doesn’t believe that global warming is an actual phenomenon and a dangerous one at that. Moreover, even the people who fully acknowledge global warming aren’t doing much about it. We’ve got less than a decade remaining to curb our carbon footprint before the global environment runs out of control. It has been predicted that if we don’t take any action, we’ll experience horrifying natural catastrophes which is why it’s wise to start educating ourselves about what global warming is and the threats it poses. Here are three things you should know about global warming:
Global Warming Is Caused by Greenhouse Gases
Carbon dioxide emissions have substantially increased over the years, and it’s one of the leading greenhouse gases present in the atmosphere. That’s why you’ll often hear people talking about reducing their carbon footprint. Doing so involves ways in which we can lessen carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere. This gas, like many others, traps heat coming from the sun better than anything. It’s necessary for our survival in appropriate amounts; otherwise, we’d all freeze over. However, too much greenhouse gases cause the opposite effect. They store so much heat in our atmosphere that global temperatures start to rise which has adverse effects on ecosystems all over the world — the melting of the polar ice caps is one.
Most Greenhouse Gases Are a Result of Technology
Things were fine before the Industrial Revolution. The 1700s was when most of the problems started and kept getting worse with every passing decade. We didn’t know any better as a species back then, but we do know now how much damage we’re causing to our planet and ourselves by cutting down trees, burning coal, and other fossil fuels. It’s great to shift to a car that’s eco-friendly, and it’s also a great idea to try and get solar panels for your house since you’ll be taking advantage of renewable energy that neither runs out nor emit any harmful gases.
The Earth’s Carbon Level Is At An All-Time High
It’s a good time to start panicking because we haven’t seen levels of carbon in the atmosphere that we have now in the previous 800,000 years. There’s no telling what the effects of this might be in the long run, but we do know that glaciers have started melting at an alarming rate. This is really bad news for wildlife living along the earth’s poles because their habitat is literally melting, leaving them with nothing to live on. That’s only the beginning of this debacle, and immediate action could help deter it.
Though we’re already starting to experience freak storms and record-high global temperatures, it’s not all over yet. There’s still time left before irreversible damage has been done. Numerous environmental organizations work tirelessly to ensure that they take part in saving the only home that we have. You can take part in this, too, by starting at home and teaching your children and everyone around you about the effects of global warming and how we can save our planet in our own small ways.
