11 Facts About Global Warming

Updated: April 18, 2015

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1. Global warming is the increase of Earth's average surface temperature due to greenhouse gases that collect in the atmosphere like a thickening blanket, trapping the sun's heat and causing the planet to warm up^[Natural Resources Defense Council. "Global Warming Basics." Web Accessed April 18, 2015.]
2. Greenhouse gases keep heat close to the earth’s surface making it livable for humans and animals. However, global warming is happening largely due to an over-emittance of these gases and fossil fuels (natural oil, gasoline, coal).^[Parry, Martin L. "Climate Change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability: contribution of Working Group II to the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change." Cambridge University Press, 2007.]
3. With the start of industry in the 1700's, humans began emitting more fossil fuels from coal, oil, and gas to run our cars, trucks, and factories. By driving a “smarter” car, you will not only save on gas, but help prevent global warming.^[Parry, Martin L. "Climate Change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability: contribution of Working Group II to the fourth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change." Cambridge University Press, 2007.]
4. There is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today than at any point in the last 800,000 years.^[Kunzig, Robert. "Climate Milestone: Earth's CO2 Level Passes 400 ppm." National Geographic Society, 2013. Web Accessed April 18, 2015.]
5. Though Americans make up just 4 percent of the world's population, we produce 25 percent of the carbon dioxide pollution from fossil-fuel burning -- by far the largest share of any country.^[Natural Resources Defense Council. "Global Warming Basics." Web Accessed April 18, 2015.]
6. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has both the authority and responsibility to reduce pollution from electric power plants under the Clean Air Act, the nation's bedrock air pollution law adopted in 1970.^[Natural Resources Defense Council. "Cleaner and Cheaper: Using the Clean Air Act to Sharply Reduce Carbon Pollution from Existing Power Plants." Web Accessed April 18, 2015.]
7. Since 1870, global sea levels have risen by about 8 inches.^[The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. "Summary for Policymakers. In: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation." Cambridge University Press. Web Accessed April 18, 2015.]
8. Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment. Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted and trees are flowering sooner.^[NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "The current and future consequences of global change." Web Accesssed April 18, 2015.]
9. Heat waves caused by global warming present greater risk of heat-related illness and death, most frequently among people who have diabetes who are elderly or are very young.^[U.S. Global Change Research Program. "Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States." Web Accessed April 18, 2015.]
10. According to the U.S. Global Change Research Program, the temperature in the U.S. has increased by 2 degrees Celsius in the last 50 years and precipitation has increased by 5%.^[U.S. Global Change Research Program. "Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States." Web Accessed April 18, 2015.]
11. Global warming puts coral reefs in danger as the ocean warms, scientist fear that coral reefs will not be able to adapt quickly enough to the resulting changing conditions, and bleaching incidents and diseases will increase^[Coral Reef Alliance. "Reef Threats: Global." Web Accessed April 18, 2015.]