GLOBAL WARMING DEFINITION AND MEANING Global warming refers

GLOBAL WARMING

DEFINITION AND MEANING • "Global warming" refers to the rise in the Earth's temperature resulting from an increase in heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere. • It is called the greenhouse effect because the gases that are gathering above the earth make the planet comparable to a greenhouse.

Causes • Overpopulation and its many effects. • Different products and human activities -- numerous gases • Carbon dioxide, methane, cfcs, nitrogen oxides, and ozone • Multiplier effect: growing population and increasing standard of living • Deforestation, ozone depletion, garbage dumping

Effects • Some portion of the polar icecaps would melt, raising global sea levels. • Islands would disappear, meaning their millions of inhabitants would have to relocate. • Flooding would occur along coastlines all over the world, displacing more people and ruining cropland. • Some countries might simply cease to exist.

Examples of observed climatic changes • Increase in global average surface temperature of about 1°F in the 20 th century • Decrease of snow cover and sea ice extent and the retreat of mountain glaciers in the latter half of the 20 th century • Rise in global average sea level and the increase in ocean water temperatures • Likely increase in average precipitation over the middle and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, and over tropical land areas • Increase in the frequency of extreme precipitation events in some regions of the world

CORAL REEF: BEFORE AND AFTER

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL EFFECTS • in the next decade, the annual cost of global warming will hit $150 bn a year • Displacement of millions • Impoverishment • Disease • Food scarcity

SOLUTIONS • Laws and treaties aimed at reducing the emission of pollutants • Raising fossil fuel prices • Taxing emissions • Planting trees • Reduce family sizes • Teaching people

• increasing energy efficiency standards • encouraging the use of renewable energy sources (such as wind and solar power) • eliminating subsidies that encourage the use of coal and oil by making them artificially cheap • driving less and driving more fuel-efficient and less-polluting cars • using energy-efficient appliances • insulating homes • using less electricity in general