Back to focus index
The average temperature of the earth's surface has risen by 0.74 degrees C since the late 1800s. It is expected to increase by another 1.8° C to 4° C by the year 2100 - a rapid and profound change - should the necessary action not be taken. Even if the minimum predicted increase takes place, it will be larger than any century-long trend in the last 10,000 years.
The principal reason for the mounting thermometer is a century and a half of industrialization: the burning of ever-greater quantities of oil, gasoline, and coal, the cutting of forests, and the practice of certain farming methods.
These activities have increased the amount of "greenhouse gases" in the atmosphere, especially carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Such gases occur naturally - they are critical for life on earth, they keep some of the sun's warmth from reflecting back into space, and without them the world would be a cold and barren place. But in augmented and increasing quantities, they are pushing the global temperature to artificially high levels and altering the climate. Eleven of the last 12 years are the warmest on record, and 1998 was the warmest year.
Source: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Tackling climate change, reducing poverty
The International Climate Change Agenda: Opportunities for the G8
10 facts on climate change and health
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
http://unfccc.int/2860.php
Kyoto Protocol
http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/kpeng.pdf
Climate Change and Water (IPCC Technical Paper VI)
http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/technical-papers/climate-change-water-en.pdf
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
http://www.ipcc.ch/index.htm
Frequently Asked Questions About Global Warming and Climate Change (EPA)
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/downloads/Climate_Basics.pdf
* Outside links are not maintained. For broken outside links, CIAO recommends the Way Back Machine.