‘Although the scientific process is always open to new ideas and results, the fundamental causes and consequences of climate change have been established by many years of scientific research, are supported by many different lines of evidence, and have stood firm in the face of careful examination, repeated testing, and the rigorous evaluation of alternative theories and explanation.’
National Academy of Sciences, USA

Los Angeles smogAfter years of research and observing the evidence, the vast majority of the scientific community is convinced that global warming is happening, that it is caused by human activity and that it is a threat to life on this planet.

  • greenhouse gas emissions have increased from 5 to 30 gigatonnes per year in the last 50 years
  • carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 30% to nearly 400 parts per million
  • less heat is being radiated out into space and more heat is being reflected back onto the earth
  • the average global temperature increased by 1C over the last century
  • the global temperature is predicted to rise by between 2C and 5C by 2100.

But what effect will this increase in temperature have on the planet?

Check out The World after Climate Change where a respected climatologist predicts the impact of global warming on the earth.

Environmental Impact of Global Warming

There is no doubt that we are running down the natural resources of our planet, destroying the environment and ruining the world for future generations…

  • the forests are being cut down at a rate of 5 million hectares per year to provide land for farming, meat production and bio-fuels
  • the oceans are polluted with heavy metals, plastics and petrochemicals
  • 80% of marine fish stocks are overexploited with 50% in imminent danger of complete collapse
  • many animal species are endangered through habitat destruction
  • the rivers are used as toxic waste-dumps by factory farming
  • the skies are polluted by greenhouse gases
  • underground aquifers and rivers are running dry.