Answers to 5 Common Questions About Climate Change

With an Academy Award for "An Inconvenientabsorbs heat during the day, the greenhouse
Truth" and a Nobel Peace Prize, Al Gore isgases trap the heat, preventing it from escaping
arguably the most public face associated withinto the atmosphere and preventing the earth
environmental issues today. Yet with all of thefrom freezing at night. The problem is that,
discussion surrounding climate change, globalbeginning with the Industrial Revolution, coal and
warming, greenhouse gases, renewable energy,petroleum (each of which is a fossil fuel) have
and fuel conservation, many people don'tbeen burned. Burning these fossil fuels releases
understand the basics. These and othercarbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas. The
catchphrases are often used as shorthand whenexcess greenhouse gases build up in the
discussing the results of scientific studies, butatmosphere, causing them to trap in too much
those studies are frequently written in such aheat.
scholarly way that they're inaccessible to the4. What is renewable energy?
average person. Here, then, are answers to fiveRenewable energy is energy that comes from
common questions about environmental issues.unlimited sources. This is in contrast to coal and
1. Isn't global warming just a theory?petroleum, which are fossil fuels that exist in a
Global warming is a theory, but that doesn't meanfinite amount and are therefore non-renewable.
it's not real. Theories are the basis of all scientificExamples of renewable energy (sometimes called
work, whether that work is in medicine,alternative energy) are wind, geothermal, and
astrophysics, or climate change. The evidencesolar power, as well as hydro power and biofuels.
scientists have collected thus far indicates that iceAs it pertains to climate change, renewable
caps are melting at an unprecedented rate,energy is not only important because we won't
weather patterns are changing, and that searun out, but primarily because it doesn't emit
levels are rising. However, unlike a clinical drug trialcarbon dioxide.
that may last for a year, after which results are5. I'm only one person. Will anything I do make a
reviewed and a course of action is recommended,difference in climate change?
the potential effects of global warming are soAbsolutely! Every person who implements
catastrophic that humanity can't afford to waitchanges reduces his or her carbon footprint, and
for scientific theories to be proven correct beforethus makes a difference. Taking simple actions,
action is taken.like replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact
2. Don't temperatures natural fluctuate over time?fluorescent bulbs, changing your thermostat
Yes, temperatures around the earth do fluctuate,settings, cleaning your air filters, buying energy
but the rate at which the earth is warming isefficient appliances, and driving a fuel-efficient
unprecedented. Scientists have concluded that thevehicle can make a tremendous difference. You
earth is heating up more quickly than at any timecan also contact your elected representatives and
within the last million years, and that greenhouseinsist that your country take action to address
gases are the culprits.climate change. Finally, you can work locally,
3. What are greenhouse gases?spreading the word and encouraging friends,
The earth's atmosphere is made up of nitrogenneighbors, and family members to adopt practices
and oxygen, as well as trace amounts of severalthat reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Your actions
different gases. These trace amounts of gas arecan ultimately help to save the earth.
called greenhouse gases because, as the earth