Threat to Global Climate

Our planet is heating up at an increasing rate. A thickening blanket of atmospheric pollutant allows less and less of the sun's heat to radiate back into space. Currently recorded at a 1 degree increase and predicted to reach a 4 degree increase by 2010, we will experience a faster change than has occurred in at least the last 10,000 years. It is certain that many species of animals and plants could not successfully adapt to such a rapid climate change. Whole ecosystems are likely to break up or disappear. Regions near the poles will suffer frontline risks. Weather patterns and seasonal cycles of temperature and precipitation will change, sea levels will rise, agricultural zones will shift, as will freshwater supplies.

Global climate change is the most devastating indirect threat on the planet and is caused by atmospheric buildup of greenhouse gases primarily from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and carbon dioxide gas. Global climate change hurts living things and alters weather events. It is truly a critical and formidable disruption.

For more information, visit our climate change section.