What Is Climate Change and the Greenhouse Effect?
Life as we know it is dependent on the “greenhouse effect” created by the earth s atmosphere. Solar radiation passes through the atmosphere and heats the earth s surface. This heat is then re-radiated in the form of infrared radiation. Some of it escapes to space. Some of it is captured by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour, and nitrous oxide. Without the greenhouse effect, the earth would be far colder than it was at the height of the deepest ice age. However, human activities especially the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation have increased the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. According to the international body of scientists that advises the UN, the balance of evidence suggests that human activities are having a discernible influence on global climate. The earth s average temperature has already increased by between 0.3C and 0.6C since the late 19th Century. Scientists predict that, if strong policy actions are not taken, averag
