The Science of Climate Change
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat on Earth and increase the average temperature on Earth. This is a very good thing – if there were no greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, basic physics suggests the average temperatures should be around -20°C, not the pleasant 15°C that allows life to flourish.
Many human activities are now increasing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and this is warming our planet. As the Earth warms, the climate changes. It is impossible to predict precisely what changes will occur. However, scientists around the world are extremely concerned about more floods, heatwaves, hurricanes and droughts, as well as increased sea levels resulting from the melting of polar ice caps. The impacts of these changes on human civilizations could be immense, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. For instance, it may create many millions of "climate refugees" from low-lying nation-states, as well as a marked increase in the frequency of major climate-related catastrophes such as the hurricanes which recently devastated much of South-Eastern USA.
While the precise impacts are unpredictable, the overwhelming majority of scientists agree that we are taking enormous risks with our climate. Our greenhouse gases are creating an extraordinarily interesting experiment in climate science, but the results may come too late for the only planet we have to live on. Links below provide more detail on scientific research into climate change.
Scientists and economists broadly agree that humans should reduce carbon emissions by as much as 60% by around 2050 in order to contain the risks of major environmental, social, and economic upheaval. This means broadly that rich countries have to reduce emissions by around 80% or more. Even with such reductions, damage from climate change will be incurred. Yet, driven in part by the extraordinary growth in China, global emissions are now growing more rapidly than ever before.
Why is the problem so difficult? Solving it requires collective action – getting people together – on a scale comparable to that of a world war. Overcoming the problem requires trust, strong analytics, intelligent policy backed by extraordinary collective negotiating skills, and innovative business solutions. Effective incentives and policy are crucial.
For more information on the specifics of Climate Change please consult the following links:
UNFCCC - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change