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THE THREAT FROM CLIMATE CHANGE Scientists now agree that the world has been warming up for the last 100 years and that this phenomenon is now occurring at an increasingly rapid rate. Physical evidence for the warming trend can be seen in the worldwide melting and retreat of glaciers, a s well as in recent changes in the Antarctic ice sheets. Global warming is caused by the buildup of pollutants such as carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. These greenhouse gases are pumped into the air mainly as a result of the burning of coal, oil, and gas that provide electricity and heat to our houses, and fuel automobiles. Once in the atmosphere, the pollutants act like a blanket around the Earth, preventing heat from escaping into space and gradually warming our planet. Across the world, natural ecosystems are already beginning to change as a result of global warming, and many species may become extinct in the coming decades as the climate changes more radically. It was no coincidence that in November 1996, President Clinton chose to visit Australia's Great Barrier Reef and made his strongest statement ever about climate c hange. He said "We must stand together against the threat of global warming. A greenhouse may be a good place to raise plants; it is no place to nurture our children."
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