What is the difference between climate change and global warming?
Climate change and global warming are basically the same. According to the world's climate scientists and experts, we can expect global temperatures to rise as we continue to emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. However, warmer temperatures will n ot be the only result. Some areas will experience increased rainfall, others will have droughts. There will be more storms and floods, some parts of the world may even become cooler. Because of these regional changes, "climate change" is a more accurat e term than "global warming."

What causes climate change?
The world's climate is driven by energy from the sun. Solar energy comes to Earth from the sun. At the same time, heat escapes from Earth into space as infrared radiation. Certain gases are transparent to incoming solar energy -- that is, they let the solar energy pass through them on it's way to the earth's surface. However, when infrared radiation tries to escape into space, these same gases absorb it, preventing it fro m leaving the earth and ultimately raising the planet's temperature. The effect is similar to a glass greenhouse, that is always warmer than the garden outside. This is why many people talk about "greenhouse gases" and the "greenhouse effect." Greenhouse gases are naturally present in the planet's atmosphere. In fact, life on earth depends on their ability to keep it warm. The problem now is that we are adding extra greenhouse gases to the atmosphere artificially, and so we can expect the glo bal climate to become warmer.

Where does carbon dioxide (CO₂) come from?
CO₂ is released when "fossil fuels," particularly coal, oil, and gas, are burned to create energy. Deforestation also releases substantial amounts of CO₂. Most fossil fuel CO₂ emissions come from the fast-growing transpo rt and power sectors, and inefficient home heating and cooling. At home, that old refrigerator kept down in the basement chilling drinks also contributes to CO₂ emissions. In most cases, anything that's plugged in, pulls energy from a utility plant that must burn fossil fuels to create electricity. Carbon dioxide is currently responsible for 60 per cent of the "enhanced" greenhouse effect. their ability to keep it warm. The problem now is that we are adding extra greenhouse gases to the atmosphere artificially, and so we can expect the global climate to become warmer.

Is climate change really happening?
Yes. The United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), more than 2,000 of the world's scientists and climate specialists, has confirmed that "the balance of evidence suggests that there is a discernible human influence on the global c limate." Weather records show that the average global temperature has risen 0.3 to 0.6 degrees C since 1860. As the upper layers of the oceans warm, water expands and sea levels rise. In the last 100 years, the average sea level worlwide has risen by 10 to 25 cm. The icy, glacier peaks of mountains around the world are melting and in some areas they are retreating away from their earlier boundaries at a rate of 75 meters per year.