2. Scientists made an alarming discovery in the 1980s. They found
out that the average temperature of the Earth's surface was
slowly rising. This trend is called global warming. Today we
know that global warming is increasing because more and more
gases get into the atmosphere.
3. A greenhouse is a glass house in which plants grow. The glass lets light
in and at the same time keeps heat from getting out. This heat keeps
the plants warm, even when it is cold outside. The same happens to
the Earth's atmosphere. It lets sunlight in and keeps carbon dioxide
and other gases from getting out. We need these gases but too much
of them trap more heat.
4. During the last few decades people have also cut down many
forests. Trees use carbon dioxide when they make their own
food. Fewer trees mean that less carbon dioxide is taken out
of the atmosphere.
5. The Future effects of global warming
Melting of the ice caps. This melting could increase the
oceans height by up to 2 feet in only one century! This
would mean many heavily populated cities would flood
causing millions maybe billions of dollars of damage and
the potential loss of life in these cities.
Natural disasters would increase which influence spreading
of diseases more rapidly, and animals have been found
migrating towards the poles due to the increase in heat.
Droughts and wildfires will occur more often. More than a
million species could be driven to extinction by 2050.
6. Finding a solution to solve the world's biggest environmental problem
is not an easy task. Although we need energy to make our economy
grow there are things that could be done to fight off this problem.
Carpools or travelling by public transport could take many cars off the
roads. You could turn off lights, TV sets, computers and other electrical
items if you don't need them. Companies have been spending a lot of
money to produce items that use little energy.
7. We also need to use more alternative energy, like sunlight, wind power
or wave power. Car companies have started to produce a new type of
cars known as hybrids. It works like an electric car but also has a small
petrol engine.
8. In 1997 over 150 countries signed the Kyoto Protocol at the United
Nations Climate Conference. Industrialized countries should reduce
their emissions of greenhouse gases. The United States which produces
about 25% of all greenhouse gases has often made public that it will
not support the agreement.
9. Conference on climate change in Paris in 2015 on climate change,
held in Le Bourget in France from 29 November to 11 December
2015. According to the organizing Committee, the purpose of this
conference — the first time "to reach a universal and binding
agreement that effectively fight against climate change and
accelerate the transition to societies and economies use carbon
technology".
10. To this end, the agreement, which is expected to come into force in
2020, should lead to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and
companies adapt to climate change, present and future. It aims to find
a balance between the needs and capacities of each country.
