Our
Changing Planet
The Upsala glacier in Argentina used to be one of the biggest glaciers in South America. In 1928, it was
covered in ice and snow, but now the glacier is melting at an annual rate of about 650 feet (about 200
meters), so the area is covered in water. This is evidence of global warming.
Effects of Climate Change
1 In the last 100 years, the global temperature has
gone up by around 1.33°F (0.75°C). This may not
sound like much, but such a small increase is causing
3 Experts predict that global sea levels could rise
by 12 to 48 inches (30.5 to 122 centimeters) by
the end of the century. Consequently, some areas
sea levels to rise and threatening the habitat of that were land a few hundred years ago are now
many species of plants and animals. An increase underwater, and many low-lying islands may be
of 3.6°F (2°C) in global temperatures could result in underwater in the future.
extinction for 30% of the world’s land species.
2 The Northwest Passage is a sea route that runs
along the northern coast of Canada between the
4 As a result of the changing climate, the world’s
ecosystems are also changing faster than ever
before. More than one-third of the world’s mangrove
Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. In the past, it was forests2 and around 20% of the world’s coral reefs3
often difficult to use because the water was frozen; have been destroyed in the last few decades. Forests
however, increasing temperatures and the subsequent are being cut down to provide land for food, because
deglaciation1 have made it easier for ships to travel human population is growing at such a rapid rate.
through this route. The trouble is that the melting of Approximately a quarter of the land on Earth is
the ice will lead to loss of habitat for the polar bears now used for growing food. As a result of the higher
and other species that live in this area. temperatures and higher levels of carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere, plants are producing more pollen,
which could lead to more cases of asthma, a medical
condition that makes it hard to breathe.
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Causes of Climate Change What Can Be Done
5 What is causing climate change? The main
cause is the huge amount of greenhouse gases,
such as methane and carbon dioxide (CO2), in the
6 The biggest challenge we all face is to prevent
further environmental disasters. We must do
something before it is too late. We need to reduce
atmosphere, but the reason for the high levels is the the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere. We need to
world’s population—you and I. As the population stop burning fossil fuels and start using renewable
increases, more land is needed to provide food and energy. We can get enough energy from renewable
energy. Burning fossil fuels for heating, lighting, fuels such as solar energy, hydroelectric energy,
transportation, electricity, or manufacturing or wind power to be able to stop using fossil fuels
produces CO2. Furthermore, humans breathe out CO2 completely.
while trees “breathe in” CO2 and produce oxygen, so
by cutting down trees, we are increasing the amount
of CO2 in the atmosphere and reducing the amount
Click here to sign the petition
of oxygen. As a result of human activities, CO2 levels
are now at their highest in 800,000 years. to tell governments to take
action before it is too late!
1
deglaciation (n) the melting of a glacier
2
mangrove forests (n) large areas of trees and shrubs that live in coastal areas, e.g., in Florida and Bangladesh
3
coral reefs (n) diverse underwater ecosystems built by tiny animals
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