global warming essay 10 lines

Essay on Global Warming – Causes and Solutions

500+ words essay on global warming.

Global Warming is a term almost everyone is familiar with. But, its meaning is still not clear to most of us. So, Global warming refers to the gradual rise in the overall temperature of the atmosphere of the Earth. There are various activities taking place which have been increasing the temperature gradually. Global warming is melting our ice glaciers rapidly. This is extremely harmful to the earth as well as humans. It is quite challenging to control global warming; however, it is not unmanageable. The first step in solving any problem is identifying the cause of the problem. Therefore, we need to first understand the causes of global warming that will help us proceed further in solving it. In this essay on Global Warming, we will see the causes and solutions of Global Warming.

Causes of Global Warming

Global warming has become a grave problem which needs undivided attention. It is not happening because of a single cause but several causes. These causes are both natural as well as manmade. The natural causes include the release of greenhouses gases which are not able to escape from earth, causing the temperature to increase.

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Further, volcanic eruptions are also responsible for global warming. That is to say, these eruptions release tons of carbon dioxide which contributes to global warming. Similarly, methane is also one big issue responsible for global warming.

So, when one of the biggest sources of absorption of carbon dioxide will only disappear, there will be nothing left to regulate the gas. Thus, it will result in global warming. Steps must be taken immediately to stop global warming and make the earth better again.

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Global Warming Solutions

As stated earlier, it might be challenging but it is not entirely impossible. Global warming can be stopped when combined efforts are put in. For that, individuals and governments, both have to take steps towards achieving it. We must begin with the reduction of greenhouse gas.

Furthermore, they need to monitor the consumption of gasoline. Switch to a hybrid car and reduce the release of carbon dioxide. Moreover, citizens can choose public transport or carpool together. Subsequently, recycling must also be encouraged.

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For instance, when you go shopping, carry your own cloth bag. Another step you can take is to limit the use of electricity which will prevent the release of carbon dioxide. On the government’s part, they must regulate industrial waste and ban them from emitting harmful gases in the air. Deforestation must be stopped immediately and planting of trees must be encouraged.

In short, all of us must realize the fact that our earth is not well. It needs to treatment and we can help it heal. The present generation must take up the responsibility of stopping global warming in order to prevent the suffering of future generations. Therefore, every little step, no matter how small carries a lot of weight and is quite significant in stopping global warming.

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FAQs on Global Warming

Q.1 List the causes of Global Warming.

A.1 There are various causes of global warming both natural and manmade. The natural one includes a greenhouse gas, volcanic eruption, methane gas and more. Next up, manmade causes are deforestation, mining, cattle rearing, fossil fuel burning and more.

Q.2 How can one stop Global Warming?

A.2 Global warming can be stopped by a joint effort by the individuals and the government. Deforestation must be banned and trees should be planted more. The use of automobiles must be limited and recycling must be encouraged.

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Global Warming Essay

Essay on Global Warming

The last few decades have been monumental when it comes to technological development. Humans have developed systems and machines that make our lives easier. Especially during the early modern period from the early 16th century to as far as the late 18the century, also commonly referred to as “The Scientific Revolution” or “The Enlightenment”, modern technology leapt ahead in development in such a short time frame compared to all of history.

However, with the development of society, there has been a severe detriment to the quality of Earth’s environment. One of the most massive threats to the condition of the planet is climate change. Inadequate research and reckless misuse of natural resources are some of the core reasons for the deteriorating condition of the planet.

To understand the concept of Global Warming and its causes and effects, we need to take an in-depth look into many factors that affect the temperature of the planet and what that means for the future of the world. Here is an objective look at the topic of Global Warming and other important related topics.

What is Climate Change?

Ever since the industrial and scientific revolution, Earth is slowly being used up for its resources. Moreover, the onset of the exponential increase in the world’s population is also very taxing on the environment.

Simply put, as the need for consumption of the population increases, both the utilisation of natural resources and the waste generated from the use of said resources have also increased massively.

One of the main results of this over the many years has become climate change. Climate change is not just the rise or fall of temperature of different areas of the world; it is also a change in the rain cycles, wind patterns, cyclone frequencies, sea levels, etc. It affects all major life groups on the planet in some way or the other.

What is Global Warming?

Global Warming is often considered an effect of Climate change. Global Warming is the rapid increase in the temperature of the Earth’s environment that is causing many life-threatening issues to arise.

Global Warming is a dangerous effect on our environment that we are facing these days. Rapid industrialization, increase in the population growth and pollution are causing a rise in Global Warming. Global Warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the earth's surface during the last century. One of the reasons why Global Warming is dangerous is because it disturbs the overall ecology of the planet. This results in floods, famine, cyclones and other issues. There are many causes and results of this warming and is a danger for the existence of life on earth.

The sign of Global Warming is already visible with many natural phenomena happening around globally, affecting each living species.

Here is some data that can help to give a more precise understanding of the reality of Global Warming in the last few years:

On average, the world’s temperature is about 1.5°C higher than during the start of the industrial revolution in the late 1700s. That may not seem a lot to you, but that is an average estimate. This number is only increasing. Many parts of the world face far more severe changes in temperature that affect the planet’s overall health.

In 1950, the world’s CO 2 emissions were at 6 billion tonnes which had quadrupled in volume until 1990, just 40 years later to 22 billion tonnes. Not only that, unchecked CO 2 emissions today have reached a whopping 35 billion tonnes.

The most evident causes of Global Warming are industrialization, urbanization, deforestation, and sophisticated human activities. These human activities have led to an increase in the emission of Greenhouse Gases, including CO₂, Nitrous Oxide, Methane, and others.

Causes of Global Warming

A variety of reasons causes Global Warming. Some of which can be controlled personally by individuals but others are only expected to be solved by communities and the world leaders and activists at the global level.

Many scientists believe the main four reasons for Global Warming, according to recent studies, are:

Greenhouse gases

Deforestation

Per capita carbon emissions

Global Warming is certainly an alarming situation, which is causing a significant impact on life existence. Extreme Global Warming is resulting in natural calamities, which is quite evident happening around. One of the reasons behind Global Warming is the extreme release of greenhouse gases stuck on the earth surface, resulting in the temperature increase.

Similarly, volcanoes are also leading to Global Warming because they spew too much CO₂ in the air. One of the significant causes behind Global Warming is the increase in the population. This increase in the population also results in air pollution. Automobiles release a lot of CO₂, which remains stuck in the earth.

This increase in the population is also leading to deforestation, which further results in Global Warming. More and more trees are being cut, increasing the concentration of CO₂.

The greenhouse is the natural process where the sunlight passes through the area, thus warming the earth's surface. The earth surface releases energy in the form of heat in the atmosphere maintaining the balance with the incoming energy. Global Warming depletes the ozone layer leading to the doom's day.

There is a clear indication that the increase in Global Warming will lead to the complete extinction of life from the earth surface.

Solution for Global Warming

Global Warming can not be blamed on individuals; however, it can be tackled and maintained from worsening starting at the individual level. Of course, industries and multinational conglomerates have higher carbon emissions levels than an average citizen. Still, activism and community effort are the only feasible ways to control the worsening state of Global Warming.

Additionally, at the state or government level, world leaders need to create concrete plans and step programmes to ensure that no further harm is being caused to the environment in general.

Although we are almost late in slowing down the Global Warming rate, it is crucial to find the right solution. From individuals to governments, everyone has to work upon a solution for Global Warming. Controlling pollution, population and use of natural resources are some of the factors to consider. Switching over to the electric and hybrid car is the best way to bring down the carbon dioxide.

As a citizen, it is best to switch over to the hybrid car and to use public transport. This will reduce pollution and congestion. Another significant contribution you can make is to minimize the use of plastic. Plastic is the primary cause of Global Warming taking years to recycle.

Deforestation is another thing to consider that will help in controlling Global Warming. Planting of more trees should be encouraged to make the environment go green.

Industrialization should be under certain norms. The building of industries should be banned in green zones affecting plants and species. Hefty penalties should be levied on such sectors contributing towards Global Warming.

Effects of Global Warming

Global Warming is a real problem that many want to prove as a hoax for their political benefit. However, as aware citizens of the world, we must make sure only the truth is presented in the media.

Various parts of the environment, both flora and fauna, are directly adversely affected by the damages caused by Global Warming. Wildlife being in danger is ultimately a serious threat to the survival of humanity as we know it and its future.

The effect of Global Warming is widely seen in this decade. Glacier retreat and arctic shrinkage are the two common phenomena seen. Glaciers are melting in a fast way. These are pure examples of climate change.

Rise in sea level is another significant effect of Global Warming. This sea-level rise is leading to floods in low-lying areas. Extreme weather conditions are witnessed in many countries. Unseasonal rainfall, extreme heat and cold, wildfires and others are common every year. The number of these cases is increasing. This will indeed imbalance the ecosystem bringing the result of the extinction of species.

Similarly, marine life is also widely getting affected due to the increase in Global Warming. This is resulting in the death of marine species and other issues. Moreover, changes are expected in coral reefs, which are going to face the end in coming years.

These effects will take a steep rise in coming years, bringing the expansion of species to a halt. Moreover, humans too will witness the negative impact of Global Warming in the end.

FAQs on Global Warming Essay

1. What Global Warming will Cause?

Global warming will have a massive impact on our earth in the end. Flood, extreme weather conditions, famine, wildfire and many more will be the result. There will be hotter days, which will also increase the wildfire and famine. In the past years, many meteorological bureaus have added purple and magenta to the forecast.

Another impact of global warming will be rising sea levels. Increased ocean temperatures will lead to the melting of glaciers and ice caps. Increase in the sea level will lead to floods in many low-lying areas.

The overall ecosystem of nature will be an imbalance. This will affect nature in the long-term.

2. Why Does Global Warming Happen?

There are many reasons for the cause of global warming. There are certain gases in the atmosphere called greenhouse gases. The energy then radiates from the surface; the greenhouse gases trap longwave radiation. We humans have added to the atmospheric blanket of greenhouse affecting the living species. Warming of air, oceans, and land is how global warming happens.

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Essay On Climate Change – 10 Lines, Short and Long Essay For Kids

Key Points To Remember When Writing An Essay On Climate Change For Lower Primary Classes

10 lines on climate change for kids, paragraph on climate change for children, short essay on climate change in 250 words for kids, long essay on climate change in english for children, interesting facts about climate change for kids, what will your child learn from the essay.

Climate change is described as a shift in weather conditions due to human and environmental factors. We are experiencing temperatures rising at substantial rates on earth, and because of this, icecaps are melting. Global warming is a significant concern which is why learning about various hazards such as air, water, and soil pollution, industrial waste disposal, contamination of resources, etc., is crucial. We are going to talk about how to write an essay on climate change for classes 1, 2, and 3 children. A climate change essay in English isn’t hard to comprehend and can be simple; we’ll show you below.

Climate change can be a big threat to our environment, and it affects every aspect of our lives and may cause global catastrophes if ignored. Here are some key points to remember for kids on how to write an essay on climate change.

Begin with an introductory overview of what climate change is. Describe how it works, impacts the environment, and what steps can be taken to analyse it.
Discuss the consequences of not addressing climate change concerns and how it may affect livelihood.
Go through steps on how to reduce waste, increase natural resources, and improve climate change.
Add a conclusion paragraph at the bottom and summarise your essay.

Intense bouts of famine and rainfall, sudden changes in weather conditions, and forest fires result from climate change. Kids can refer to these lines while writing an essay for classes 1 and 2 on climate change:

Climate change is bad for our planet and should not be underestimated.
The consequences of climate change are catastrophic. It can melt glaciers, cause deforestation, and deplete other non-renewable sources
Animals depend upon natural resources for survival, and climate change causes them to go extinct.
Climate and global warming negatively impact agriculture.
Greenhouse gases play a significant role in climate change.
The earth is heating up at an alarming rate, which is unnatural.
Ozone layer depletion is a major consequence of climate change.
We must start inculcating sustainable living practices and ensure our natural resources don’t get depleted.
Taking better care of our environment and planting many trees makes a big difference.
We should educate others about climate change and reduce non-biodegradable waste and plastic usage.

Frequent changes in weather conditions are not normal and should be prevented. Given below is a paragraph on climate change for more insight on the topic.

Global warming happens when the earth’s average temperature rises at exponential rates, thus contributing to climate change. We cannot fully control climate change as humans. Still, we certainly play a part by preserving natural resources and controlling air pollution by opting for public transport over private vehicles. Scientists are unclear whether global warming is solely responsible for climate change or whether other factors are involved. The main reason behind climate change is attributed to greenhouse gases, mainly consisting of carbon dioxide, CFOs, methane, and Chloro Fluro Carbons. Constant fluctuations in environmental temperatures can be stressful to wildlife, and nature is not used to going through such shifts. Humanity should join hands to tackle this serious environmental issue.

Climate change is not a good indicator and means that the earth is depleting rapidly. Kids can include this point in a short essay for classes 1, 2, and 3 kids and can write an amazing essay.

The change in the weather patterns over a long period of time is called climate change. These changes are sometimes necessary, while they may be unexpected on rare occasions. Climate change is causing a negative impact on all living beings. The overpopulation crisis makes surviving nearly impossible. People are facing difficulties procuring food and water due to untimely climate fluctuations. Climate change has existed for centuries and is not a recent threat. But it was not so severe or rapid as today. Rather than bring worries, it is imperative to take action and rectify it as soon as possible. The affluent countries can help poorer nations combat the crises and develop adequate funding for access to research and technology. Direct participation of local communities or the grassroots movement is one of the best ways to get to the heart of it. Understanding that climate change results from humanity’s unhealthy relationship with nature is crucial. The Paris Agreement is an example of the world doing its share to build a sustainable future and come together to fight the climate change crisis.

Writing a long-form essay on the topic will need your child to be aware of the existence of climate change and its issues at present, although it began generations ago with the Ice Age. Here is a sample essay for class 3 on climate change your child can read before drafting their own write-up.

Climate change is defined as the change that impacts our ecosystems. This can happen due to internal and external factors, sometimes the scale being large enough to affect communities. The earth has experienced several periods of drought, famine, and cyclical rainfall for more than 2 million years, and many species and wild animals have become extinct due to this reason.

Global warming depletes the ozone layer, impacts agriculture, and affects water supply. Various problems can be caused by climate change, such as transportation issues, natural disasters, water logging, and air pollution. There are various reasons for climate change including fossil fuel extraction, dumping of oils in oceans, industrial waste, and releasing other toxic contaminants such as radiation into the atmosphere, etc.

If we do not think about climate change now, a day will come when the planet may go extinct. There will be heavy damage to the environment, and land may become uninhabitable. Animals depend upon the environment to survive, but too many changes in weather conditions rob them of valuable natural resources. Deforestation and forest fires are also becoming a significant problem in this regard. Although humans are responsible for the adverse effects of climate change, it is not too late to start over or curb them. An excellent first step is planting as many trees as possible and caring for our neighbourhoods.

Rapid warming of the planet is not natural, and in history, it never happened at such unprecedented rates. Volcanos also contribute to climate change by releasing ash, molten lava, and debris into the environment, thus causing landslides and other natural disasters. If everyone takes responsibility for their actions and what they do for the environment, the planet would be a better place to live in.

What Is Climate Change?

Climate change refers to the natural shifts in weather patterns and any changes made in solar cycles. Many changes in the climate are unprecedented, and humans have been noticing these changes for thousands of years.

What Are The Causes And Effects Of Climate Change?

Here is a list of the causes and effects of climate change on the planet.

Causes of Climate Change

A few major causes of climate change are:

The buildup of greenhouse gases
Industrial waste disposal
Soil erosion
Increased volcanic activity
Changes in solar cycles

Effects of Climate Change

The major effects of climate change are as follows:

Droughts and sandstorms
Destruction of various lifeforms and animal habitats
High rates of carbon emissions
Melting of glaciers and ice caps
Air, soil, and water pollution
Depletion of natural resources

Ways to Prevent Climate Change

Here are the different ways to prevent climate change:

Encourage biodiversity in ecosystems by planting more trees and reducing the global warming crisis
Promote sustainable living practices and recycle waste
Stop using plastic and do not dump industrial waste in soils and water bodies
Get active, stop using fossil fuels, and ride your bike more
Commute to work on foot and use public transportation
Control your electricity consumption for sustainable living.

Although the samples given above can help your child write a decent essay, some more knowledge on the topic will allow them to add more value to it or make it an interesting read. Read on to learn some interesting facts about climate change.

The earth was very cold around 600-800 million years ago and turned to ice.
As per many scientists, climate change is caused by humans these days.
The earth raised its temperature by 0.69 degrees Celsius between January to December 2014, which was recorded as the highest in history.
We are currently going through a phase known as the Holocene. The Holocene can be defined as the last 11,700 years of the earth’s existence.

Your child will learn a lot about the earth from writing an essay on the topic. They will understand how they can positively contribute to climate change, what can be done to improve it, and how to preserve our natural resources for a better life on this planet.

The amount of energy we get from the sun proves that life on earth can be perfect. But it’s more about how we use our natural resources and not deplete them. Hopefully, this climate change essay has shed some light on the subject.

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Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Global Warming — Argumentative Essay On Global Warming

Argumentative Essay on Global Warming

Categories: Climate Change Environmental Issues Global Warming

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Words: 879 |

Published: Mar 5, 2024

Words: 879 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

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Global Warming Speech: 1, 2, 3-5 Minute Speech

Updated on
Feb 3, 2024

Global warming refers to the long-term rise in Earth’s average surface temperature. Since the 18th-century Industrial Revolution in European Countries, global annual temperature has increased in total by a little more than 1 degree Celsius. Global Warming is one of the most concerning issues facing us, as it threatens the existence of life on Earth. Greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, industrial processes, waste management, etc are all reasons for global warming.

Did you know: Antarctica is losing ice mass at an average rate of about 150 billion tons per year, and Greenland is losing about 270 billion tons per year, adding to sea level rise?

Today, weather prediction has been becoming more complex with every passing year, with seasons more indistinguishable, and the general temperatures hotter. The number of natural disasters like hurricanes, cyclones, droughts, floods, etc., has risen steadily since the onset of the 21st century. The supervillain behind all these changes is Global Warming. The name is quite self-explanatory; it means the rise in the temperature of the Earth. Since childhood, we all have heard about it, but just as a formality, let us first understand what global warming is!

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Short global warming speech 100-150 words (1 minute), global warming speech 250 words (2 minutes), global warming speech 500- 700 words (3- 5 minutes), 10-line global warming speech, causes of global warming, ways to tackle global warming.

It means a rise in global temperature due to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human activities and inventions. In scientific words, Global Warming is when the earth heats (the temperature rises). It occurs when the earth’s atmosphere warms up as a result of the sun’s heat and light being trapped by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapour, nitrous oxide, and methane. Many people, animals, and plants are harmed by this. Many people die because they can’t handle the shift.

Good morning to everyone present here today I am going to present a speech on global warming. Global Warming is caused by the increase of carbon dioxide levels in the earth’s atmosphere and is a result of human activities that have been causing harm to our environment for the past few centuries now. Global Warming is something that can’t be ignored and steps have to be taken to tackle the situation globally. The average temperature is constantly rising by 1.5 degrees Celsius for the last few years. The best method to prevent future damage to the earth, cutting down more forests should be banned and Afforestation should be encouraged. Start by planting trees near your homes and offices, participate in events, and teach the importance of planting trees. It is impossible to undo the damage but it is possible to stop further harm.

Good morning everyone and topic of my speech today is global warming. Over a long period, it is observed that the Earth’s temperature is rising rapidly. This affected the wildlife, animals, humans, and every living organism on earth. Glaciers have been melting, and many countries have started water shortages, flooding, erosion and all this is because of global warming. No one can be blamed for global warming except for humans. Human activities such as gases released from power plants, transportation, and deforestation have resulted in the increase of gases such as carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants in the earth’s atmosphere. The main question is how can we control the current situation and build a better world for future generations. It starts with little steps by every individual. Start using cloth bags made from sustainable materials for all shopping purposes, instead of using the high-watt lights use the energy-efficient bulbs, switch off the electricity, don’t waste water, abolish deforestation and encourage planting more trees. Shift the use of energy from petroleum or other fossil fuels to wind and solar energy. Instead of throwing out the old clothes donate them to someone so that it is recycled. Donate old books, don’t waste paper. Above all, spread awareness about global warming. Every little thing a person does towards saving the earth will contribute in big or small amounts. We must learn that 1% effort is better than no effort. Pledge to take care of Mother Nature and speak up about global warming.

Also Read: How To Become an Environmentalist?

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Biology Article
Essay on Global Warming

Essay On Global Warming

Essay on global warming is an important topic for students to understand. The essay brings to light the plight of the environment and the repercussion of anthropogenic activities. Continue reading to discover tips and tricks for writing an engaging and interesting essay on global warming.

Essay On Global Warming in 300 Words

Global warming is a phenomenon where the earth’s average temperature rises due to increased amounts of greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and ozone trap the incoming radiation from the sun. This effect creates a natural “blanket”, which prevents the heat from escaping back into the atmosphere. This effect is called the greenhouse effect.

Contrary to popular belief, greenhouse gases are not inherently bad. In fact, the greenhouse effect is quite important for life on earth. Without this effect, the sun’s radiation would be reflected back into the atmosphere, freezing the surface and making life impossible. However, when greenhouse gases in excess amounts get trapped, serious repercussions begin to appear. The polar ice caps begin to melt, leading to a rise in sea levels. Furthermore, the greenhouse effect is accelerated when polar ice caps and sea ice melts. This is due to the fact the ice reflects 50% to 70% of the sun’s rays back into space, but without ice, the solar radiation gets absorbed. Seawater reflects only 6% of the sun’s radiation back into space. What’s more frightening is the fact that the poles contain large amounts of carbon dioxide trapped within the ice. If this ice melts, it will significantly contribute to global warming.

A related scenario when this phenomenon goes out of control is the runaway-greenhouse effect. This scenario is essentially similar to an apocalypse, but it is all too real. Though this has never happened in the earth’s entire history, it is speculated to have occurred on Venus. Millions of years ago, Venus was thought to have an atmosphere similar to that of the earth. But due to the runaway greenhouse effect, surface temperatures around the planet began rising.

If this occurs on the earth, the runaway greenhouse effect will lead to many unpleasant scenarios – temperatures will rise hot enough for oceans to evaporate. Once the oceans evaporate, the rocks will start to sublimate under heat. In order to prevent such a scenario, proper measures have to be taken to stop climate change.

More to Read: Learn How Greenhouse Effect works

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Climate change essay competition: A spark of change

Writing Teens

We’d like to share another chosen essay from this year’s Bahçeşehir essay competition, on the topic of climate change. There were many fantastic entries across grades 9 and 10. A huge congratulations to all finalists and every student who took the time to submit their work.

Bahçeşehir College is committed to increasing students’ awareness of the changing world we live in. This climate change essay competition saw many students submitting well thought out pieces of writing. These essays were marked on their format, creativity, organisation, clarity, unity/development of thought, and grammar/mechanics.

Asli’s essay

“A little spark you create might not be enough when on its own, but it also can turn into bright flames when combined with thousand others. What you can do is be one of those sparks.”

Please take a few minutes to read one of the five winning essays, supplied below.

A spark of change

“Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted,” says Aldous Huxley in one of his books. He perfectly summarises the biggest cause of the issues the world of today struggles with, the issues that are created by humans’ tendency to ignore the consequences of their actions. Water shortages, light pollution, desertification – all problems that you are familiar with by this point. People spend their resources like there is no tomorrow, not even thinking about how much harm their behavior might cause. What they fail to remember is that they themselves live in the very world they do not seem to care what happens to. Each year, more water is gone to waste, a bigger amount of meat is consumed, and the number of trees cut down keeps increasing. Some consequences are immediately noticeable; people can see how much smaller the Amazon forests got or how much water was used needlessly. However, what some cannot or do not want to realise is that there is another big threat creeping up behind the alarming scene, maybe not as flashily, but just as steadily: climate change.

Environmental conditions are changing rapidly with the temperatures increasing, water levels rising, the glaciers melting – complications no-one had to deal with a mere two hundred years ago. [1] The human race’s means of living is not only changing the climate, but is also transforming with it. The transformation is not exactly for the better, though, but the worse. Despite what few might be thinking, nothing about this transformation is adaptation; it is demolition on a large scale, destruction of the only place we have the privilege of living in. This has to stop; humans must start adapting and stop destroying if anything is going to be different. Just as Greta Thunberg stated, climate change is not only a threat; it is, above all, an opportunity to adapt and create a greener, healthier world. People have to define what exactly causes the seemingly little, but in reality, crucial environmental changes, develop methods to ameliorate their consequences, and find ways to raise awareness. Humans forget that they are supposed to be the protectors of the world, not the ravagers. How is the Earth going to survive, if the only species it has the chance to lean on turn their back to it?

With how often the media leaves you exposed to them, all the warnings and announcements about the danger us humans are in must be playing again and again in your mind – like some sort of a malfunctioning tape. And yes, while most people know everything they say by heart, no one actually takes them to the same place, resulting in a society that is knowledgeable but deeply lacks awareness. That is the root of all the threats the world is up against; everyone knows they have to change themselves to start change on a bigger scale, but they all expect some other person or organisation to light that match. The thing is, no good is ever going to happen when people keep standing on the sidelines. No results, positive or negative, come from doing nothing. This is why someone has to act up; someone that might as well be you.

All in all, the human race’s negative impact on climate and the environment is getting out control; the quality of life on Earth is decreasing, not just for humans, but also for all sorts of species. People have to fix what they have damaged, yet they fail to do anything in the fear of wasting their resources. What they do not realise is that with each day that passes without any action, the number of natural resources available also decreases significantly. [2] Yes, there is a possibility that the efforts might be futile, but doing nothing is not going to help with anything either. Not enough people are willing to get out of their comfort zones for the sake of the world. It is not that difficult to turn off a switch, use public transportation when the opportunity arises, or eat a portion less meat than you normally would have. Those are the simple acts many thinks do not matter, but create huge differences when applied on a societal basis. A little spark you create might not be enough when on its own, but it also can turn into bright flames when combined with thousand others. What you can do is be one of those sparks. Maybe what you do will not be enough for the whole world to change, but it might as well be part of the act that leads up to it.

[1] https://reporter.anu.edu.au/global-warming-began-earlier-we-thought

[2] https://ec.europa.eu/clima/climate-change/climate-change-consequences_en

Bahçeşehir College is a global education brand, founded by Enver Y ücel in 1968. Bahçeşehir College is considered as one of the most prestigious private school chains in Turkey, with 142 campuses in 62 provinces.

If you enjoyed this essay, please take some time to read Özlem ‘ s winning essay.

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ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Global warming.

The causes, effects, and complexities of global warming are important to understand so that we can fight for the health of our planet.

Earth Science, Climatology

Tennessee Power Plant

Ash spews from a coal-fueled power plant in New Johnsonville, Tennessee, United States.

Photograph by Emory Kristof/ National Geographic

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Explorer Classroom: Photographing the Frozen Frontier with Esther Horvath | December 5

Global warming refers to the increase in the planet’s overall average temperature in recent decades. Natural processes have always affected Earth’s temperature and climate, but more recently, the planet’s temperature and climate have changed at a higher pace than nature alone can explain. These rapid changes are due to human activities and the widespread use of fossil fuels for energy.

Fossil fuels include coal, oil and natural gas. Burning fossil fuels causes what is known as the “ greenhouse effect ” in Earth’s atmosphere. The greenhouse effect happens when the sun’s rays penetrate the atmosphere , and the Earth’s surface reflects that heat. Some of the gasses in the atmosphere then trap heat over Earth. Gasses emitted by the burning of fossil fuels are very good at trapping heat and preventing it from leaving the atmosphere. These greenhouse gasses are carbon dioxide , methane , nitrous oxide , chlorofluorocarbons and water vapor . The excess heat in the atmosphere has caused the planet’s average global temperature to rise over time, otherwise known as global warming.

The Industrial Revolution , beginning in the mid-18th century, led to the start of an anthropogenic (human-caused) rise in greenhouse gas emissions from Europe and the United States. The invention of the coal-fired steam engine introduced coal as a major source of energy. Soon it was heating homes and fueling machines in factories.

Since that time, the burning of fossil fuels has steadily increased. Today, many countries around the world use fossil fuels to generate energy for electricity, heat and transportation. Emissions of greenhouse gasses have skyrocketed in the last 100 years, and especially since the 1980s. This has accelerated the rise in Earth’s temperature.

Global warming has presented humans with another issue: climate change. People often use the terms “global warming” and “climate change” interchangeably, but they are different. Global warming refers to Earth’s rising average temperature, while climate change refers to changes in weather patterns and growing seasons around the world. Global warming causes climate change, which poses a serious threat to life on Earth.

Humans are feeling the impact of global warming around the world as climate change brings intense droughts, wildfires and extreme storms with heavier rainfall. Higher temperatures are altering ecosystems , forcing animals to migrate to cooler places to survive. Scientists predict that, if nothing is done to lower global temperatures, many species will go extinct.

The ocean is also warming, and glaciers , ice caps and ice sheets are melting. This is causing sea levels to rise, creating flooding problems for many people who live on islands and in coastal communities.

Corals have been a symbol of the consequences of a warmer ocean. Many coral reefs—home to thousands of species of fish and other organisms—are dying. National Geographic Explorer Shireen Rahimi is an underwater photographer who focuses her lens on the impact of global warming on tropical coral reefs. Her images capture humans’ relationships to the changing seas in the South Pacific, the Coral Triangle and the Caribbean. Rahimi is dedicated to telling personal stories that encourage environmental action.

Countries around the world are trying to lower greenhouse gas emissions to slow global warming. In 2015, nearly 200 countries signed the Paris Agreement at a United Nations Climate Change conference. The international treaty tasks each country with lowering greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to slow the pace of global warming and prevent Earth’s temperature from rising 2°C (3.6°F) above pre-industrial temperatures.

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Related Resources

What Is Climate Change?

Climate change is a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional and global climates. These changes have a broad range of observed effects that are synonymous with the term.

Changes observed in Earth’s climate since the mid-20th century are driven by human activities, particularly fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s atmosphere, raising Earth’s average surface temperature. Natural processes, which have been overwhelmed by human activities, can also contribute to climate change, including internal variability (e.g., cyclical ocean patterns like El Niño, La Niña and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation) and external forcings (e.g., volcanic activity, changes in the Sun’s energy output , variations in Earth’s orbit ).

Scientists use observations from the ground, air, and space, along with computer models , to monitor and study past, present, and future climate change. Climate data records provide evidence of climate change key indicators, such as global land and ocean temperature increases; rising sea levels; ice loss at Earth’s poles and in mountain glaciers; frequency and severity changes in extreme weather such as hurricanes, heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, floods, and precipitation; and cloud and vegetation cover changes.

“Climate change” and “global warming” are often used interchangeably but have distinct meanings. Similarly, the terms "weather" and "climate" are sometimes confused, though they refer to events with broadly different spatial- and timescales.

What Is Global Warming?

Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth’s surface observed since the pre-industrial period (between 1850 and 1900) due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s atmosphere. This term is not interchangeable with the term "climate change."

Since the pre-industrial period, human activities are estimated to have increased Earth’s global average temperature by about 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit), a number that is currently increasing by more than 0.2 degrees Celsius (0.36 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade. The current warming trend is unequivocally the result of human activity since the 1950s and is proceeding at an unprecedented rate over millennia.

Weather vs. Climate

“If you don’t like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes.” - Mark Twain

Weather refers to atmospheric conditions that occur locally over short periods of time—from minutes to hours or days. Familiar examples include rain, snow, clouds, winds, floods, or thunderstorms.

Climate, on the other hand, refers to the long-term (usually at least 30 years) regional or even global average of temperature, humidity, and rainfall patterns over seasons, years, or decades.

Find Out More: A Guide to NASA’s Global Climate Change Website

This website provides a high-level overview of some of the known causes, effects and indications of global climate change:

Evidence. Brief descriptions of some of the key scientific observations that our planet is undergoing abrupt climate change.

Causes. A concise discussion of the primary climate change causes on our planet.

Effects. A look at some of the likely future effects of climate change, including U.S. regional effects.

Vital Signs. Graphs and animated time series showing real-time climate change data, including atmospheric carbon dioxide, global temperature, sea ice extent, and ice sheet volume.

Earth Minute. This fun video series explains various Earth science topics, including some climate change topics.

Other NASA Resources

Goddard Scientific Visualization Studio. An extensive collection of animated climate change and Earth science visualizations.

Sea Level Change Portal. NASA's portal for an in-depth look at the science behind sea level change.

NASA’s Earth Observatory. Satellite imagery, feature articles and scientific information about our home planet, with a focus on Earth’s climate and environmental change.

Header image is of Apusiaajik Glacier, and was taken near Kulusuk, Greenland, on Aug. 26, 2018, during NASA's Oceans Melting Greenland (OMG) field operations. Learn more here . Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

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global warming summary

Learn about the causes and effects of global warming.

global warming , Increase in the global average surface temperature resulting from enhancement of the greenhouse effect, primarily by air pollution . In 2007 the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change forecast that by 2100 global average surface temperatures would increase 3.2–7.2 °F (1.8–4.0 °C), depending on a range of scenarios for greenhouse gas emissions, and stated that it was now 90 percent certain that most of the warming observed over the previous half century could be attributed to greenhouse gas emissions produced by human activities (i.e., industrial processes and transportation). Many scientists predict that such an increase in temperature would cause polar ice caps and mountain glaciers to melt rapidly, significantly raising the levels of coastal waters, and would produce new patterns and extremes of drought and rainfall, seriously disrupting food production in certain regions. Other scientists maintain that such predictions are overstated. The 1992 Earth Summit and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change attempted to address the issue of global warming, but in both cases the efforts were hindered by conflicting national economic agendas and disputes between developed and developing nations over the cost and consequences of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.

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What Is Climate Change?

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Such shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change , primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.

The main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example. Clearing land and cutting down forests can also release carbon dioxide. Agriculture, oil and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions. Energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use are among the main sectors causing greenhouse gases.

Illustration reads: $90 Trillion for infrastructure by 2030

Humans are responsible for global warming

Climate scientists have showed that humans are responsible for virtually all global heating over the last 200 years. Human activities like the ones mentioned above are causing greenhouse gases that are warming the world faster than at any time in at least the last two thousand years.

The average temperature of the Earth’s surface is now about 1.2°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s (before the industrial revolution) and warmer than at any time in the last 100,000 years. The last decade (2011-2020) was the warmest on record , and each of the last four decades has been warmer than any previous decade since 1850.

Many people think climate change mainly means warmer temperatures. But temperature rise is only the beginning of the story. Because the Earth is a system, where everything is connected, changes in one area can influence changes in all others.

The consequences of climate change now include, among others, intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms and declining biodiversity.

People are experiencing climate change in diverse ways

Climate change can affect our health , ability to grow food, housing, safety and work. Some of us are already more vulnerable to climate impacts, such as people living in small island nations and other developing countries. Conditions like sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion have advanced to the point where whole communities have had to relocate, and protracted droughts are putting people at risk of famine. In the future, the number of people displaced by weather-related events is expected to rise.

Every increase in global warming matters

In a series of UN reports , thousands of scientists and government reviewers agreed that limiting global temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C would help us avoid the worst climate impacts and maintain a livable climate. Yet policies currently in place point to a 3°C temperature rise by the end of the century.

The emissions that cause climate change come from every part of the world and affect everyone, but some countries produce much more than others .The seven biggest emitters alone (China, the United States of America, India, the European Union, Indonesia, the Russian Federation, and Brazil) accounted for about half of all global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.

Everyone must take climate action, but people and countries creating more of the problem have a greater responsibility to act first.

Photocomposition: an image of the world globe looking worried to a thermometer with raising temperatures

We face a huge challenge but already know many solutions

Many climate change solutions can deliver economic benefits while improving our lives and protecting the environment. We also have global frameworks and agreements to guide progress, such as the Sustainable Development Goals , the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement . Three broad categories of action are: cutting emissions, adapting to climate impacts and financing required adjustments.

Switching energy systems from fossil fuels to renewables like solar or wind will reduce the emissions driving climate change. But we have to act now. While a growing number of countries is committing to net zero emissions by 2050, emissions must be cut in half by 2030 to keep warming below 1.5°C. Achieving this means huge declines in the use of coal, oil and gas: over two-thirds of today’s proven reserves of fossil fuels need to be kept in the ground by 2050 in order to prevent catastrophic levels of climate change.

Adapting to climate consequences protects people, homes, businesses, livelihoods, infrastructure and natural ecosystems. It covers current impacts and those likely in the future. Adaptation will be required everywhere, but must be prioritized now for the most vulnerable people with the fewest resources to cope with climate hazards. The rate of return can be high. Early warning systems for disasters, for instance, save lives and property, and can deliver benefits up to 10 times the initial cost.

We can pay the bill now, or pay dearly in the future

Climate action requires significant financial investments by governments and businesses. But climate inaction is vastly more expensive. One critical step is for industrialized countries to fulfil their commitment to provide $100 billion a year to developing countries so they can adapt and move towards greener economies.

To get familiar with some of the more technical terms used in connection with climate change, consult the Climate Dictionary .

Learn more about…

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The facts on climate and energy

Climate change is a hot topic – with myths and falsehoods circulating widely. Find some essential facts here .

The science

See the latest climate reports from the United Nations as well as climate action facts .

Causes and Effects

Fossil fuels are by far the largest contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, which poses many risks to all forms of life on Earth. Learn more .

From the Secretary-General

Read the UN Chief’s latest statements on climate action.

What is net zero? Why is it important? Our net-zero page explains why we need steep emissions cuts now and what efforts are underway.

Renewable energy – powering a safer future

What is renewable energy and why does it matter? Learn more about why the shift to renewables is our only hope for a brighter and safer world.

How will the world foot the bill? We explain the issues and the value of financing climate action.

What is climate adaptation? Why is it so important for every country? Find out how we can protect lives and livelihoods as the climate changes.

Climate Issues

Learn more about how climate change impacts are felt across different sectors and ecosystems.

Why women are key to climate action

Women and girls are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and uniquely situated to drive action. Find out why it’s time to invest in women.

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What is climate change?
Causes and effects
Myth busters

Cutting emissions

Explaining net zero
High-level expert group on net zero
Checklists for credibility of net-zero pledges
Greenwashing
What you can do

Clean energy

Renewable energy – key to a safer future
What is renewable energy
Five ways to speed up the energy transition
Why invest in renewable energy
Clean energy stories
A just transition

Adapting to climate change

Climate adaptation
Early warnings for all
Youth voices

Financing climate action

Finance and justice
Loss and damage
$100 billion commitment
Why finance climate action
Biodiversity
Human Security

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What are Nationally Determined Contributions
Acceleration Agenda
Climate Ambition Summit
Climate conferences (COPs)
Youth Advisory Group
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Secretary-General’s speeches
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Climate change: evidence and causes

Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time. It is now more certain than ever, based on many lines of evidence, that humans are changing Earth’s climate.

Answers to key questions

Is the climate warming?
How do scientists know that recent climate change is largely caused by human activities?
CO 2 is already in the atmosphere naturally, so why are emissions from human activity significant?
What role has the Sun played in climate change in recent decades?
What do changes in the vertical structure of atmospheric temperature – from the surface up to the stratosphere – tell us about the causes of recent climate change?
Climate is always changing. Why is climate change of concern now?
Is the current level of atmospheric CO2 concentration unprecedented in Earth’s history?
Is there a point at which adding more CO2 will not cause further warming?
Does the rate of warming vary from one decade to another?
Does the recent slowdown of warming mean that climate change is no longer happening?
If the world is warming, why are some winters and summers still very cold?
Why is Arctic sea ice reducing while Antarctic sea ice is not?
How does climate change affect the strength and frequency of floods, droughts, hurricanes and tornadoes?
How fast is sea level rising?
What is ocean acidification and why does it matter?
How confident are scientists that Earth will warm further over the coming century?
Are climate changes of a few degrees a cause for concern?
What are scientists doing to address key uncertainties in our understanding of the climate system?
Are disaster scenarios about tipping points like ‘turning off the Gulf Stream’ and release of methane from the Arctic a cause for concern?
If emissions of greenhouse gases were stopped, would the climate return to the conditions of 200 years ago?

Project background

The Royal Society and the US National Academy of Sciences, with their similar missions to promote the use of science to benefit society and to inform critical policy debates, offer this publication as a key reference document for decision makers, policy makers, educators, and other individuals seeking authoritative answers about the current state of climate change science. The publication makes clear what is well established, where consensus is growing, and where there is still uncertainty. It is written and reviewed by a UK-US team of leading climate scientists. It echoes and builds upon the long history of climate-related work from both national science academies, as well as the newest climate change assessment from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The Support for the 2014 Edition was provided by NAS Endowment Funds. We offer sincere thanks to the Ralph J. and Carol M. Cicerone Endowment for NAS Missions for supporting the production of this 2020 Edition.

Find out more about the Royal Society's work on climate change on our Basics of Climate Change page , or explore our interactive net-zero carbon infographic .

Sir Paul Nurse on 'Climate Change: Evidence & Causes'

Professor Eric Wolff - 'Past climate - future climate'

Continuing the Conversation on Climate Change

A short guide to climate science
Climate Change evidence and causes 2020

Climate change and biodiversity

Human activities are changing the climate. Science can help us understand what we are doing to habitats and the climate, but also find solutions.

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What evidence exists that Earth is warming and that humans are the main cause?

We know the world is warming because people have been recording daily high and low temperatures at thousands of weather stations worldwide, over land and ocean, for many decades and, in some locations, for more than a century. When different teams of climate scientists in different agencies (e.g., NOAA and NASA) and in other countries (e.g., the U.K.’s Hadley Centre) average these data together, they all find essentially the same result: Earth’s average surface temperature has risen by about 1.8°F (1.0°C) since 1880.

Bar graph of global temperature anomalies with an overlay of a line graph of atmospheric carbon dioxide from 1850-2023

( bar chart ) Yearly temperature compared to the twentieth-century average from 1850–2023. Red bars mean warmer-than-average years; blue bars mean colder-than-average years. (line graph) Atmospheric carbon dioxide amounts: 1850-1958 from IAC , 1959-2023 from NOAA Global Monitoring Lab . NOAA Climate.gov graph, adapted from original by Dr. Howard Diamond (NOAA ARL).

In addition to our surface station data, we have many different lines of evidence that Earth is warming ( learn more ). Birds are migrating earlier, and their migration patterns are changing. Lobsters and other marine species are moving north. Plants are blooming earlier in the spring. Mountain glaciers are melting worldwide, and snow cover is declining in the Northern Hemisphere (Learn more here and here ). Greenland’s ice sheet—which holds about 8 percent of Earth’s fresh water—is melting at an accelerating rate ( learn more ). Mean global sea level is rising ( learn more ). Arctic sea ice is declining rapidly in both thickness and extent ( learn more ).

Aerial photo of glacier front with a graph overlay of Greenland ice mass over time

The Greenland Ice Sheet lost mass again in 2020, but not as much as it did 2019. Adapted from the 2020 Arctic Report Card, this graph tracks Greenland mass loss measured by NASA's GRACE satellite missions since 2002. The background photo shows a glacier calving front in western Greenland, captured from an airplane during a NASA Operation IceBridge field campaign. Full story.

We know this warming is largely caused by human activities because the key role that carbon dioxide plays in maintaining Earth’s natural greenhouse effect has been understood since the mid-1800s. Unless it is offset by some equally large cooling influence, more atmospheric carbon dioxide will lead to warmer surface temperatures. Since 1800, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased from about 280 parts per million to 410 ppm in 2019. We know from both its rapid increase and its isotopic “fingerprint” that the source of this new carbon dioxide is fossil fuels, and not natural sources like forest fires, volcanoes, or outgassing from the ocean.

DIgital image of a painting of a fire burning in a coal pile in a small village

Philip James de Loutherbourg's 1801 painting, Coalbrookdale by Night , came to symbolize the start of the Industrial Revolution, when humans began to harness the power of fossil fuels—and to contribute significantly to Earth's atmospheric greenhouse gas composition. Image from Wikipedia .

Finally, no other known climate influences have changed enough to account for the observed warming trend. Taken together, these and other lines of evidence point squarely to human activities as the cause of recent global warming.

USGCRP (2017). Climate Science Special Report: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume 1 [Wuebbles, D.J., D.W. Fahey, K.A. Hibbard, D.J. Dokken, B.C. Stewart, and T.K. Maycock (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, 470 pp, doi: 10.7930/J0J964J6 .

National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Partnership (2012): National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy . Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Council on Environmental Quality, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Washington, D.C. DOI: 10.3996/082012-FWSReport-1

IPCC (2019). Summary for Policymakers. In: IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, V. Masson-Delmotte, P. Zhai, M. Tignor, E. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Nicolai, A. Okem, J. Petzold, B. Rama, N.M. Weyer (eds.)]. In press.

NASA JPL: "Consensus: 97% of climate scientists agree." Global Climate Change . A website at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus). (Accessed July 2013.)

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Science and Sovereignty

Underlying a literal reading of Genesis and science skepticism (as outlined in the text above), we find beliefs about divine power. We see the consequences of these beliefs, for instance, in how some respond to global warming. “For many evangelicals,” says Janet Kellogg Ray, “suggesting that humans can change the climate is an attack on the sovereignty of God.” [1]

How could this be so?

An omnipotent God has the power to reveal truth unambiguously; we don’t have to search for it using human reason or science. An all-powerful deity could have created the universe in a flash six thousand years ago, without evolution. The Sovereign One alone can decide to spread or contain viruses. Nothing and no one can limit God’s omnipotence, the thinking goes.

Furthermore, this God is like a magician. An all-powerful God can heat or cool the planet singlehandedly, regardless of what people do. This means, as Kellogg Ray put it, “scientists sounding the alarm look like fear mongers who scare little kids with melting ice and sad polar bears.” [2] Creaturely responses to global warming will make no ultimate difference because God can control everything. [3]

If an omnipotent God alone decides everything about life and death, it would be appropriate to wonder why anyone should make sacrifices for the good of the planet. After all, those who recycle aren’t trusting God! As Evangelical pastor John MacArthur puts it, “God intended us to use this planet for the benefit of man. Never was intended to be a permanent planet. It is a disposable planet…we need not repent of the way we have polluted, distorted, and destroyed the Creator’s work.” [4]

In fact, scientific explanations become ultimately unnecessary if God is omnipotent. We can just say, “God did it,” or “God permitted it.” Those who sound more sophisticated might say something like, “creatures are secondary causes accomplishing the will of a Primary Cause.” [5] In other words, we are not real agents with freewill and responsibility: only God is. Nothing we do matters.

Most progressive Christians can identify the problems that arise from denying science and dismissing human agency. And many say they love the earth, believing creatures to be intrinsically valuable. But many of these same people fail to abandon omnipotence, a theological view of God’s power that undermines human agency, the work of science, and creation’s value.

So it’s not just Fundamentalists who need to rethink God in light of science.

Is Scientific Fundamentalism the Alternative?

Some who deconstruct have replaced religious fundamentalism with scientific fundamentalism. They move from whole-hearted trust in religious authorities to whole-hearted trust in the authority of science. At worst, this amounts to switching idols. At best, it’s inadequate. (See my essay, “ Christian and Scientific Fundamentalism .”)

Scientific fundamentalists take as their sole authority methods of inquiry and the proposals of some scientists. Chief among them would be the idea that science alone provides truth. (Just like the Bible alone provided truth.) Let’s call this attitude “scientific reductionism.”

But when we limit truth to what the scientific method can assess, essential aspects of human experience get excluded. Science simply does not have tools to assess the truth of free choices, for instance. It can neither affirm nor deny values, including right and wrong, better or worse, attractive or ugly. The scientific method, though useful for many things, cannot account for beauty and goodness, forgiveness and justice, compassion and awe.

Scientific fundamentalists, like religious fundamentalists, reject personal experiences that contradict their rigid and reductionist theories. Take purpose, for example. Scientists act purposefully—they have to, to do science! But the scientific method itself cannot account for purpose in actions. That’s beyond its scope, because that’s about meaning and intention. Ironically, scientific fundamentalists reject purpose in nature, despite being part of nature and acting purposefully!

Some scientific fundamentalists call themselves “New Atheists.” They say they want a world in which cooperation, peace, and well-being reign. Surely those represent goals we all ought to embrace. But they say simplistically that religion is the enemy of those values, just like the Fundamentalists say science is the enemy of truth. Scientific fundamentalism itself provides no real moral or intellectual framework for attaining peace, benevolence, and cooperation, or how to even make sense of those values.

Perhaps the biggest flaw in scientific fundamentalism is its inability to speak plausibly about what’s most important: Love. If love involves freedom, intentionality, and the pursuit of values, but science can’t detect those dimensions of life, scientific fundamentalists must reject the existence and importance of love. Or they will simply reduce it to reproductive success. We can see that science alone remains woefully inadequate as a complete explanation of the diverse experiences making up our world. Despite its powerful use as a tool, it was never meant to explain everything.

To overcome scientific and religious fundamentalisms, we should attend both to our own experience and these diverse experiences in the world. This means, in part, seeking to integrate wisdom in various disciplines, religious traditions, arts, and literature, and putting together multiple forms of knowledge. A wise person appreciates and draws from diverse sources.

We agree with philosopher Alfred North Whitehead when he says, “You cannot shelter theology from science, or science from theology; nor can you shelter either of them from metaphysics, or metaphysics from either of them.” [6] Metaphysics involves asking the highest questions of meaning and existence, something we all intuitively do to varying degrees. We want to give ultimate explanations for our individual and collective experiences. The best explanations consider all facets of existence.

Loving Nature

Many people find great comfort, experiences of joy, and meaning in nature. Embracing God after deconstruction involves thinking differently about nature, science, and God in creation.

Let’s review some common pitfalls we’ve identified. Healthy theology will employ humble and honest approaches to science. It doesn’t think scientists, on the whole, are deceivers. It doesn’t shoehorn contemporary science into ancient cosmologies.

Healthy theologies also don’t go to the opposite extreme and throw the baby out with the bathwater. We shouldn’t regard scientists as inerrant, nor science as the sole arbiter of truth. The scientific enterprise may be an essential endeavor for making sense of life, but it’s not the only one.

So how can we have a healthier, more productive relation to science and the natural world? Because open and relational thinkers take science, theology, and philosophy seriously, they can do generative work in science-and-religion discussions. They’re not afraid to rethink theology in the light of science and philosophy. Or conversely, to rethink science and philosophy in light of religious or lived experience. A healthy adventurer will bring spheres of knowledge together, engaging multiple voices.

Good theologies after deconstruction won’t be afraid to embrace the claim that the universe is ancient and evolutionary processes are at play. We can affirm God has been creating in and through it all, alongside creaturely actors, factors, and forces. Post-deconstruction theologies take the evidence of climate change seriously, and they will explore new ways to live well together. They don’t fear the scientific consensus on matters of public health or other issues, while realizing that no one has the full truth. Even the best explanations may need to be set aside in light of fresh evidence. That’s the core of the scientific method at its best.

Because open and relational theologies don’t think God controls us or creation, they can overcome various problems with thinking an all-powerful God entirely determines creation. Rather, creatures have their own value and agency. Creatures contribute to what occurs; history represents a symbiotic God-creation venture. Open and relational approaches stress that divine power can be understood as uncontrolling love active among the smallest and largest, the least complex and the most, in the miraculous and mundane. We can find a mystic sense of communion and meaning in the entire universe.

Some who have been burned by bad theology can find refuge in nature: many who deconstruct witness nature’s ability to rejuvenate their spiritual sensibilities. The wilderness and forests become sacred spaces. We find a measure of healing when we feel sand in our toes, the wind in our faces, mountain water enveloping our bodies, or the warmth of campfire embers. Taking an afternoon hike or walking along a river brings many closer to God than any Bible verse. Time in nature can be therapeutic. [7] We can find God and ourselves there.

Many in the open and relational community use the term “panentheism” to talk about the God-creation relationship. This word means literally that all (pan) is in (en) God (theism). All creation affects God’s moment-by-moment experience because God is directly present to, influencing, and related to everything and everyone. [8] Rather than being aloof or absent, the idea of panentheism stresses that God is experiential, affected, and present to and within created things.

Panentheism says that while there are differences between Creator and creation, there’s no distance between the two. We’re not the same as God, but neither are we separated from God. We’re all in God’s experience.

When we believe God is present to all and creation has intrinsic value, an ecological awareness can emerge. Healthy theologies after deconstruction will emphasize care for the earth and her creatures, because loving “the least of these” becomes part of fulfilling the biblical commands to love God and neighbors as oneself. We know that the future of the planet and her creatures relies, in part, on our choices.

A healthy theology after deconstruction will stress that life here and now is valuable. We’re not “just passing through,” as if our time on earth was insignificant. We’re not just aiming for heaven after we die. We aim instead not to have our head in the clouds, and be “so heavenly minded that we’re of no earthly good.” Our lives count—this world matters. Whatever we think about the afterlife, we can believe that how we live in the present makes a difference to us, to others, to creation, and to God.

God after deconstruction appreciates science in ways that are helpful, as well as the natural world.

(Special thanks to Dana Hicks for alerting me to this Nature article.)

[1] . Janet Kellogg Ray, The God of Monkey Science: People of Faith in a Modern Scientific World (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2023), 141.

[2] . Ibid.

[3] . For books addressing the climate crisis and living well with creation, see Philip Clayton and Wm. Andrew Schwartz, What is Ecological Civilization? (Process Century, 2019); Jay McDaniel, With Roots and Wings (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2009); Randy Woodley, Shalom and the Community of Creation (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2012).

[4] . John MacArthur, “The End of the Universe, Part 2,” Grace to You, September 28, 2008, https://tinyurl.com/rvp4zmck

[5] . The primary/secondary causation view is usually linked with the thought of Thomas Aquinas. For a criticism of it, see Oord, The Death of Omnipotence and Birth of Amipotence, ch. 4.

[6] . Alfred North Whitehead, Religion in the Making (New York: Random House, 1926/1954) 76-77.

[7] . Linda Mercadante reports that for a large number of the “spiritual but not religious” look to nature as the resource for their spirituality, either blended with or in place of specific spiritual alternatives (Belief Without Borders, 88).

[8] . For an introduction to panentheism from open and relational perspectives, see Andrew Davis and Philip Clayton, eds., How I Found God In Everyone and Everything (New York: Monkfish, 2018).

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Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. He is the author or editor of more than twenty books and professor at Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, Idaho.

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In this triple COP year, leaders must align efforts to ensure planetary health

This op-ed was originally published on 23 september 2024 on the website of the world economic forum , which is partnering with the three incoming cop presidencies to advance international negotiations and collaboration across the three cops’ interlinked agendas on climate, biodiversity and land..

The world’s population is on track to reaching 10 billion by 2050, just as the planetary systems that sustain life on Earth are being pushed to their limits — and with them, our ability to provide food and water and to prevent large-scale displacements, rippling economic shocks and conflict.

The evidence is clear. Up to 40% of land worldwide is degraded. This means land is losing its ability to support life, crops and natural ecosystems, and struggling to cycle water and act as the planet’s second-largest carbon stock after the ocean. The last decade was the hottest on record. An estimated three in four people globally will be affected by drought by 2050. Pollinators, on which a third of the world’s crops rely, are declining at an alarming rate.

The existential risks facing humanity can, and must, be jointly addressed, recognizing that climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation are different expressions of one planetary crisis — a crisis underpinned by the challenges of poverty on the one hand and overconsumption, including the unsustainable exploitation of nature, on the other.

This year, the UN summits on Biodiversity, Climate and Land will take place in quick succession between October and December in Colombia, Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia, respectively. They will convey the urgency, and the opportunity, of raising the coordinated ambition, investments and action to protect our planet and respond to the growing demand for food, water and resources.

The current ways of doing things are simply not working. We cannot tackle these issues in isolation. Climate change is not just about carbon emissions. Land degradation is not just about soil. Biodiversity loss is not just about endangered species. These issues are part of a much larger, more complex puzzle. And if we are going to solve it, we need to work together, break down silos and approach these problems in an integrated way.

The secretariats of the three global treaties that emerged from the 1992 Rio Earth Summit — Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) — collaborate on a regular basis. For instance, by exchanging knowledge on overlapping issues like drought resilience and food security, coordinating the efforts of scientists working on key reports, facilitating the meaningful engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and joining forces to support government negotiators across the three Conventions.

Ecosystem restoration, agrifood systems and renewable energies present vital opportunities to advance all three Rio Conventions and make societies and economies more resilient.

For example, restoring degraded ecosystems such as forests can bring back biodiversity (including pollinators), while improving soil fertility, supporting the production of clean water, storing carbon and protecting communities from devastating droughts and floods. The well-planned deployment of renewable energies is crucial to preserving native vegetation, together with its biodiversity, climate and livelihood benefits.

Agrifood systems are the single biggest driver of deforestation, biodiversity loss and water use, accounting for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Vast tracts of land are cleared annually on an industrial scale to satisfy the ever-growing demand for commodities from international markets.

The bottom line is that the ways we are producing food today are undermining the ability to feed humanity tomorrow and to solve the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.

Transforming food systems through sustainable land and water management, regenerative agriculture and a modern bioeconomy is another way to achieve multiple goals at once. Drip irrigation can save up to 50% of the water used in agriculture, for example, while practices like agroforestry enhance soil health, bringing benefits in terms of food and water security and biodiversity. We must also invest in future-proofing our food supplies, shifting to less thirsty and more drought-resilient crops.

Leveraging the convergence between the Rio conventions urgently requires policy and funding coherence at the national and subnational levels, starting with land and sea use planning and the allocation of budgets and incentives. Too often, a lack of coordination leads to contradictory policies and market signals resulting in zero net progress from an environmental and sustainable development perspective.

Trillions in wasteful and harmful subsidies for fossil fuels, agriculture and fishing must be redirected to support climate action and natural systems if we are serious about helping the planet support a growing human population in the medium and long-term.

Also, the world’s major development banks must consider the synergies and trade-offs between biodiversity, land and climate, supporting initiatives that advance multiple goals. To this day, a project that improves agricultural practices and soil health is unlikely to access funding earmarked for ‘biodiversity’ or ‘climate’, although it contributes to both directly.

Progress is being made, showing it is possible to make peace with nature to sustain present and future generations. However, there is no time for complacency.

By 2030, we must cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 43% compared to 2019 levels to keep global warming to 1.5 C above preindustrial levels, while boosting climate resilience. We must conserve 30% of land, waters and seas and restore 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030.

2024 must be the year when we scale up ambition and action and commit to this in national plans. Everywhere, for everyone, and all at once — for people and for nature.

The World Economic Forum is partnering with the three incoming COP presidencies to advance international negotiations and collaboration across the three COPs’ interlinked agendas on biodiversity, climate and land.

Climate Change: Evidence and Causes: Update 2020 (2020)

Chapter: conclusion, c onclusion.

This document explains that there are well-understood physical mechanisms by which changes in the amounts of greenhouse gases cause climate changes. It discusses the evidence that the concentrations of these gases in the atmosphere have increased and are still increasing rapidly, that climate change is occurring, and that most of the recent change is almost certainly due to emissions of greenhouse gases caused by human activities. Further climate change is inevitable; if emissions of greenhouse gases continue unabated, future changes will substantially exceed those that have occurred so far. There remains a range of estimates of the magnitude and regional expression of future change, but increases in the extremes of climate that can adversely affect natural ecosystems and human activities and infrastructure are expected.

Citizens and governments can choose among several options (or a mixture of those options) in response to this information: they can change their pattern of energy production and usage in order to limit emissions of greenhouse gases and hence the magnitude of climate changes; they can wait for changes to occur and accept the losses, damage, and suffering that arise; they can adapt to actual and expected changes as much as possible; or they can seek as yet unproven “geoengineering” solutions to counteract some of the climate changes that would otherwise occur. Each of these options has risks, attractions and costs, and what is actually done may be a mixture of these different options. Different nations and communities will vary in their vulnerability and their capacity to adapt. There is an important debate to be had about choices among these options, to decide what is best for each group or nation, and most importantly for the global population as a whole. The options have to be discussed at a global scale because in many cases those communities that are most vulnerable control few of the emissions, either past or future. Our description of the science of climate change, with both its facts and its uncertainties, is offered as a basis to inform that policy debate.

A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The following individuals served as the primary writing team for the 2014 and 2020 editions of this document:

Eric Wolff FRS, (UK lead), University of Cambridge
Inez Fung (NAS, US lead), University of California, Berkeley
Brian Hoskins FRS, Grantham Institute for Climate Change
John F.B. Mitchell FRS, UK Met Office
Tim Palmer FRS, University of Oxford
Benjamin Santer (NAS), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
John Shepherd FRS, University of Southampton
Keith Shine FRS, University of Reading.
Susan Solomon (NAS), Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Kevin Trenberth, National Center for Atmospheric Research
John Walsh, University of Alaska, Fairbanks
Don Wuebbles, University of Illinois

Staff support for the 2020 revision was provided by Richard Walker, Amanda Purcell, Nancy Huddleston, and Michael Hudson. We offer special thanks to Rebecca Lindsey and NOAA Climate.gov for providing data and figure updates.

The following individuals served as reviewers of the 2014 document in accordance with procedures approved by the Royal Society and the National Academy of Sciences:

Richard Alley (NAS), Department of Geosciences, Pennsylvania State University
Alec Broers FRS, Former President of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Harry Elderfield FRS, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge
Joanna Haigh FRS, Professor of Atmospheric Physics, Imperial College London
Isaac Held (NAS), NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
John Kutzbach (NAS), Center for Climatic Research, University of Wisconsin
Jerry Meehl, Senior Scientist, National Center for Atmospheric Research
John Pendry FRS, Imperial College London
John Pyle FRS, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge
Gavin Schmidt, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Emily Shuckburgh, British Antarctic Survey
Gabrielle Walker, Journalist
Andrew Watson FRS, University of East Anglia

F OR FURTHER READING

For more detailed discussion of the topics addressed in this document (including references to the underlying original research), see:

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2019: Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate [ https://www.ipcc.ch/srocc ]
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), 2019: Negative Emissions Technologies and Reliable Sequestration: A Research Agenda [ https://www.nap.edu/catalog/25259 ]
Royal Society, 2018: Greenhouse gas removal [ https://raeng.org.uk/greenhousegasremoval ]
U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), 2018: Fourth National Climate Assessment Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States [ https://nca2018.globalchange.gov ]
IPCC, 2018: Global Warming of 1.5°C [ https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15 ]
USGCRP, 2017: Fourth National Climate Assessment Volume I: Climate Science Special Reports [ https://science2017.globalchange.gov ]
NASEM, 2016: Attribution of Extreme Weather Events in the Context of Climate Change [ https://www.nap.edu/catalog/21852 ]
IPCC, 2013: Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) Working Group 1. Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis [ https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg1 ]
NRC, 2013: Abrupt Impacts of Climate Change: Anticipating Surprises [ https://www.nap.edu/catalog/18373 ]
NRC, 2011: Climate Stabilization Targets: Emissions, Concentrations, and Impacts Over Decades to Millennia [ https://www.nap.edu/catalog/12877 ]
Royal Society 2010: Climate Change: A Summary of the Science [ https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/publications/2010/climate-change-summary-science ]
NRC, 2010: America’s Climate Choices: Advancing the Science of Climate Change [ https://www.nap.edu/catalog/12782 ]

Much of the original data underlying the scientific findings discussed here are available at:

https://data.ucar.edu/
https://climatedataguide.ucar.edu
https://iridl.ldeo.columbia.edu
https://ess-dive.lbl.gov/
https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/
https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/
http://scrippsco2.ucsd.edu
http://hahana.soest.hawaii.edu/hot/

was established to advise the United States on scientific and technical issues when President Lincoln signed a Congressional charter in 1863. The National Research Council, the operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, has issued numerous reports on the causes of and potential responses to climate change. Climate change resources from the National Research Council are available at .

is a self-governing Fellowship of many of the world’s most distinguished scientists. Its members are drawn from all areas of science, engineering, and medicine. It is the national academy of science in the UK. The Society’s fundamental purpose, reflected in its founding Charters of the 1660s, is to recognise, promote, and support excellence in science, and to encourage the development and use of science for the benefit of humanity. More information on the Society’s climate change work is available at

Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time. It is now more certain than ever, based on many lines of evidence, that humans are changing Earth's climate. The Royal Society and the US National Academy of Sciences, with their similar missions to promote the use of science to benefit society and to inform critical policy debates, produced the original Climate Change: Evidence and Causes in 2014. It was written and reviewed by a UK-US team of leading climate scientists. This new edition, prepared by the same author team, has been updated with the most recent climate data and scientific analyses, all of which reinforce our understanding of human-caused climate change.

Scientific information is a vital component for society to make informed decisions about how to reduce the magnitude of climate change and how to adapt to its impacts. This booklet serves as a key reference document for decision makers, policy makers, educators, and others seeking authoritative answers about the current state of climate-change science.

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For children 6 years and up, explore a world of STEAM learning, while engaging in project-based play to keep growing minds busy!

Build a love for reading through engaging book sets and get the latest in brain-boosting toys, recommended by the educators at FirstCry Intellitots.

Our Comprehensive 2-year Baby Brain Development Program brings to you doctor-approved toys for your baby`s developing brain.

Our Preschool Chain offers the best in education across India, for children ages 2 and up.

Welcome to the world of Intelli!

Welcome to the world of intelli!

THANK YOU!!!

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