Many of us question the legitimacy of global warming and climate change. While participating in the climate change camps, we tend to realize the importance of becoming a good steward towards the environment. Irrespective of which ever part of the world you belong to and what ever is your age is each and every one of us can contribute in our own ways for reducing the effects of global warming and climate change.

• It is the responsibility of the parents to generate awareness among children about the ill effects of global warming and climate change. Children must be thought to switch off lights and fans when not in use. The TV should be turned off when no body is watching. These are some instructions which can be given out to children in a playful manner as well.
• Make sure you are not purchasing bottled water. These plastics create millions of tons of waste that emits hazardous gases in the atmosphere. Non plastic- metal-refillable water bottles can be carried while you are touring with your family. Moreover, these metal bottles are not very costly and the price comes down to the price of plastic bottles only. These are the best option if you are concerned about environmental degradation and trying to reverse effects of global warming and climate change. There is specific line of bottles offered by Sigg a Swiss manufacturer which has become a very popular option all over the world.
• Combining trips is another option which helps to reduce emission of harmful gases from vehicles. After dropping your daughter to school, you can complete all grocery shopping while returning home. This is the best way to reduce carbon emissions which primarily leads to global warming and climate change.
• While you are remodeling your home, it is advisable you use green building supplies. These materials are made of sustainable source materials following environment friendly production methods. This helps to reduce emission of toxic gases and improve the overall quality of air. Old-growth forests and the other precious natural resources can be easily preserved with exercise of a little bit of caution.
• There are a number of programs and campaigns going around the world for combating global warming and climate change. One such program is the for Greenpeace’s 7 Step Climate Change Challenge in which you can participate and generate further awareness among the locals about the steps which can be taken for reducing the effects of global warming and climate change. Only with a little bit of consciousness and effort one can bring about significant changes in the living conditions. Some very simple steps like replacing the regular lights with eco friendly lights, switching off electricity when not in use are emphasized by Greenpeace’s 7 Step Climate Change Challenge.

By virtue of the print media and the electronic media, people all over the world today are aware of global warming and climate change. All that is required is combined effort to maintain proper ecological balance and a healthy environment.

Global warming is referred to an ongoing process of climate change which has been taking place for over 200 years. Use of fossil fuel and activities such as deforestation has increased release of greenhouse gases which increases temperature on surface of the earth by trapping the heat. This is how we experience rise in the average temperature on earth. The changing temperatures wreck havoc disrupting the environment as well as the ecological system. The entire landscape gets altered this way.

The rainforest animals have been also affected by the climate changes and global warming. The rainforest animals are looking around for higher grounds for their survival. However, those who are already living on the top of mountains find nowhere to go. According to the reports of nwf.org, global warming and climate changes have threatened existence of the tropical animals to a great extent. The temperature in rainforests is expected to rise by about three degree centigrade in the coming 100 years. The risk of extinction of these rainforest animals increases all the more this way. Their body becomes unable to release excess heat or acclimatize themselves to the changes in temperature.

According to the reports of Rainforestlive.org more than half of the animals on earth reside in the rainforest areas. The statistical reports say that every hour, there is death of about 2 animals which comes down to about 50 animals every day. These numbers are expected to rise even further if no steps are taken for combating global warming and climate change. It is high time that a proactive plan is devised for reversing the negative effects of global warming. The scientists claim that more than half of the rainforest animals shall no longer exist by the year 2050. About 25% of the birds shall become endangered species. There are also possibilities of global warming inciting fires because of lack of rainfall.

The animals that depend on rainforests are thus required to relocate themselves somewhere else to sustain their life. However, the available areas are becoming more and more limited these days. Fire destruction has a great impact on the ecological systems. The amount of O2 in air reduces and the rate of CO2 in the atmosphere increases. With reduction in the total number of trees, the level of photosynthesis also gets affected. The rainforest animals have very little oxygen to breathe.

Generation of awareness among the human beings is the only way we can reduce the incidence of global warming and climate change. People must be educated that nature cannot support man’s greed and the consequences of one action gets back to each of us. We are all collectively responsible for the current deterioration of environmental conditions. It is our responsibility to make the earth a better place to live in for the sake of our own children. In most of the schools, all over the world Environmental Studies have been made a compulsory discipline so that children can learn about environmental hazards and the steps that can be taken for combating the ill effects from the very early age.

If we go by the reports published in journals and the daily newspapers, we can find that the rate of loss of marine biodiversity was never so high. The scientists say that most of the species are getting endangered for they are unable to adapt themselves with changes brought about by the reckless human activity. Global warming and climate change according to the scientists are primarily the results of human activities. Rise in the sea and ocean temperatures have disturbed marine life and poses serious threat to oceanic biodiversity.

Carbon emissions have increased as a result of emission of hazardous gases from vehicles, industrial developments and increase in farming activities. The greenhouse gases are responsible for trapping heat on surface of the earth there by leading to the heat build up process. Temperature of the whole planet including the oceans has gone up. There are a number of species which require a particular climate and temperature to support their life. These marine species are forced to migrate into normal locations. There are however several barriers which prevent a lot of species from relocating themselves into any area. Thus, they either have to risk extinction or adapt themselves to warmer climatic conditions. The entire ecological system gets hampered when particular specie becomes endangered. There are a number of marine animals who have prodded towards the northern waters for a suitable habitat. Very soon these animals will hardly have any new places to turn.

Global warming and climate change has resulted in melting of glaciers over the last 20 years. Subsequently this leads to increase in the levels of sea. The coastal ecosystem has suffered a lot of damages due to such changes. Plenty of species which depend on the habitat for their survival has also undergone a lot of hazards. The situations are likely to improve with proposals for building sea walls which will protect marine animal species and human communities living in the coastal areas.

The primary productive areas of the oceans are also highly affected by global warming and climate change. It is in the productive areas that animals and plants live and the mammals come in search of their prey. The health and population of the marine mammals to a great extent depends on the prey, changes in feeding locations has adverse effect on the activities of marine animals. These species adjust their migration routes and changes their feeding locations. As the warmth from ocean continues to rise, it further contributes to emission of CO2 in the atmosphere. Global warming and climate change which increases the level of acidity in water is said to adversely affect marine life on earth.

It is high time that both adults as well as children educate themselves about the harmful effects of global warming and climate changes and take necessary steps to reverse the harmful effects. With proper education and informed knowledge necessary steps can be to make the earth more habitable. Online researches offer plenty of updated information which can be referred to for understanding the present situation.

The issue of global warming affects every stage of life on earth. Government’s policies, plans for individual citizens, corporate-level plans all over the world aim at reversing the effects of global warming and climate change. The environmentalists all over the world expresses concern over the changing scenario and urge the inhabitants to take up necessary steps to reduce the effects of global warming.

• Kyoto Protocol was ratified by several countries all over the globe to support the following mechanisms; Joint Implementation (JI), Clean Development (CDM) and Emission Trading. Each of the mechanisms is designed for the creation of carbon credits and help each of the states meet the stipulated emission limits. However, the United States have refused to join Kyoto Protocol till date.
• Participation in programs such as Green Energy Credits is extremely important for generation of further interests in the future. Energy credits that offset use of non-renewable source of energy can be bought if the local service provider fails to offer renewable energy products. The suppliers of renewable energy are offered Green Energy Credits. This enables them to make investments in energies like solar energy resources and wind farms.
• The existing grassroots efforts must be joined in an attempt to reduce global warming and climate change. Organize all sorts of effort to bring back use of renewable energy sources. Combined citizen’s action can reduce use of energy. The business houses must be pressurized to use energy-efficient lighting and turn off the lights when not in use.
• The existing lights used for domestic purposes must be replaced with energy-efficient bulbs to reverse the effects of global warming and climate change. Energy conservation is possible only when lights and fans are switched off when not in use. If you have the option, go for alternative fuel transportation. Use of public transportation is one of the best ways you can reduce emission of harmful CO2 in the atmosphere. The children as well as adults must educate themselves more about global warming and climate change.
• The main goal of each and every resident on earth must be to reduce the level of CO2 emission in the atmosphere.  An individual person’s carbon footprint gets reduced considerably with the smarter moves he/she takes. Investment in electric hybrid vehicle is another option which one can go for.
• Eating better can also reduce incidences of global warming and climate change. The flatulence which gets emitted by livestock can be said to be one of the primary factors behind release of methane. Significant reduction of meat consumption will eventually bring about reduction in the level of methane emission in atmosphere. Carbon dioxide emission gets reduced with the eating of foods that are grown locally as the food need not be shipped from long distances. The amount of processing required for preserving food reduces when fresh food is taken. Frozen or canned food that requires processing in order to be preserved, leads to global warming and climate change.

The problem of global warming can be solved only with education and increased awareness. So let us take the pledge to save our wonderful planet from the hazardous effect of global warming and climate change.

Increase in temperature is the result of global warming. It is the human activities for aggrandizement of personal needs that we are heading towards an imminent doom. Clearing of lands, industrialization and burning of fossil fuels are only few activities which have resulted in global warming and climate change today. The reckless human activities have adverse effects on lives of animals and plants as well. There are many animals which no longer exist. Let us now discuss in details about the effects of global warming and climate change on some of the animals.

• Polar Bears: The polar bears are on the verge of extinction due to melting of the ice sheets. Ice is a must for their survival. The bears today have fewer places to go with rise in temperature and melting of glaciers. Interruptions in reproduction and reduced food hunting movements indicate calamitous circumstances for the polar bears.
• Penguins: Penguins are another kind of animal which lives on ice. Melting of ice poses serious threats to the lives of the penguins. The tiny organisms on which they feed survive on algae; however there has been significant decrease in the existence of algae with rise in temperatures and melting of ice. Loss of food for the penguins will ultimately lead to its extinction. Breading habitats of the penguins are also affected by global warming and climate change. If this continues for long, even the penguins are going to become endangered species.
• Trout: Cold water fishes and the trout are suffering from loss of habitat as a result of global warming and climate change. Glacial temperatures are a must for the fishes to survive. Rise in the temperate of water may not be able to support life of the cold-water fish or trout.
• Caribou: Lives of the caribous are at risk because of global warming and climate change. Changing seasons or normal synchronization of cycles is a must for supporting birth of caribou. Since the availability of food becomes scares during the breeding season, the number of offspring being born gets reduced.
• Orangutan: It is already an endangered species. Global warming and climate change are the main factors contributing to their extinction. Bacteria and viruses tend to multiply in warm climatic conditions. The animals and Orangutan gets exposed to harmful bacterial and viral infections.
• Arctic Fox: These animals with padded feet and thick fur currently experiences loss of habitat as a result of global warming and climate change. Frigid temperatures are the apt condition for these furry animals. These foxes are moving towards the North Pole in search of the ideal habitat that suits them. The current habitat poses serious threat to the lives of the fox.

On the basis of the reports of Environmental Defense Fund about 40% of the animal and plant species shall become completely extinct due to climatic changes by the year 2050. Hibernation cycles of animals and bears are affected by the global change in climatic conditions. Decline in food sources as well as loss of habitat has obliterated many species from the heart of mother earth. We thus find global warming and climate change has tremendous effect on lives on earth.

Most of the scientists have been stressing on global warming and climate changes in the seminars they attend and interviews they give. These two are considered to be very serious environmental problems which pose threat on the existence of living beings. Apart from some few intersecting similarities, both ozone depletion as well as global warming is independent of each other.

In our effort to protect environment, it is very essential that we are in the first place familiarizing ourselves with what is this global warming all about. Systematic increase in the temperature of the earth’s surface is caused by the greenhouse gases. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), carbon dioxide, methane, perfluorocarbons (PFCs), hydrofluorocarbons (HCFs) are the main contributors to global warming and climate changes. The gases are known to trap heat on the earth’s surface by absorbing energy from sun, very little amount of heat is released back to the atmosphere or outer space.

Now that we are aware of what global warming is all about, let us see its effects on ozone depletion. Ozone depletion refers to disappearance of the ozone layer which can have devastating effects of the lives of animals, flora and fauna. It is considered to be the protective shield of the earth. The layer is situated about 30 miles from the surface of the earth in the upper atmosphere or the stratosphere. The layer continuously destroys and again builds itself. Ozone layer depletion starts when rate of construction surpasses rate of devastation. Ozone layer supports existence on earth by filtering the harmful UV rays of sun. The strong rays are capable of destroying life on earth completely. Cases of skin cancer and cataracts have increased with increase in the rate of ozone layer depletion.

Global warming and climate changes share some similarities with the phenomenon of ozone depletion. Chlorofluorocarbons or (CFCs) which are mainly produced by human activities are said to be primarily responsible for destruction of the ozone layer. The gas traps heat on the earth’s surface and thereby rises the temperature; this in course of time also tears apart the protective shield of ozone layer. However, there are some positive reports offered by Environmental Protection Agency in US which says that the ozone layer will come back to its normal form by the year 2050. This however, will have no effect on global warming and climate change says the scientists.

The ozone is another greenhouse gas which contributes to trapping of heat on the surface of the stratosphere. The temperature of the earth gets affected with depletion of ozone layer. Global cool down is experienced with its depletion which results in changes in weather conditions. These conditions are experienced at the higher layers of stratosphere.

Now that we have gone through the entire article, the effects of global warming and climate change and its relation with ozone layer depletion is a lot clearer to us. In the environmental protection programs, scientists from all over the world are pledging the commoners to join hands and take necessary steps to prevent occurrences of global warming and ozone depletion.

Like any other planet in the solar system, even our planet earth has undergone several changes to make it habitable. The atmosphere and a crust developed after the earth cooled from burning molten ball. This is how land and the mountain ranges came into being. The climate has cooled and warmed throughout the entire process. Variations in temperature have resulted in climatic differences between the tropical areas and the Polar Regions. However, the normal cycle has been disrupted over the last few years. The average temperature on the surface of earth has increased and the “little ice ages” which were known to separate the warm periods no longer exist.

The statistical reports show that global warming and climate changes have set in due to burning of fossil fuels, multiplication of human population, and industrialization. According to the IPCC or Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, probability of global warming due to natural climatic variations is below 5%. The main causative factors are related to human activities. It is because of the anthropogenic factors that we continue to experience global warming and climate change. These changes do pose serious threat to human existence.

The Present Changes That We Experience Today:

Temperatures in the African countries these days record an all time high. The Wheat Belt of American Midwest, tropical coasts experience warmer temperatures like never before. The Masai is being displaced by the encroaching desert on fertile African veldt. Incidences of Hurricanes have increased. We come across reports of straight-line winds, severe storms and tornadoes almost every day in the newspapers. The glaciers and sea ice are retreating, posing threat on wildlife habitat. It also indicates scarcity of water in the near future. We come across reports of polar bears becoming endangered species because of global warming and climate changes.

Predicted Changes In The Near Future:

Many of the species will disappear if the global warming and climate change phenomenon continues for long. It is the climate shifts which are considered to be the causative factor behind demise of dinosaurs. A rise of about 2-11 degree Fahrenheit is predicted in the next century. This can eventually lead to melting of polar caps and release of methane which has been locked in the prehistoric ice. Increase in the levels of sea will inundate low lying countries like US and Europe.

Extreme heat waves as well like drought like condition is foreseen in the middle-latitude continental by IPCC or Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It is predicted that the temperate areas will experience heavy rainfall, there will be high tides and as well as heavy storms at the edges of continents. Advancement in the field of industries and technology has resulted in global warming and climate changes and this trend shall continue over the coming years. The air will become even more polluted with emission of hazardous gasses like nitrous oxide, methane and carbon dioxide. Sustenance of life will become difficult with increase in the levels of greenhouse gasses.

Each of us thus shall be more responsible and try in our own ways to eliminate the factors responsible for global warming and climate changes.

Over the last 20 years, global warming is said to be the major contributory factor towards increasing the temperature on the earth’s surface. The rise in temperature is estimated to be about one degree over the last 20 years. Today we experience a number of measurable changes as a result of global warming and climatic changes.

• Let’s Have A Look At The Basic Process:

Increase in temperature which is a result of global warming results in disparity between the amount of gasses that remain trapped in the atmosphere and the ability of the atmosphere to let go of the gasses. This definitely leaves behind negative impacts on the lives of human beings. It is the human activities which are said to be solely responsible for the changes in climatic conditions. Industrialization and deforestation, development of factories, creation of large sized farms severely disturbs the eco system and the earth’s mean temperature. Human activities are primarily responsible for increase in air pollution, nitrous oxide, methane, carbon, water vapor in the atmosphere.

• Facts About Greenhouse Gases:

On the basis of the reports of Environmental Protection Agency, the greenhouse gases are primarily responsible for tapping gasses in the atmosphere and eventually leading to the heating up of the atmosphere. While some of it occurs naturally, and most of it is caused by human activities. The greenhouse gases include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane gas. These fluorinated gases are byproducts of synthetic gases manufactured and released in the atmosphere through factory emissions and aerosols.

• Contribution Of Carbon Dioxide In Global Warming And Climatic Changes:

The industrial processes as well as burning of fossil fuels are main factors that contribute to emission of CO2 in the atmosphere. The total amount of CO2 that gets released in the atmosphere is known as carbon footprint and this tends to get affected by the consumption of electricity, use of gasoline in cars and buying of goods from a particular territory. To reduce the rate of global warming and climatic changes, it is imperative that humans are putting a check on carbon footprints.

Green movements particularly emphasis on the need to plant trees and stop cutting of trees. The process of photosynthesis gets hampered due to deforestation and it eventually leads to reduction of O2 in atmosphere and increase in levels of CO2. For offsetting carbon footprints, it is very important to plant trees and save the earth from effects of climatic changes.

• Global Warming And Climatic Changes Are Not The Same Thing:

People tend to use global warming and climatic changes together, but these two are actually different phenomenon. The term global warming is a comprehensive term that refers to measurable warming of earth on global scale. Climatic changes refer to regional changes which are results of long term as well as short term effects. The changes can be influenced by factors like tropical storms, hurricanes, droughts, average annual rainfalls. These climatic factors have a direct bearing on the human activity, crop production and animal habitats.

Precisely, these are some quick facts about global warming and climatic changes tat you must know to put a check on the contributory factors.

Climatic conditions on the surface of the earth are always undergoing change. In the past, climatic changes resulted out of natural causes. Since the early 1990s, there has been a drastic alteration in the pattern of climatic changes. These changes in the climatic conditions that we see today and which have been predicted for over the coming 80 years are said to be the results of human activities. These are in no way results of natural changes in atmosphere.

Effects Of Global Warming And Climatic Changes We Experience Today:

According to the researchers conducted by the scientists the phenomenon of global warming and climatic changes can be attributed to a number of factors. One such major cause is said to be the greenhouse effects. Greenhouse gases contribute to increase in the overall temperature of the earth. The activities of greenhouse pose maximum treat to human as well as the existence of all living beings.  Scientists all over the world are using computer models for detecting the future changes in weather and environment. They are constantly looking for evidences which are associated with global warming and climatic changes.

According to the research works, we are likely to experience increase in levels of sea and flood like situations in the coming years. The low lying and the coastal areas (for instance Sunderbans in case of India) shall be completely submerged under the sea. It is the coastal areas who shall be the first victims of changes in weather conditions.

Global warming and climatic changes will have adverse effects on the health of animals as well as on humans. Incidences of malaria which is caused by mosquito bites have increased as a result of global warming. The agricultural areas are gravely affected by invasion of locusts today. The animals of the “cooler countries” move towards the poles to protect themselves from the rising temperatures. Even the corals are not spared since the rise in the temperature of sea has also affected the coral life underwater.

How Can We Help To Put A Check On Global Warming And Climatic Changes?

When it comes to our responsibilities to put a check on the global warming, the list seems to be endless. One of the first things that need to be addressed is reduction in emission of CO2 gasses in the atmosphere which is said to be one of the major contributory factors towards destruction of forests and increase in the earth’s mean temperature. Destruction of forest leads to reduction of O2 content in the atmosphere and makes the earth uninhabitable in the long run.

There are alternative sources of energy such as solar power, nuclear energy, water power, wind power and geothermal energy which can be used for reducing effects of global warming and climatic changes.

Building materials that are commonly used in homes can help to considerably reduce the amount of energy that gets used up. House with proper insulation as well as glazed windows reduces the need of heating up the house for quite a number of months in the year. This can reduce the total amount of harmful gas emission in the atmosphere.

These are only some few measures that can be taken for protecting mother earth. Each of us can contribute in our own way for preserving our earth.

In addition to this sea level rising, weather can become more tremendous.  We may experience major storms, heavy shower or no shower, lack of water supply that has historically come from glaciers. Scientists all over the world have already started seeing some of these changes occurring more rapidly than they had expected. According to the (IPCC) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 11 of the 12 hottest years occurred between 1995 and 2006.