Small Steps For a Cleaner World
What is Climate Change?
Climate change is the change in the average weather patterns throughout our world. These shifts have become more extreme, fast paced, and unusual due to human activity.
What is the Greenhouse effect?
The Greenhouse effect is the term for greenhouse gasses that are trapped in earths atmosphere causing the earth to warm up. Greenhouse gasses are produced from fossil fuels like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane.
What are the main causes?
Fossil Fuels
Fossil Fuels are hydrocarbon- containing materials that are burned to create heat which is then used directly to power engines and generate electricity. Some examples include coal, oil, and natural gas. Fossil fuels are non renewable and releases a large amount of carbon dioxide adding to the greenhouse effect.
Manufacturing can produce toxic chemicals that then pollute the water and airways. They also often use fossil fuels to generate energy. They take up large areas of land and consume lots of natural resources.
Manufactoring
Deforestation
Deforestation is when humans over remove trees faster then we replant them. This leads to ecosystems being destroyed, not enough trees to absorb all of our co2, and worsens the air quality. Deforestation mainly happens because people want to turn the land into farms for cash crops, need the wood for development and manufacturing, or want to turn the forest area into houses.
Transportation
Transportation is a huge polluter because most cars, trucks, boats, and planes run on fossil fuels. Transportation pollution can lead to bad air quality, noise pollution, water pollution, and the roads can ruin ecosystems.
Over Consumption
Over consumption is a huge problem because as more things are made more fossil fuels are burned, electricity is wasted, runoff can pollute waterways, and light pollution from manufacturing buildings. 60% of all global greenhouse gasses can be linked back to overconsumption. Consumerism can cause global warming, ecosystem collapse, and a loss of biodiversity.
Powering Building
Powering building is done primarily by the burning of fossil fuels which release greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide which contribute to the greenhouse effect. Heating, cooling, and lighting account for 28% of global emissions yearly.
The hands of climate change
One easy way to remember the 10 main causes of climate change is to keep track on your hands. Each finger represents a different main cause. It’s important to remember the main causes because then you can try to avoid contributing to climate change to the best of your ability!