Global Warming

Facts on Global Warming ~Average temperatures have climbed 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit around the world since 1880, much of this in recent decades.

What can you do to help?

Since most of us do not have much control on how our energy is produced, we must try to control the way that we use this energy. Using less energy means less needs to be produced. The less energy produced, the less carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels.

~Turn off lights and appliances when not in use.

~Insulate the walls to save on heating costs.

~Take a shower instead of a bath.

~Turn the heat down ( turning it down by 1°C saves 10% on energy bills)

~Using public transportation, walking, and biking are great ways to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions from car exhaust.

~Buy windows, doors, and homes with the Energy Star label.

~Replace standard light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs

~Install a low-flow showerhead

~Observe the speed limit and use cruise control whenever possible.

~Unplug cell phone chargers and other electronics from the wall when not in use, anything plugged into the wall uses energy.

Always remember, one person CAN make a difference!

~The 20th century’s last two decades were the hottest in 400 years and possibly the warmest for several millennia.

~Average temperatures in Alaska, western Canada, and eastern Russia have risen at twice the global average.

~Arctic ice is rapidly disappearing. The region may have its first ice-free summer by 2040 or earlier.

~Glaciers and mountain snows are quickly melting. For example, Montana’s Glacier National Park currently has only 27 glaciers, compared to the 150 that were there in 1910.

~As water temperature changes, so will the amount of coral reefs, which are highly sensitive to any slight changes in water temperature. Bleaching, or die-off in relation to stress, will continue to increase in frequency.

~A rise in the amount of extreme weather events, such as wildfires, heat waves, and tropical storms, is contributed to by climate change.

~Humans are pouring carbon dioxide into the atmosphere much faster than plants and oceans can absorb it.

~Sea level could rise between 7 and 23 inches by century’s end. This leaves coastal states, such as Louisiana or Florida at risk.