Climate Change: What It is and Its Impact

Climate change, otherwise known as global warming, is the scientifically proven effect that humans are having on the environment which is causing the climate to alter on a global scale and means an increase in the earth’s average temperature.  This results in rising sea levels which affects the living creatures in the ecosystem, more unpredictable weather and water scarcity.

Climate change has recently became a greater problem because of the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.  Before humans invented cars and created their “great” big industries, the atmosphere consisted of natural green house gases from things such as decaying plants and respiration.  These gases made up about 1% of the atmosphere and their role was to, like a blanket, keep the warmth from the sun on the Earth so that we don’t suffer a cold climate.  These gases, produced naturally by the Earth, were in correct balance, but now more greenhouse gases are being emitted from human technologies and this throws the balance and keeps more warmth on the Earth’s surface.  It is currently a big problem because our greenhouse gas emissions have reached a higher extent than previous years due to things such as exhaust form transport and the burning of non-renewable sources for electricity and our emissions can not continue to go this way.  It is affecting Australia personally by changing rainfall patterns, reducing water availability and increasing the frequency of severe weather events such as bushfires and storms.  It will also impact on health, heritage, infrastructure and biodiversity for current and future generations and this impact will result in a lot of costs.