Understanding Climate Change
The term climate change describes long-lasting shifts in average temperatures and weather patterns. Some of these shifts happen naturally, but today they are driven mostly by people, above all by burning fossil fuels.
When coal, oil and gas are burned, they give off greenhouse gases that hold heat inside Earth's atmosphere, and the planet's average surface temperature climbs as a result.
Put simply, a larger amount of these gases traps a larger amount of heat, which makes the world warmer.
Sunlight travels through the atmosphere and heats the ground and oceans. Part of that warmth escapes back to space, while greenhouse gases hold the rest close to the surface.
This greenhouse effect occurs in nature, but activities such as burning fossil fuels keep adding to the greenhouse gases in the air and strengthening it.
The Living Sustainably page has ideas for what you can do, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes more background on the topic.
Effects of Climate Change
- More severe weather. Droughts, floods and heat waves are becoming more common, and hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires are growing stronger.
- Rising seas. As glaciers and sea ice melt, ocean levels go up. Coastal cities face more flooding, damage to roads and buildings, and erosion of shoreline habitats.
- Changing oceans. Seawater is getting warmer and more acidic. The ocean soaks up carbon dioxide from the air, so as atmospheric levels rise the ocean takes in more. That lowers its pH and harms marine life.
- Stressed ecosystems. Fragile places such as coral reefs and the Arctic are hit hardest. Warmer water bleaches coral, stronger storms can break reefs apart and higher seas can bury them in sediment, while the Arctic keeps losing land ice.
- Threats to human health. Several factors add up. Tornadoes and other extreme events kill and displace people, intense heat can be deadly and wildfire smoke makes breathing hard. Older adults, children, low-income households and communities of color tend to be the most vulnerable.
- And more. The list keeps growing. NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) both offer detailed information on climate impacts.
Resources for Kids
- NASA offers a kid-friendly climate guide that answers common questions, along with short explainer videos and printable materials.
- The EPA provides learning resources for students as well.
Fredville is a demonstration city built by Talk to Fred. Names, numbers and details on this page are sample content.