what is it?
Ever since the beginning of the 20th century, the temperature of the Earth has increased by about 1.1 degrees F. Global Warming is essentially caused by human activities. When releasing heat, gases and particles are trapped in the air. To help stop global warming, we can stop using fossil fuels and protect the forests. Because this is such a big and important issue, it will take governments, industries, and communities to solve. Global warming can cause harmful things such as more heat waves and droughts. There will also be more floods and property destruction due to extreme weather. Lastly, global warming harms health by causing many more heat-related diseases. Global warming doesn't seem to be going away, but all of these people working hard together really do make a difference.

polar bear
Polar bears can be found all throughout the Arctic. They are fantastic swimmers and are comfortable in water and on land. They eat meat and are therefore strict carnivores. Global warming is the most dangerous threat facing polar bears today. Scientists have noticed the differences in body sizes and reproductive success at Hudson's Bay. The polar bears get their food by hunting in the frozen icelands of the Arctic. Because of global warming, there have been longer periods with no ice in the Arctic and thus longer periods of starvation for the polar bears. Pregnant bears are getting so light that they can no longer produce enough milk for their cubs. Once females reach a certain weight, they can no longer reproduce. Scientists have determined that there is a 15 percent drop in birth rates due to the female polar bears not being able to find food. The polar bears are not yet protected by the Endangered Species Act though there are a lot of activists fighting to get them on the list of endangered animals. Global warming could drive this beloved species into extinction by the end of the century.

take action
There are several important ways to help stop global warming. For example, if you use a compact fluorescent light bulb instead of an incandescent bulb, you'll keep almost 700 pounds of carbon out of the air. It will also lower your energy bill. You can reduce carbon dioxide pollution by a ton by using a refrigerator with the Energy Star label, which means it uses about 15 percent less energy than the federal requirement. We can start using things like fuel-efficient vehicles, clean fuels, and public transit. You should change your light bulbs regularly to save energy along with unplugging things such as cell phone chargers when you are not using them. Cars are also a huge cause of global warming, but hybrids run on both gas and electricity. NRDC members contribute their efforts in stopping global warming, so join them. As you can see, there is a lot that you can do to halt global warming and thus contribute towards the conservation of the endangered animals in the Arctic Circle .