The Basics
Climate change and global warming are pretty similar. Global warming is the gradual warming of the earth's temperature. Global warming is a consequence of the greenhouse effect. The rise in earth's temperature is negatively affecting the biodiversity of our planet. Temperature changes cause temperature sensitive plants and animals to die out which affects the entire food chain in different areas. This is a  huge threat to biodiversity.
Global warming is occurring right now at a rate of 0.2°C per decade. If this keeps going, by 2050 one million species could be obliterated. Global warming can even cause medical problems!
Warmer days mean more dust and smog in the air. People with asthma could have really bad lung problems.
What are the Causes and Effects?
Natural global warming and climate change can lead to a lot of species going extinct.
Manmade global warming and climate change can be much quicker and more devastating. While the earth can enter different temperature zones on its own over time, the current trend in global warming is happening at an alarming rate.
People release gases and chemicals into the atmosphere. Then all the pollutants act like a thick quilt. The sun's rays come in and the quilt traps some of the heat. This just keeps adding up. This is known as the greenhouse effect. Climate change and global warming can even lead to the next ice age!
Where is  it Happening?
It’s happening all around the world. For example, in the North and South Poles global warming and climate change are causing the ice to melt. Global warming is also melting glaciers in Iceland. Global warming and climate change can affect the rainforests and areas with droughts. The rainforests can turn into deserts because of the increase in heat. When areas are turned into deserts, many plant and animal species are lost. Areas with droughts can have even get worse droughts. It’s happening all over the planet right now.
How Can You Help?
Too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is a major cause of global warming. Driving cars and burning fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide. You mi ght think you have to buy a hybrid car to help stop global warming. Well, you don’t have to. While that would help, there are many simple things you can do like walk to school, turn off the lights, and find other ways to save electricity.
You can also recycle more paper to save trees. Trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and produce oxygen. So when we save trees, we help to lower the planet's temperature. You can even tell your friends! Help stop global warming and climate change, one of the biggest threats to mankind and all living things!
Fast Facts
- It rains about once every 400 years in the Atacama Desert!
- Global warming is occurring right now at a rate of 0.2°C per decade.
- By 2050, one million species could be obliterated.
- While warmer water threatens most species, scientists say warmer waters around Antarctica could actually benefit a threatened population of gray nurse or sand tiger-sharks.
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