This document discusses global warming, including its causes and effects. It explains that global warming is primarily caused by increased carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. This traps heat in the lower atmosphere and causes average surface temperatures to rise. The document outlines some of the major effects of global warming, such as rising sea levels, increased temperatures, and habitat damage. It also discusses evidence that global warming is occurring and some potential solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

2. What is global warming?

3. How Global Warming Works
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)

4. Example of the
Greenhouse Effect
The Sun’s energy
passes through the
car’s windshield.
This energy (heat)
is trapped inside
the car and cannot
pass back through
the windshield,
causing the inside
of the car to warm
up.

5. What’s the difference
between “global warming”
and “climate change”?

6. Difference
GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE
is the increase of the is a broader term that
Earth’s average refers to long-term
surface temperature changes in climate,
due to a build-up of including average
greenhouse gases in temperature and
the atmosphere. precipitation.

7. Effects of Global Warming
Rising Sea Level Increased Temperature
Habitat Damage and
Changes in Water Supply

8. What’s the proof that
global warming is taking
place?

9. Portage Glacier
• Alaska
1914 2004
Photos: NOAA Photo Collection and Gary Braasch – WorldViewOfGlobalWarming.org

10. Colorado River
• Arizona
June 2002 Dec 2003

11. Why is global warming
happening?

12. Burning of Fossil Fuels
Pollution from coal,
natural gas, and oil

13. When did global
warming start?

14. Global Atmospheric Concentration of CO2

15. How is global warming
measured?

16. Ice Core Data
CO2 Measurements Before 1958 - Antarctica

17. CO2 Atmospheric
Measurements
CO2 Measurements Since 1958 – Mauna Loa, Hawaii

18. 1000 Years of CO2 and
Global Warming
Temperature
(Northern Hemisphere) CO2 Concentrations
Degree Celsius Increase
Parts Per Million
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
Year Year

19. Global
Warming:
Shifting Gears

20. nob a C
r
Goal:
Reductions in
oT c rt e M o s nolli B
2007
CO2 Per Year
i f i

21. Our Goal
Produce electricity
efficiently
nob a C
Use electricity
r
efficiently
Vehicle efficiency
Solar and Wind
Power
Biofuels
Carbon capture
oT c rt e Mnobr a ClnioB g G
Reductions and storage
f o s no l t a i
2007 in CO2
i
Per Year
i

22. What’s being done now to
reduce our emissions?
Wind Power Solar Power Fuel-Efficiency

23. What can you do to help
solve the problem?

24. Simple Things To Do
Turn off your computer or the TV
when you’re not using it.
Take shorter showers. Heating water uses energy.
Keep rooms cool by closing the blinds, shades, or
curtains.
Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Use compact fluorescent bulbs.

25. Be Bulb Smart—Use CFLs
What’s the Compact
Incandescent difference? Fluorescent
500 lbs.
of coal
•1,430 lbs. CO2 pollution avoided
•$30 saved

26. Simple Things To Do
Dress lightly when it’s hot instead of turning up
the air conditioning. Or use a fan.
Dress warmly when it’s cold instead of turning
up the heat.
Offer to help your parents keep the air filters on
your AC and furnace clean.
Walk short distances instead of asking for a
ride in the car.
Plant a tree. Recycle.

27. © National Wildlife Federation, 2007