Climate Change: Answering some questions!

Recently I was asked by @filipina_pageantry08 about my stance on climate change. I have not really formed an articulate opinion on climate change so I asked for some time to do a bit of my own research to increase my knowledge and form a formal opinion on the subject. I have previous overall knowledge on climate change like I know what causes climate change, how it affects the world and that there are various activist groups trying to combat the global issue. Therefore, I have consolidate a few reliable resources to increase my understanding about why Climate change is an important subject to focus on. Keep in mind all the information below has been found online, and I have listed the links to the websites at the end of the article. 

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What are the main causes of climate change?

Many Climate scientists agree that humanity is mainly responsible for the majority of global warming
The main causes of human caused climate change are: 

• Humanity’s increased use of fossil fuels – such as coal, oil and gas to generate electricity, run cars and other forms of transport, and power manufacturing and industry
• ​Deforestation – because living trees absorb and store carbon dioxide
  
• Increasingly intensive agriculture – which emits greenhouse gases like methane and nitrous oxide

What are the effects of Climate Change?

1. Temperatures Will Continue to Rise
   
2. Frost-free Season (and Growing Season) will Lengthen
   
3. Changes in Precipitation Patterns
   
4. More Droughts and Heat Waves
   
5. Hurricanes Will Become Stronger and More Intense
   
6. Sea Level Will Rise 1-8 feet by 2100
   
7. Arctic Likely to Become Ice-Free

Why is climate change bad?

Humans and wild animals will continue to face new challenges for survival because of climate change. There will be more frequent and intense drought, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and warming oceans can and will directly harm animals and people by destroy the places they live, and wreak havoc on livelihoods and communities.

What are the solutions to climate change?

• Reduce the use of fossil fuels: Fossil fuels include coal, oil and gas – and the more that are extracted and burned, the worse climate change will get. 
  
• Invest in renewable energy: These include technologies like solar, wind, wave, tidal and geothermal power.
  
• Switch to sustainable transport: Reduce car use, switching to electric vehicles and minimising plane travel 
  
• Help us keep our homes cosy: consider insulating walls and roofs and switching away from oil or gas boilers to heat pumps.
  
• Restore nature to absorb more carbon: The natural world is very good at cleaning up our emissions. Planting trees or giving land back to nature because photosynthesising plants draw down carbon dioxide as they grow. 
  
• Protect forests like the Amazon: Forests are crucial in the fight against climate change, and protecting them is an important climate solution. 
• Protect the oceans: Oceans also absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which helps to keep our climate stable. 
• ​Reduce how much people consume: Our transport, fashion, food and other lifestyle choices all have different impacts on the climate. Reducing overall consumption can help put less strain on the planet.
• Reduce plastic: Plastic is made from oil, and the process of extracting, refining and turning oil into plastic (or even polyester, for clothing) is surprisingly carbon-intense. 

​What can you do?

1. Urge government to take bold, ambitious climate action now
2. Use energy wisely — and save money too!
3. Eat for a climate-stable planet - pay attention to where your food comes from
4. Start a climate conversation
   
5. Green your commute
   
6. Consume less, waste less, enjoy life more
   
7. Invest in renewables and divest from fossil fuels
   
8. Mobilize for local climate action
   
9. Get politically active and vote

Organizations that combat Climate Change.

1. 350.org
2. Citizens Climate Lobby
3. Climate Reality Project
4. Climate Solutions
5. ConservAmerica
6. Earth Justice
7. ecoAmerica
8. GreenPeace USA
9. iMatter
10. Moms Clean Air Force
11. Mothers Out Front
12. NextGen Climate
13. Union of Concerned Scientists

Bibliography 

https://www.wwf.org.nz/what_we_do/climateaction/causes_of_climate_change/
https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/
https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/challenges/climate-change/solutions-climate-change/
https://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/top-10-ways-can-stop-climate-change/
https://climatestore.com/take-action/get-involved/non-profit-organizations-working-on-climate-change
https://www.climaterealityproject.org/blog/wait-why-climate-change-bad-thing