global warming essay grade 7

Talk to our experts

1800-120-456-456

• Global Warming Essay

Essay on Global Warming

The last few decades have been monumental when it comes to technological development. Humans have developed systems and machines that make our lives easier. Especially during the early modern period from the early 16th century to as far as the late 18the century, also commonly referred to as “The Scientific Revolution” or “The Enlightenment”, modern technology leapt ahead in development in such a short time frame compared to all of history.

However, with the development of society, there has been a severe detriment to the quality of Earth’s environment. One of the most massive threats to the condition of the planet is climate change. Inadequate research and reckless misuse of natural resources are some of the core reasons for the deteriorating condition of the planet.

To understand the concept of Global Warming and its causes and effects, we need to take an in-depth look into many factors that affect the temperature of the planet and what that means for the future of the world. Here is an objective look at the topic of Global Warming and other important related topics.

What is Climate Change?

Ever since the industrial and scientific revolution, Earth is slowly being used up for its resources. Moreover, the onset of the exponential increase in the world’s population is also very taxing on the environment. 

Simply put, as the need for consumption of the population increases, both the utilisation of natural resources and the waste generated from the use of said resources have also increased massively. 

One of the main results of this over the many years has become climate change. Climate change is not just the rise or fall of temperature of different areas of the world; it is also a change in the rain cycles, wind patterns, cyclone frequencies, sea levels, etc. It affects all major life groups on the planet in some way or the other.  

What is Global Warming?

Global Warming is often considered an effect of Climate change. Global Warming is the rapid increase in the temperature of the Earth’s environment that is causing many life-threatening issues to arise.

Global Warming is a dangerous effect on our environment that we are facing these days. Rapid industrialization, increase in the population growth and pollution are causing a rise in Global Warming. Global Warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the earth's surface during the last century. One of the reasons why Global Warming is dangerous is because it disturbs the overall ecology of the planet. This results in floods, famine, cyclones and other issues. There are many causes and results of this warming and is a danger for the existence of life on earth.

The sign of Global Warming is already visible with many natural phenomena happening around globally, affecting each living species.

Here is some data that can help to give a more precise understanding of the reality of Global Warming in the last few years:

On average, the world’s temperature is about 1.5°C higher than during the start of the industrial revolution in the late 1700s. That may not seem a lot to you, but that is an average estimate. This number is only increasing. Many parts of the world face far more severe changes in temperature that affect the planet’s overall health.

In 1950, the world’s CO 2 emissions were at 6 billion tonnes which had quadrupled in volume until 1990, just 40 years later to 22 billion tonnes. Not only that, unchecked CO 2 emissions today have reached a whopping 35 billion tonnes.

The most evident causes of Global Warming are industrialization, urbanization, deforestation, and sophisticated human activities. These human activities have led to an increase in the emission of Greenhouse Gases, including CO₂, Nitrous Oxide, Methane, and others.

Causes of Global Warming

A variety of reasons causes Global Warming. Some of which can be controlled personally by individuals but others are only expected to be solved by communities and the world leaders and activists at the global level.

Many scientists believe the main four reasons for Global Warming, according to recent studies, are:

Greenhouse gases

Deforestation

Per capita carbon emissions

Global Warming is certainly an alarming situation, which is causing a significant impact on life existence. Extreme Global Warming is resulting in natural calamities, which is quite evident happening around. One of the reasons behind Global Warming is the extreme release of greenhouse gases stuck on the earth surface, resulting in the temperature increase.

Similarly, volcanoes are also leading to Global Warming because they spew too much CO₂ in the air. One of the significant causes behind Global Warming is the increase in the population. This increase in the population also results in air pollution. Automobiles release a lot of CO₂, which remains stuck in the earth.

This increase in the population is also leading to deforestation, which further results in Global Warming. More and more trees are being cut, increasing the concentration of CO₂.

The greenhouse is the natural process where the sunlight passes through the area, thus warming the earth's surface. The earth surface releases energy in the form of heat in the atmosphere maintaining the balance with the incoming energy. Global Warming depletes the ozone layer leading to the doom's day.

There is a clear indication that the increase in Global Warming will lead to the complete extinction of life from the earth surface.

Solution for Global Warming

Global Warming can not be blamed on individuals; however, it can be tackled and maintained from worsening starting at the individual level. Of course, industries and multinational conglomerates have higher carbon emissions levels than an average citizen. Still, activism and community effort are the only feasible ways to control the worsening state of Global Warming.

Additionally, at the state or government level, world leaders need to create concrete plans and step programmes to ensure that no further harm is being caused to the environment in general. 

Although we are almost late in slowing down the Global Warming rate, it is crucial to find the right solution. From individuals to governments, everyone has to work upon a solution for Global Warming. Controlling pollution, population and use of natural resources are some of the factors to consider. Switching over to the electric and hybrid car is the best way to bring down the carbon dioxide.

As a citizen, it is best to switch over to the hybrid car and to use public transport. This will reduce pollution and congestion. Another significant contribution you can make is to minimize the use of plastic. Plastic is the primary cause of Global Warming taking years to recycle.

Deforestation is another thing to consider that will help in controlling Global Warming. Planting of more trees should be encouraged to make the environment go green.

Industrialization should be under certain norms. The building of industries should be banned in green zones affecting plants and species. Hefty penalties should be levied on such sectors contributing towards Global Warming.

Effects of Global Warming

Global Warming is a real problem that many want to prove as a hoax for their political benefit. However, as aware citizens of the world, we must make sure only the truth is presented in the media.

Various parts of the environment, both flora and fauna, are directly adversely affected by the damages caused by Global Warming. Wildlife being in danger is ultimately a serious threat to the survival of humanity as we know it and its future.

The effect of Global Warming is widely seen in this decade. Glacier retreat and arctic shrinkage are the two common phenomena seen. Glaciers are melting in a fast way. These are pure examples of climate change.

Rise in sea level is another significant effect of Global Warming. This sea-level rise is leading to floods in low-lying areas. Extreme weather conditions are witnessed in many countries. Unseasonal rainfall, extreme heat and cold, wildfires and others are common every year. The number of these cases is increasing. This will indeed imbalance the ecosystem bringing the result of the extinction of species.

Similarly, marine life is also widely getting affected due to the increase in Global Warming. This is resulting in the death of marine species and other issues. Moreover, changes are expected in coral reefs, which are going to face the end in coming years.

These effects will take a steep rise in coming years, bringing the expansion of species to a halt. Moreover, humans too will witness the negative impact of Global Warming in the end.

FAQs on Global Warming Essay

1. What Global Warming will Cause?

Global warming will have a massive impact on our earth in the end. Flood, extreme weather conditions, famine, wildfire and many more will be the result. There will be hotter days, which will also increase the wildfire and famine. In the past years, many meteorological bureaus have added purple and magenta to the forecast.

Another impact of global warming will be rising sea levels. Increased ocean temperatures will lead to the melting of glaciers and ice caps. Increase in the sea level will lead to floods in many low-lying areas.

The overall ecosystem of nature will be an imbalance. This will affect nature in the long-term.

2. Why Does Global Warming Happen?

There are many reasons for the cause of global warming. There are certain gases in the atmosphere called greenhouse gases. The energy then radiates from the surface; the greenhouse gases trap longwave radiation. We humans have added to the atmospheric blanket of greenhouse affecting the living species. Warming of air, oceans, and land is how global warming happens.

Essay on Effects of Global Warming for Students and Children

500+ words essay on effects of global warming.

Global warming refers to climate change that causes an increase in the average of Earth’s temperature. Natural events and human influences are believed to be top contributions towards the increase in average temperatures. Global warming is a rise in the surface and atmospheric temperature of the earth that has changed various life forms on the earth. The issues that ascertain global warming are divided into two broad categories – “natural” and “human influences” of global warming.

Natural Causes of Global Warming

The climate has been continuously changing for centuries. One natural cause of global warming is greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are carbon monoxide and sulphur dioxide . It traps the solar rays and prevents them from escaping the surface of the earth.

This causes an increase in the temperature of the earth. Volcanic eruptions are another reason for global warming. A single volcanic eruption can release a great amount of carbon dioxide and ash to the atmosphere. Increased carbon dioxide leads to a rise in the temperature of the earth.

Also, methane gas is another contributor to global warming. Methane is also a greenhouse gas. Methane is twenty times more effective in trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Usually, methane gas is released from many areas like animal waste, landfill, natural gas, and others.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Human Influences on Global Warming

Human influence has been a very serious issue now as it is contributing more than natural causes of global warming. Since human evolution, the earth has been changing for many years until now and it is still changing because of our modern lifestyle. Human activities include industrial production, burning fossil fuel, mining of minerals, cattle rearing and deforestation.

Industries, transportation such as cars, buses, trucks burn fuel to power machines, which eventually releases carbon dioxide and monoxide from the exhaust, leading to an increase in a temperature rise of Earth’s atmosphere.

Another contributor is mining. During the process of mining, the methane gas trapped below the earth escapes. Rearing cattle also causes the release of methane from manure. Another cause is the most common but most dangerous – deforestation.

Deforestation is a human influence because human have been cutting down trees to produce paper, wood, build houses and more. Trees can absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and their absence can lead to the concentration of such gases.

The Effect of Global Warming

The impact that global warming is causing on earth is extremely serious. There are many hazardous effects that will happen in the future if global warming continues. It includes melting of polar ice caps, leading to an increase in sea level drowning coastlines and slowly submerging continents.

Recent studies by National Snow and Ice Datacenter “if the ice melted today the seas would rise about 230 feet”. Another effect is climate change leading to the extinction of various species. More hurricanes, cyclonic storms, heat waves, drought, and extreme rainfalls will occur causing disaster to humankind.

The solution to Stop Global Warming

We humans need to work together towards the prevention of global warming. To reduce global warming we can contribute by reducing the production and concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. We need to curb usage of gasoline, electricity and other activities including mining and industrialization that cause global warming.

Another way to reduce global warming is through recycling. Recycling can help reduce open burning of garbage by reusing plastic bags, bottles, papers or glass. We need to stop open burning dry leaves or burning garbage. It contributes to releasing carbon dioxide and toxins. Besides, we should reduce deforestation and start planting more trees. Trees will help improve the temperature on earth and prevent drastic climatic change.

From today’s scenario, we can derive that our earth is “sick” and we humans need to “heal” it. Global Warming has already caused many problems for human and we need to prevent disasters of the future. Our generation needs to take care of the earth with immediate effect to safeguard future generations or they will suffer the consequences of global warming.

Customize your course in 30 seconds

Which class are you in.

• Travelling Essay
• Picnic Essay
• Our Country Essay
• My Parents Essay
• Essay on Favourite Personality
• Essay on Memorable Day of My Life
• Essay on Knowledge is Power
• Essay on Gurpurab
• Essay on My Favourite Season
• Essay on Types of Sports

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Download the App

Home — Essay Samples — Environment — Global Warming — Argumentative Essay On Global Warming

Argumentative Essay on Global Warming

• Categories: Climate Change Environmental Issues Global Warming

About this sample

Words: 879 |

Published: Mar 5, 2024

Words: 879 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Dr. Heisenberg

Verified writer

• Expert in: Environment

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

1 pages / 627 words

2 pages / 958 words

1 pages / 431 words

4 pages / 2245 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Global Warming

Climate change is a global phenomenon that has far-reaching effects on both the environment and human life. In this essay, we will explore the concept of climate change, analyze its consequences on everyday life, and discuss the [...]

Global warming is a pressing issue that affects us all, yet many people still remain unaware of the severity of its consequences. Picture this: rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and dwindling wildlife populations. These [...]

Global Warming refers to the increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. This phenomenon has far-reaching [...]

In conclusion, the memo on global warming provides a valuable starting point for our analysis of this pressing issue. By adhering to formal academic writing standards, critically engaging with the arguments presented, and [...]

It is a melancholy object to those who have been unfortunate enough to inhabit this once great planet. These individuals, instead of searching for cooler, healthier planets, are forced to employ all of their resources and [...]

The short story “Diary of an Interesting Year” by Helen Simpson is delivered to readers in the form of a diary entries. It is the year 2040, and the main character, a 30-year-old women, writes entries regarding her decrepit [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. Take the first step today

Meet top uk universities from the comfort of your home, here’s your new year gift, one app for all your, study abroad needs, start your journey, track your progress, grow with the community and so much more.

Verification Code

An OTP has been sent to your registered mobile no. Please verify

Thanks for your comment !

Our team will review it before it's shown to our readers.

• School Education /

Essay on Climate Change: Check Samples in 100, 250 Words

• Updated on  
• Sep 21, 2023

Writing an essay on climate change is crucial to raise awareness and advocate for action. The world is facing environmental challenges, so in a situation like this such essay topics can serve as s platform to discuss the causes, effects, and solutions to this pressing issue. They offer an opportunity to engage readers in understanding the urgency of mitigating climate change for the sake of our planet’s future.

Must Read: Essay On Environment  

Table of Contents

• 1 What Is Climate Change?
• 2 What are the Causes of Climate Change?
• 3 What are the effects of Climate Change?
• 4 How to fight climate change?
• 5 Essay On Climate Change in 100 Words
• 6 Climate Change Sample Essay 250 Words

What Is Climate Change?

Climate change is the significant variation of average weather conditions becoming, for example, warmer, wetter, or drier—over several decades or longer. It may be natural or anthropogenic. However, in recent times, it’s been in the top headlines due to escalations caused by human interference.

What are the Causes of Climate Change?

Obama at the First Session of COP21 rightly quoted “We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change, and the last generation that can do something about it.”.Identifying the causes of climate change is the first step to take in our fight against climate change. Below stated are some of the causes of climate change:

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Mainly from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy and transportation.
• Deforestation: The cutting down of trees reduces the planet’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide.
• Industrial Processes: Certain manufacturing activities release potent greenhouse gases.
• Agriculture: Livestock and rice cultivation emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

What are the effects of Climate Change?

Climate change poses a huge risk to almost all life forms on Earth. The effects of climate change are listed below:

• Global Warming: Increased temperatures due to trapped heat from greenhouse gases.
• Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels: Ice caps and glaciers melt, causing oceans to rise.
• Extreme Weather Events: More frequent and severe hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires.
• Ocean Acidification: Oceans absorb excess CO2, leading to more acidic waters harming marine life.
• Disrupted Ecosystems: Shifting climate patterns disrupt habitats and threaten biodiversity.
• Food and Water Scarcity: Altered weather affects crop yields and strains water resources.
• Human Health Risks: Heat-related illnesses and the spread of diseases.
• Economic Impact: Damage to infrastructure and increased disaster-related costs.
• Migration and Conflict: Climate-induced displacement and resource competition.

How to fight climate change?

‘Climate change is a terrible problem, and it absolutely needs to be solved. It deserves to be a huge priority,’ says Bill Gates. The below points highlight key actions to combat climate change effectively.

• Energy Efficiency: Improve energy efficiency in all sectors.
• Protect Forests: Stop deforestation and promote reforestation.
• Sustainable Agriculture: Adopt eco-friendly farming practices.
• Advocacy: Raise awareness and advocate for climate-friendly policies.
• Innovation: Invest in green technologies and research.
• Government Policies: Enforce climate-friendly regulations and targets.
• Corporate Responsibility: Encourage sustainable business practices.
• Individual Action: Reduce personal carbon footprint and inspire others.

Essay On Climate Change in 100 Words

Climate change refers to long-term alterations in Earth’s climate patterns, primarily driven by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, leading to global warming. The consequences of climate change are widespread and devastating. Rising temperatures cause polar ice caps to melt, contributing to sea level rise and threatening coastal communities. Extreme weather events, like hurricanes and wildfires, become more frequent and severe, endangering lives and livelihoods. Additionally, shifts in weather patterns can disrupt agriculture, leading to food shortages. To combat climate change, global cooperation, renewable energy adoption, and sustainable practices are crucial for a more sustainable future.

Must Read: Essay On Global Warming

Climate Change Sample Essay 250 Words

Climate change represents a pressing global challenge that demands immediate attention and concerted efforts. Human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, have significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This results in a greenhouse effect, trapping heat and leading to a rise in global temperatures, commonly referred to as global warming.

The consequences of climate change are far-reaching and profound. Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities, displacing millions and endangering vital infrastructure. Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires, have become more frequent and severe, causing devastating economic and human losses. Disrupted ecosystems affect biodiversity and the availability of vital resources, from clean water to agricultural yields.

Moreover, climate change has serious implications for food and water security. Changing weather patterns disrupt traditional farming practices and strain freshwater resources, potentially leading to conflicts over access to essential commodities.

Addressing climate change necessitates a multifaceted approach. First, countries must reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through the transition to renewable energy sources, increased energy efficiency, and reforestation efforts. International cooperation is crucial to set emission reduction targets and hold nations accountable for meeting them.

In conclusion, climate change is a global crisis with profound and immediate consequences. Urgent action is needed to mitigate its impacts and secure a sustainable future for our planet. By reducing emissions and implementing adaptation strategies, we can protect vulnerable communities, preserve ecosystems, and ensure a livable planet for future generations. The time to act is now.

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in Earth’s climate patterns, primarily driven by human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

Five key causes of climate change include excessive greenhouse gas emissions from human activities, notably burning fossil fuels and deforestation. 

We hope this blog gave you an idea about how to write and present an essay on climate change that puts forth your opinions. The skill of writing an essay comes in handy when appearing for standardized language tests. Thinking of taking one soon? Leverage Edu provides the best online test prep for the same via Leverage Live . Register today to know more!

Amisha Khushara

Hey there! I'm a content writer who turns complex ideas into clear, engaging stories. Think of me as your translator, taking expert knowledge and making it interesting and relatable for everyone.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Contact no. *

Connect With Us

45,000+ students realised their study abroad dream with us. take the first step today..

Resend OTP in

Need help with?

Study abroad.

UK, Canada, US & More

IELTS, GRE, GMAT & More

Scholarship, Loans & Forex

Country Preference

New Zealand

Which English test are you planning to take?

Which academic test are you planning to take.

Not Sure yet

When are you planning to take the exam?

Already booked my exam slot

Within 2 Months

Want to learn about the test

Which Degree do you wish to pursue?

When do you want to start studying abroad.

January 2024

September 2024

What is your budget to study abroad?

How would you describe this article ?

Please rate this article

We would like to hear more.

Have something on your mind?

Make your study abroad dream a reality in January 2022 with

India's Biggest Virtual University Fair

Essex Direct Admission Day

Why attend .

Don't Miss Out

• History & Society
• Science & Tech
• Biographies
• Animals & Nature
• Geography & Travel
• Arts & Culture
• Games & Quizzes
• On This Day
• One Good Fact
• New Articles
• Lifestyles & Social Issues
• Philosophy & Religion
• Politics, Law & Government
• World History
• Health & Medicine
• Browse Biographies
• Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
• Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
• Environment
• Fossils & Geologic Time
• Entertainment & Pop Culture
• Sports & Recreation
• Visual Arts
• Demystified
• Image Galleries
• Infographics
• Top Questions
• Britannica Kids
• Saving Earth
• Space Next 50
• Student Center
• Introduction & Top Questions
• Climatic variation since the last glaciation
• The greenhouse effect
• Radiative forcing
• Water vapour
• Carbon dioxide
• Surface-level ozone and other compounds
• Nitrous oxides and fluorinated gases
• Land-use change
• Stratospheric ozone depletion
• Volcanic aerosols
• Variations in solar output
• Variations in Earth’s orbit
• Water vapour feedback
• Cloud feedbacks
• Ice albedo feedback
• Carbon cycle feedbacks
• Modern observations
• Prehistorical climate records
• Theoretical climate models
• Patterns of warming
• Precipitation patterns
• Regional predictions
• Ice melt and sea level rise
• Ocean circulation changes
• Tropical cyclones
• Environmental consequences of global warming
• Socioeconomic consequences of global warming

How does global warming work?

Where does global warming occur in the atmosphere, why is global warming a social problem, where does global warming affect polar bears.

global warming

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

• U.S. Department of Transportation - Global Warming: A Science Overview
• NOAA Climate.gov - Climate Change: Global Temperature
• Natural Resources Defense Council - Global Warming 101
• American Institute of Physics - The discovery of global warming
• LiveScience - Causes of Global Warming
• global warming - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• global warming - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
• Table Of Contents

Human activity affects global surface temperatures by changing Earth ’s radiative balance—the “give and take” between what comes in during the day and what Earth emits at night. Increases in greenhouse gases —i.e., trace gases such as carbon dioxide and methane that absorb heat energy emitted from Earth’s surface and reradiate it back—generated by industry and transportation cause the atmosphere to retain more heat, which increases temperatures and alters precipitation patterns.

Global warming, the phenomenon of increasing average air temperatures near Earth’s surface over the past one to two centuries, happens mostly in the troposphere , the lowest level of the atmosphere, which extends from Earth’s surface up to a height of 6–11 miles. This layer contains most of Earth’s clouds and is where living things and their habitats and weather primarily occur.

Continued global warming is expected to impact everything from energy use to water availability to crop productivity throughout the world. Poor countries and communities with limited abilities to adapt to these changes are expected to suffer disproportionately. Global warming is already being associated with increases in the incidence of severe and extreme weather, heavy flooding , and wildfires —phenomena that threaten homes, dams, transportation networks, and other facets of human infrastructure. Learn more about how the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report, released in 2021, describes the social impacts of global warming.

Polar bears live in the Arctic , where they use the region’s ice floes as they hunt seals and other marine mammals . Temperature increases related to global warming have been the most pronounced at the poles, where they often make the difference between frozen and melted ice. Polar bears rely on small gaps in the ice to hunt their prey. As these gaps widen because of continued melting, prey capture has become more challenging for these animals.

Recent News

global warming , the phenomenon of increasing average air temperatures near the surface of Earth over the past one to two centuries. Climate scientists have since the mid-20th century gathered detailed observations of various weather phenomena (such as temperatures, precipitation , and storms) and of related influences on climate (such as ocean currents and the atmosphere’s chemical composition). These data indicate that Earth’s climate has changed over almost every conceivable timescale since the beginning of geologic time and that human activities since at least the beginning of the Industrial Revolution have a growing influence over the pace and extent of present-day climate change .

Giving voice to a growing conviction of most of the scientific community , the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), published in 2021, noted that the best estimate of the increase in global average surface temperature between 1850 and 2019 was 1.07 °C (1.9 °F). An IPCC special report produced in 2018 noted that human beings and their activities have been responsible for a worldwide average temperature increase between 0.8 and 1.2 °C (1.4 and 2.2 °F) since preindustrial times, and most of the warming over the second half of the 20th century could be attributed to human activities.

AR6 produced a series of global climate predictions based on modeling five greenhouse gas emission scenarios that accounted for future emissions, mitigation (severity reduction) measures, and uncertainties in the model projections. Some of the main uncertainties include the precise role of feedback processes and the impacts of industrial pollutants known as aerosols , which may offset some warming. The lowest-emissions scenario, which assumed steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2015, predicted that the global mean surface temperature would increase between 1.0 and 1.8 °C (1.8 and 3.2 °F) by 2100 relative to the 1850–1900 average. This range stood in stark contrast to the highest-emissions scenario, which predicted that the mean surface temperature would rise between 3.3 and 5.7 °C (5.9 and 10.2 °F) by 2100 based on the assumption that greenhouse gas emissions would continue to increase throughout the 21st century. The intermediate-emissions scenario, which assumed that emissions would stabilize by 2050 before declining gradually, projected an increase of between 2.1 and 3.5 °C (3.8 and 6.3 °F) by 2100.

Many climate scientists agree that significant societal, economic, and ecological damage would result if the global average temperature rose by more than 2 °C (3.6 °F) in such a short time. Such damage would include increased extinction of many plant and animal species, shifts in patterns of agriculture , and rising sea levels. By 2015 all but a few national governments had begun the process of instituting carbon reduction plans as part of the Paris Agreement , a treaty designed to help countries keep global warming to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) above preindustrial levels in order to avoid the worst of the predicted effects. Whereas authors of the 2018 special report noted that should carbon emissions continue at their present rate, the increase in average near-surface air temperature would reach 1.5 °C sometime between 2030 and 2052, authors of the AR6 report suggested that this threshold would be reached by 2041 at the latest.

The AR6 report also noted that the global average sea level had risen by some 20 cm (7.9 inches) between 1901 and 2018 and that sea level rose faster in the second half of the 20th century than in the first half. It also predicted, again depending on a wide range of scenarios, that the global average sea level would rise by different amounts by 2100 relative to the 1995–2014 average. Under the report’s lowest-emission scenario, sea level would rise by 28–55 cm (11–21.7 inches), whereas, under the intermediate emissions scenario, sea level would rise by 44–76 cm (17.3–29.9 inches). The highest-emissions scenario suggested that sea level would rise by 63–101 cm (24.8–39.8 inches) by 2100.

The scenarios referred to above depend mainly on future concentrations of certain trace gases, called greenhouse gases , that have been injected into the lower atmosphere in increasing amounts through the burning of fossil fuels for industry, transportation , and residential uses. Modern global warming is the result of an increase in magnitude of the so-called greenhouse effect , a warming of Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere caused by the presence of water vapour , carbon dioxide , methane , nitrous oxides , and other greenhouse gases. In 2014 the IPCC first reported that concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxides in the atmosphere surpassed those found in ice cores dating back 800,000 years.

Of all these gases, carbon dioxide is the most important, both for its role in the greenhouse effect and for its role in the human economy. It has been estimated that, at the beginning of the industrial age in the mid-18th century, carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere were roughly 280 parts per million (ppm). By the end of 2022 they had risen to 419 ppm, and, if fossil fuels continue to be burned at current rates, they are projected to reach 550 ppm by the mid-21st century—essentially, a doubling of carbon dioxide concentrations in 300 years.

A vigorous debate is in progress over the extent and seriousness of rising surface temperatures, the effects of past and future warming on human life, and the need for action to reduce future warming and deal with its consequences. This article provides an overview of the scientific background related to the subject of global warming. It considers the causes of rising near-surface air temperatures, the influencing factors, the process of climate research and forecasting, and the possible ecological and social impacts of rising temperatures. For an overview of the public policy developments related to global warming occurring since the mid-20th century, see global warming policy . For a detailed description of Earth’s climate, its processes, and the responses of living things to its changing nature, see climate . For additional background on how Earth’s climate has changed throughout geologic time , see climatic variation and change . For a full description of Earth’s gaseous envelope, within which climate change and global warming occur, see atmosphere .

• Fundamentals NEW

• Biographies
• Compare Countries
• World Atlas

global warming

Methane and water vapor are the most important greenhouse gases after carbon dioxide.

Related resources for this article

• Primary Sources & E-Books

Introduction

The rise of air temperatures near Earth ’s surface over the past one to two centuries is known as global warming. Earth has experienced periods of gradual warming and cooling throughout its existence as a result of natural causes. Such natural causes have included volcanic eruptions and variations in the Sun’s output. However, scientists have attributed the recent increase in global temperatures to human causes—primarily the release of certain gases into the atmosphere as a result of industrial activity. These gases are known as greenhouse gases. They absorb and trap heat emitted from Earth’s surface through a process known as the greenhouse effect .

Global warming is part of the more general phenomenon of climate change . The terms global warming and climate change are often used interchangeably, but they have distinct meanings. In addition to the rise in air temperatures, climate change encompasses changes in other elements of climate . These include variations in precipitation patterns, winds , and ocean currents. Another distinction between the terms is the time frames that they describe. Climate change includes changes that have taken place throughout Earth’s history. Some of these changes have occurred very slowly over long time periods, such as hundreds of millions of years. Others, such as global warming, have occurred over much shorter time periods. The warming trend of recent times is a rapid and ongoing phase of climate change.

Causes of Global Warming

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that helps maintain temperatures suitable for life. Without it, Earth would be a frozen and likely uninhabitable planet. However, scientists who study climate have determined that increased concentrations of greenhouse gases resulting from human activity have amplified the natural greenhouse effect, causing global warming. The main greenhouse gases with human sources are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and halocarbons.

Carbon dioxide is produced naturally by animals through respiration . The main human-produced source of carbon dioxide is the burning of fossil fuels : coal , oil , and natural gas . These fuels are widely used in electricity generation, transportation, and industry. Another source of carbon dioxide from human activity is the clearing of forests for agriculture and other purposes. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air to make food through the process of photosynthesis . When trees are cut down or burned, much of the carbon that they have stored is released back into the air as carbon dioxide.

Atmospheric methane concentrations are much lower than those of carbon dioxide, but they are more potent. By weight, methane is 25 times more powerful at trapping heat over a 100-year time period than carbon dioxide. Methane is produced naturally by a variety of sources. For example, the decay of vegetation in low-oxygen environments such as wetlands produces methane. However, human activities also increase methane levels in the atmosphere. Such activities include rice cultivation and livestock raising. Other major human-induced sources of methane include the use of fossil fuels and the decomposition of organic matter in landfills.

Nitrous oxide is produced naturally by biological reactions in both soil and water. Human-induced sources include fertilizer usage and fossil fuel burning. By weight, the heat-trapping potential of nitrous oxide is about 300 times that of carbon dioxide over a 100-year time period.

Halocarbons are low in concentration in the atmosphere. However, they are extremely powerful at absorbing and trapping heat. Some halocarbons have more than 10,000 times the warming effect of carbon dioxide by weight. Halocarbons are very rare in nature but have been widely synthesized for industrial uses. They have been used as refrigerants, aerosol propellants, insulation, and cleaning solvents. Halocarbons include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

In nature, the sources of greenhouse gases are balanced, on average, by processes called “sinks” that remove the gases from the atmosphere. These sinks include physical, chemical, and biological processes. Photosynthesis is one of the most important carbon dioxide sinks on land. Others occur in the oceans, where great amounts of carbon dioxide are dissolved in the water. Some of the dissolved gas is taken up by marine plants and animals, and some is buried deep down at the ocean floor. However, human activities have produced carbon dioxide in quantities that far exceed the offsetting capacity of natural sinks. This has led to a buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The same is true of other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide.

Studying Global Warming

Scientists use a variety of methods and evidence to study global warming. They analyze data collected by thermometers and other instruments from roughly 1850 to the present. To study climate changes prior to that time, scientists use “paleoclimatic” data from natural sources. These sources include ocean and lake sediments, tree rings, pollen grains, and ice cores (cylinders of ice taken from glaciers ). Finally, they use computers to produce models of Earth’s climate. The models can be used to understand past changes and to predict future changes and effects of global warming.

Although some records are available from the 1600s and 1700s, systematic measurements of climate began in the mid-1800s. The data include measurements of surface temperature over land and the oceans, precipitation amounts, sea-ice extents, and global sea levels. Since the 1970s, satellite studies have provided additional data on temperature trends at Earth’s surface and through the layers of the atmosphere. In addition, data-collection platforms in the oceans measure temperature and other properties of seawater.

Paleoclimatic data allow scientists to reconstruct climate changes over many thousands of years. Some sources, such as most sediment samples and pollen records, are only detailed enough to describe climate changes over long timescales. Other sources can provide a record of yearly or seasonal climate changes. These sources include growth measurements from tree rings and gases taken from ice cores. Gas bubbles trapped in ice samples from 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) beneath Antarctica contain gases that were in the atmosphere 900,000 years ago.

Computerized climate models can be used to investigate the climate’s natural changes as well as its response to greenhouse gas emissions. Models vary considerably in their complexity. Even the most detailed models cannot account for all of the processes that affect the atmosphere and oceans. Nevertheless, many models perform very well in reproducing the basic factors that influence climate.

The leading international organization in the study of global warming is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme. The IPCC assesses and summarizes the latest scientific, technical, and socioeconomic data on climate change. It publishes its findings in reports that are presented to international organizations and policy makers throughout the world. Thousands of the world’s leading climate change experts have worked under the IPCC.

The IPCC’s reports have documented the progress of global warming. They have shown a growing consensus on the role of human activity in the process. The 2014 assessment report stated that the period from 1880 to 2012 saw an increase in global average surface temperature of about 1.62 °F (0.9 °C). It forecast that the global mean surface temperature would likely rise by as much as 4.7 to 8.6 °F (2.6 to 4.8 °C) by 2100 if additional measures were not put in place to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The authors of the report also stated with at least 95 percent certainty that most of the warming since about 1950 had been caused by human activity.

Later IPCC reports continued to chart an alarming rise in global temperatures. A special report released in 2018 noted that human beings and human activities are responsible for a worldwide average temperature increase of between 1.4 and 2.2 °F (0.8 and 1.2 °C) of global warming above benchmark averages—that is, average global temperature levels set before the start of the  Industrial Revolution . The authors noted that they had high confidence that the world would reach 2.7 °F (1.5 °C) above benchmark averages sometime between 2030 and 2052 should carbon emissions continue at their present rate. The 2021 assessment report noted that human beings had produced an “unequivocal” influence over Earth’s climate system as human-generated greenhouse gases have increased in Earth’s atmosphere. The report also revealed that global surface temperatures for the years 2000 to 2020 were 1.8 °F (0.99 °C) higher than benchmark averages. These developments have driven such phenomena as the retreat of glaciers, the loss of Arctic sea ice, and a poleward shift in the planet’s climate zones.

The findings of the IPCC have been endorsed by many scientific organizations. Among them are the national science academies of the United States and of all the other G8 (industrialized) countries as well as those of Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa.

Effects of Global Warming

How much temperatures will rise in the future will depend largely on the rate of greenhouse gas emissions. The IPCC based its projected range of temperature increase on a number of emissions scenarios. Most scientists agree that the effects of global warming will become much more severe if the increase above preindustrial temperatures exceeds 3.6 °F (2 °C). Only a scenario that includes major reductions in emissions is likely to hold warming below that level.

Warming Patterns

The world is not warming uniformly. Surface air temperatures have increased more rapidly over land than over the oceans, a trend that is expected to continue. Thus, the Northern Hemisphere—with less than 40 percent of its surface area covered by water—is expected to warm faster than the Southern Hemisphere. The greatest increase in surface temperature is projected over the Arctic . This is in part because of the melting of snow and ice on land and sea. Snow and ice reflect some of the Sun’s heat back into space. A reduction in the surface area covered by snow and ice means that more heat will stay in the lower atmosphere. This causes more melting, which causes more warming, and so on. The Arctic is already warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet.

Precipitation Patterns

Global warming has already been linked to changes in precipitation patterns across the globe, and these changes are projected to continue. There has been an increase in heavy downpours in some areas. Continued precipitation increases are projected in the polar and subpolar regions, with decreases in the middle latitudes. An increase in rainfall is expected near the Equator, and a decrease is expected in the subtropics.

Changes in precipitation patterns are projected to further increase the chances of extreme weather in many areas. Decreased summer precipitation in North America, Europe, and Africa, combined with greater rates of evaporation due to rising temperatures, is predicted to lead to more droughts . In other regions, greater rates of both evaporation and precipitation will likely cause an increase in very heavy rainfall that can lead to flooding .

Ice Melt and Sea-Level Rise

A very visible effect of climate change has been the steady melting of sea ice and glaciers , especially in the Arctic. The IPCC has projected that the Arctic could be virtually free of summer sea ice by 2050. The melting of land-based ice, from glaciers around the world and the large ice sheets on Greenland and Antarctica , has already contributed to sea-level rise. Further increases in sea level are projected. Another factor in the sea-level rise, also driven by global warming, is thermal expansion of the oceans. This means that seawater takes up more space as its temperature rises. Thermal expansion and the melting of land-based ice caused a rise of about 7.5 inches (19 centimeters) in the global sea level between 1901 and 2010.

Heat spreads slowly through water. For this reason, the oceans are likely to continue to warm for at least several centuries in response to the increases in greenhouse gas emissions that have already taken place. If emissions continue at their early 21st-century rate, the combination of thermal expansion and land-based ice melting is predicted to raise the global sea level by 1.5 to 2.7 feet (0.45 to 0.82 meter) by 2100.

The rise in sea level could be much greater in the longer term. It is probable that the continued warming of Greenland will lead to faster melting of its ice sheet. Paleoclimatic evidence suggests that an additional 3.6 °F (2 °C) of warming could cause complete melting of the Greenland ice sheet over a millennium or more. That would cause the sea level to rise an additional 23 feet (7 meters). Such an increase would submerge many islands and lowland regions. The lowland regions at risk include substantial parts of the U.S. Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard (including roughly the lower third of Florida), much of the Netherlands and Belgium, and heavily populated tropical areas such as Bangladesh. This level of warming could also accelerate melting of the West Antarctic ice sheet, raising the global sea level even further.

Tropical Cyclones

The impact of global warming on tropical cyclones (including hurricanes and typhoons) is the subject of intense research. Scientists have recorded increases in both surface temperatures and hurricane intensity in the Atlantic Ocean since the 1970s. These findings suggest that global warming could have already had an effect on Atlantic hurricanes, though scientists cannot rule out that other factors caused this recent increase in hurricane intensity. Nevertheless, scientists think it is likely that the continued rise in tropical ocean temperatures will lead to stronger cyclones globally in the coming century.

Environmental Impact

Global warming is already affecting ecosystems and thus the biodiversity of plants, animals, and other forms of life. Living things establish their geographic ranges by adapting to their environment, including long-term climate patterns. Relatively sudden climate changes caused by global warming could shrink species’ habitats . That could challenge the adaptive abilities of many species, especially those with already restricted ranges. Some plants and animals, both on land and in the sea, have already shifted their geographic ranges in response to warming temperatures. For example, biologists have found that certain species of butterflies and birds in the Northern Hemisphere have moved their ranges northward.

Surface warming has already begun to affect biological processes in some species. For example, trees are producing leaves earlier in the spring, and mammals are ending hibernation earlier. Warming is also influencing the seasonal migration patterns of birds, fishes, and other animals. In the Arctic, continued melting of sea ice threatens such animals as polar bears and walrus . Both animals depend on sea ice for hunting.

Climate change may also affect marine ecosystems by altering food supplies. The combination of warming waters, decreased sea ice, and other changes to the oceans in the high latitudes could lead to reductions or redistributions of algae and plankton . As a result, fish and other animals that feed on these organisms may be threatened. Near Antarctica, the number of krill has fallen significantly since the 1970s. These shrimplike animals are a vital part of the Antarctic food chain . Some scientists have blamed global warming for the decline in krill populations and predicted that their numbers will continue to drop. The loss poses a threat to the animals that depend on krill for food, including penguins, seals, and whales.

Ultimately, climate change is expected to play a role in the extinction of certain plants and animals. Biologists have estimated that warming of between 2.7 and 8.1 °F (1.5 and 4.5 °C) could put a large number of plant and animal species in danger of extinction. This range of temperature increase is possible by the year 2100 in even the lower-end-emissions scenarios prepared by the IPCC. Estimates of species loss climb to as much as two-fifths for a warming of more than 8.1 °F (4.5 °C). Average global temperatures could increase to this level in the 21st century according to the IPCC’s high-emissions scenario.

Socioeconomic Impact

The socioeconomic effects of global warming and climate change could be substantial, especially in the areas of agriculture, water supply, human health, and infrastructure. In some of these areas the impact of warming temperatures is already evident.

Global warming is likely to have a mixed impact on agriculture. Regions in the mid- to high latitudes are expected to have a longer growing season. That change could modestly boost crop yields. If warming surpasses 5.4 °F (3 °C), however, productivity is expected to decrease in these regions. In tropical and subtropical areas, agricultural production is expected to be reduced by even small increases in warming. Some regions have already seen decreases in crop production as a result of shortened growing seasons caused by warmer and drier conditions. Elsewhere, floods caused by global warming could hurt productivity. In some places farmers have changed their practices in an attempt to adapt to changing conditions—for example, by planting crops earlier in the growing season.

Global warming is expected to affect water supplies across the globe. Scientists have predicted a 10 to 30 percent decrease in water availability in parts of the tropics and middle latitudes by the middle of the 21st century. In some places water availability is already declining because of drought . Such regions as western North America, southern Africa, the Middle East, and western Australia are particularly vulnerable.

Elsewhere, the reduction of snowpack and the shrinking of glaciers will likely cause serious water shortages. Lessened snow accumulation will affect places that depend on rivers fed by snowmelt for their water supply. One such region is the western United States, which gets as much as 75 percent of its water from snowmelt. Places that rely on glacial melting for their water face an even greater risk, because glaciers, unlike snow, cannot be replenished. These places include heavily populated areas near major mountain ranges such as the Himalayas in Asia and the Andes Mountains in South America.

Human health will be affected by global warming in a number of ways. The spread of infectious diseases will likely change, because the ranges of disease carriers such as insects and rodents are often determined by climate. Warmer winters in the Korean peninsula and southern Europe, for example, have allowed the spread of the Anopheles mosquito. That mosquito carries parasites that cause malaria . In addition, a warmer winter in New York in 1999 appears to have been partly responsible for the outbreak of West Nile virus , which then spread across the country. Global warming is expected to increase malnutrition due to food shortages. Rising temperatures are also likely to make deadly heat waves more frequent.

The heightened risk of severe weather, flooding, and wildfire associated with global warming is expected to threaten the infrastructure of many countries. Homes, dams, transportation networks, and other elements of infrastructure could be affected. Rising sea levels and more intense tropical cyclones are a particular threat to coastal areas. Poor people in the densely populated low-lying regions of Africa, Asia, and tropical islands will be the most vulnerable because of their limited ability to adapt.

Responses to Global Warming

Since the 1980s, global warming has been the subject of a debate over the extent and seriousness of rising temperatures. People have also debated the effects of past and future warming and the need for action to reduce warming and to deal with its consequences. Some people have stressed the role of natural forces in past climatic variations. They argue that the current warming trend is part of a natural cycle. They point to uncertainties in the science of climate change and maintain that predictions of dire consequences are exaggerated. The vast majority of climate scientists now agree, however, that rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere resulting from human activity are primarily responsible for rising temperatures and related climate changes. Climate scientists stress that if emissions are left unchecked, the impact of warming will become much more severe in the future.

As the scientific consensus on global warming evolved, governments around the world began to develop policies to address the threat. Public policy related to global warming may be divided into two types: adaptation and mitigation. Experts say that both types are needed to respond to global warming. The goal of adaptation policy is to improve the ability of communities to face the challenges of a changing climate. For example, some policies encourage farmers to change their practices in response to seasonal changes. Other policies are designed to prepare cities located in coastal areas for elevated sea levels.

Adaptation policy addresses the immediate effects of global warming. But reducing the impact of global warming requires addressing the fundamental cause: the production of greenhouse gases. This is the goal of mitigation policy. This type of policy focuses mainly on reducing the use of fossil fuels in electricity generation and transportation , which account for most greenhouse gas emissions.

One mitigation strategy that most economists consider essential to combating global warming is putting a price on carbon. Carbon pricing holds the producers of greenhouse gases economically responsible for their emissions. The idea is to provide a financial incentive for industries to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and invest in low-carbon technologies. One method of carbon pricing is taxing polluting companies for each ton of carbon dioxide they emit. Another method is carbon trading, also called a cap-and-trade system. Such a system sets a limit on total greenhouse gas emissions and allows companies to buy and sell emissions permits. In other words, a company that emits more than its share of carbon dioxide has to buy permits from a company whose emissions fall below its target. In 2005 the European Union introduced the world’s first major carbon trading system.

The development of energy-efficient and renewable-energy technologies is another key to mitigation policy. Some policies encourage using electricity more efficiently—for example, by requiring that appliances use less energy. Others encourage the use of energy sources that do not produce carbon dioxide, such as wind and solar power and biomass—plant materials that can be used to make fuels and to produce electricity. These energy sources have the added advantage of being renewable, or constantly replenished. In contrast, the supply of fossil fuels is limited and dwindling. Other mitigation policies seek to improve the energy efficiency of vehicles. A successful example is the development of electric vehicles and cars called hybrids. Electric vehicles look like gasoline-engine cars but are battery powered. Since electric vehicles do not use gas, they do not emit carbon dioxide and other pollutants that harm the environment. Hybrids cut emissions by using an electric motor along with a small gasoline motor.

An emerging technology with great potential for limiting global warming is carbon sequestration. In this process, carbon dioxide emitted from factories or power stations is captured and stored underground or underwater. The gas is pumped into natural reservoirs such as depleted oil and natural gas fields. Proponents of carbon sequestration argue that it could be used to store vast quantities of carbon dioxide safely and permanently. However, the technology is still unproven.

International Cooperation on Global Warming

International efforts to address global warming have been complicated by the national interests of various countries. The most divisive issue has been determining the differing responsibilities of developed (industrialized) and developing countries in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Countries from both groups have claimed that emissions limits could hurt their economies.

The first major international agreement aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions was the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It was opened for signature at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, or Earth Summit , in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. It went into effect in 1994 and was eventually signed by 196 countries. The objective of the convention was the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous effects by humans on the climate. The convention called for industrialized countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels. However, it set no deadline for this target.

In 1997 representatives from more than 150 countries adopted the Kyoto Protocol at a United Nations conference in Kyoto, Japan. The protocol was the first follow-up treaty to the UNFCCC. After a long ratification process, it went into force in 2005. The protocol called for industrialized countries to collectively decrease greenhouse gas emissions to approximately 5 percent below 1990 levels by no later than 2012. The protocol set different reduction targets for different countries. For example, it called for an 8 percent decrease among countries of the European Union and a 7 percent decrease in the United States . The protocol did not require developing countries to restrict their emissions. There were several reasons for the differing treatment of developed and developing countries. One was the fact that carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for over a century, so the warming to date is mainly the result of a century’s worth of emissions from the industrialized world. Another reason was that per capita (per person) emissions are much greater in industrialized countries. In addition, developed countries have more resources with which to make the required changes.

The Kyoto Protocol was widely hailed as an important step in addressing global warming. Nevertheless, some critics questioned its effectiveness. One major obstacle to the protocol’s success was its rejection by the United States. The United States is second only to China in the ranking of the world’s leading emitters of greenhouse gases. Nevertheless, the U.S. government refused to back the protocol, because it did not require emission reductions for developing countries. Indeed, the lack of restrictions in rapidly industrializing countries, especially China and India , was another challenge to the treaty.

With the Kyoto Protocol set to expire in 2012, countries began negotiations on a new treaty. Disagreements led to delays, and the end date of the Kyoto Protocol had to be extended until its replacement could come into effect. Finally, in 2015 leaders signed a new agreement at a conference in Paris, France. The landmark Paris Agreement called for limiting the increase of the world’s average temperature to no more than 3.6 °F (2 °C) above preindustrial levels, while aiming to keep the temperature increase to 2.7 °F (1.5 °C). The agreement took effect in November 2016.

The Paris Agreement mandated a progress review every five years. Countries reviewed progress on the commitments made in Paris at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties , or COP26, held in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2021. COP26 was originally scheduled to take place in 2020 but was postponed for a year because of the  COVID-19   pandemic . Leaders at COP26 acknowledged that the world was not yet on track to meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. They signed a new global agreement, known as the Glasgow Climate Pact. The pact stated that in order to achieve the Paris Agreement’s more ambitious target of limiting global warming to 2.7 °F, greenhouse gas emissions would have to fall by 45 percent by 2030, compared with 2010 levels. The Glasgow Climate Pact thus urged deep and rapid cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Controversially, it called for a “phasedown” of coal power, dropping a proposal supported by many countries to eliminate coal power entirely. The pact also resolved to significantly increase funding to help developing countries deal with the damaging effects of climate change.

All countries face the challenge of sustainable development—that is, reducing their greenhouse gas emissions while still promoting economic development. Some people who oppose taking steps to combat global warming say that the costs of doing so will be too high. Economists and a growing number of policy makers, however, argue that early action will be much less costly than dealing with severe climatic changes in the future.

Additional Reading

Bennett, Jeffrey. A Global Warming Primer: Answering Your Questions About the Science, the Consequences, and the Solutions (Big Kid Science, 2016). Braasch, Gary. Earth Under Fire: How Global Warming Is Changing the World (University of California Press, 2007). Chehoski, Robert, ed. Critical Perspectives on Climate Disruption (Rosen, 2006). Gore, Al. An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming , rev. ed. (Viking, 2007). Johnson, Rebecca L. Understanding Global Warming (Lerner Publications, 2009). Kolbert, Elizabeth. Field Notes from a Catastrophe (Bloomsbury, 2006). McCoy, Erin L. Global Warming (Cavendish Square, 2019). Thornhill, Jan. This Is My Planet: A Guide to Global Warming (Franklin Watts, 2012).

It’s here: the NEW Britannica Kids website!

We’ve been busy, working hard to bring you new features and an updated design. We hope you and your family enjoy the NEW Britannica Kids. Take a minute to check out all the enhancements!

• The same safe and trusted content for explorers of all ages.
• Accessible across all of today's devices: phones, tablets, and desktops.
• Improved homework resources designed to support a variety of curriculum subjects and standards.
• A new, third level of content, designed specially to meet the advanced needs of the sophisticated scholar.
• And so much more!

Want to see it in action?

Start a free trial

To share with more than one person, separate addresses with a comma

Choose a language from the menu above to view a computer-translated version of this page. Please note: Text within images is not translated, some features may not work properly after translation, and the translation may not accurately convey the intended meaning. Britannica does not review the converted text.

After translating an article, all tools except font up/font down will be disabled. To re-enable the tools or to convert back to English, click "view original" on the Google Translate toolbar.

• Privacy Notice
• Terms of Use

Enter your email to download PDF and receive updates from OSMO

Scan to get started.

The Assessment App is available only on the Apple App Store . Please scan the QR code below with your iPhone device to download the app.

Global Warming Essay

500+ words global warming essay, its causes, effects and ways to counter it.

Global warming is a serious problem that our planet is facing. The Earth’s average temperature is rising causing a huge change in the Earth’s climate. This rise in the average temperature of the Earth’s surface is caused by an increase in greenhouse gases. Glaciers are melting, the sea levels are rising and life on earth is trying to keep pace with the change. This phenomenon is called global warming, which poses a serious threat to life on our planet.  This global warming essay talks about what global warming is, its causes, effects, and ways to reduce it.

What Is Global Warming?

Global warming is the phenomenon where the average temperature of the Earth’s surface gradually rises due to the greenhouse effect. Gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), and water vapor trap the sun’s heat and create a natural “blanket.” This natural blanket prevents the heat from escaping back into the atmosphere and keeps the Earth warm. This effect is called the Greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect and greenhouse gases aren’t really bad. In fact, they’re one of the things that keep the Earth warm and makes it a comfortable place to live in. So, these greenhouse gases are crucial to sustain life on earth. Without the greenhouse effect, there would be no natural barrier and the heat from the sun’s radiation would escape back into the atmosphere. This would create a very cold atmosphere making it impossible for living beings to survive. However, an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases traps more of the sun’s radiation. This causes the Earth to heat up and leads to global warming. 

Read on to know more about what causes global warming in this global warming essay.

Also read: Climate change essay , pollution essay , water pollution essay and air pollution essay .

Causes Of Global Warming

What is causing global warming? We know that greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect are good. But over the last few centuries, with increased human activity, there has been an increase in the emission of greenhouse gases. This increase in greenhouse gases means more heat is trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere, thus increasing the Earth’s average temperature. The rise in temperature leads to climate change because of which glaciers are melting, sea levels rising, cloud forests dying, etc. 

Further, there are several other factors, which contribute to global warming and climate change. Here is a list of the biggest causes of global warming:

• Deforestation
• Burning of fossil fuels
• Industrialization
• Urbanization
• Transportation
• Oil and natural gas drilling
• Power plants
• Garbage in landfills
• Volcanic eruptions

Now that we know the causes of global warming, learn about its effects in this global warming essay.

The Effects Of Global Warming

Global warming is a dangerous phenomenon and has serious repercussions on the environment, ecosystems and life on earth. Global warming and the resulting climate change pose a serious threat to the planet and all life forms on it. Here are some devastating effects of global warming:

• Stress on ecosystems
• Loss of biodiversity and habitat
• Water shortage
• Fire threats like wildfires
• Extreme weather events like heavier rainfall, storms, hurricanes, typhoons, heatwaves, earthquakes etc
• Draught 
• Melting polar ice caps and mountain glaciers
• Increase in sea levels and ocean acidification
• Increase in average temperature
• Loss of arable land and crop failures
• Food shortage
• Economic Instability
• Poor air quality
• Decreased population
• Human and animal extinction

Find out what preventive measures you can take to reduce global warming and climate change in this global warming essay.

How To Prevent Global Warming?

The population of the earth is now facing a severe crisis from global warming. If we don’t take steps to prevent it now, global warming could have devastating consequences. Here are some preventive measures we can take to reduce global warming:

• Renewable energy: One of the greatest contributors to global warming is carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels. Shifting to renewable energy will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and can reduce global warming.
• Reuse and recycling: Reusing and recycling reduces waste, which in turn, reduces garbage. Along with this, stop overproduction and overconsumption. This reduces the impact on the environment.
• Save water and energy: Along with producing clean energy, we need to conserve and use energy and water efficiently. 
• Sustainable agriculture and transportation: A great way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions is to shift to sustainable agriculture practices and transportation methods. Choose public transportation or carpool, or use electric vehicles to fight global warming.
• Stop deforestation: Deforestation is one of the major contributors to global warming. Stopping deforestation is necessary to combat climate change and global warming. Planting more trees will reduce CO2 emission and improve the air quality. 

We need to wake up and take these effective measures to fight global warming and climate change.

We hope this global warming essay was useful to you. Check essays for kids to explore more topics.

FAQs on Global Warming

What is global warming.

Global warming is the phenomenon where the Earth’s average temperature rises because of the increase in greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere.

What are the causes of global warming?

Global warming is caused by several factors such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, industrialization, urbanization, pollution, unsustainable farming practices, oil and gas drilling, mining, inefficient garbage disposal, overpopulation, overproduction, overconsumption, volcanic eruptions, etc.

How can you reduce global warming?

Shifting to renewable energy sources, sustainable transportation and agriculture practices, water, natural resources and energy conservation, reuse, recycling and planting more trees.

To find more information, explore related articles such as air pollution essay and climate change essay .

Subscribe to Osmo & get

your first purchase

You’ve been subscribed with

Check the welcome mail to download the printables and avail your discount.

Explore our award-winning products for kids learning.

* Offer valid only for 7 days.

ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Global warming.

The causes, effects, and complexities of global warming are important to understand so that we can fight for the health of our planet.

Earth Science, Climatology

Tennessee Power Plant

Ash spews from a coal-fueled power plant in New Johnsonville, Tennessee, United States.

Photograph by Emory Kristof/ National Geographic

Global warming is the long-term warming of the planet’s overall temperature. Though this warming trend has been going on for a long time, its pace has significantly increased in the last hundred years due to the burning of fossil fuels . As the human population has increased, so has the volume of fossil fuels burned. Fossil fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas, and burning them causes what is known as the “greenhouse effect” in Earth’s atmosphere.

The greenhouse effect is when the sun’s rays penetrate the atmosphere, but when that heat is reflected off the surface cannot escape back into space. Gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels prevent the heat from leaving the atmosphere. These greenhouse gasses are carbon dioxide , chlorofluorocarbons, water vapor , methane , and nitrous oxide . The excess heat in the atmosphere has caused the average global temperature to rise overtime, otherwise known as global warming.

Global warming has presented another issue called climate change. Sometimes these phrases are used interchangeably, however, they are different. Climate change refers to changes in weather patterns and growing seasons around the world. It also refers to sea level rise caused by the expansion of warmer seas and melting ice sheets and glaciers . Global warming causes climate change, which poses a serious threat to life on Earth in the forms of widespread flooding and extreme weather. Scientists continue to study global warming and its impact on Earth.

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Production Managers

Program specialists, last updated.

February 21, 2024

User Permissions

For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service .

Interactives

Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.

Related Resources

Global Warming Awareness Essay

Introduction

While talking about environmental pollution , children might have heard how it leads to various problems like global warming and climate change. Whenever the topic is discussed, global warming takes centre stage. Despite the repetitive utterance of the word, children fail to understand its real meaning or importance. So, this global warming awareness essay is aimed at the young learners to better acquaint them with the problems faced due to global warming.

Global warming is a phenomenon where the temperature gradually increases in the atmosphere of Earth due to both natural and human-made causes. As global warming results in climate change and the melting of glaciers, which will have serious repercussions on Earth and the living beings on the planet, efforts should be made to control it. The short essay on global warming awareness will throw light on this aspect, thus highlighting the significance of creating awareness of the phenomenon.

Importance of Global Warming Awareness

Global warming will affect us today or tomorrow. Though its effect can only be seen in a few places now, it won’t be long before it hits other places too. So, it is not wise for us to sit calmly and think that we are not being affected. In the global warming awareness essay, we will be discussing the causes of global warming , thereby emphasising the need to address the concern.

It is said that the increase in greenhouse gases results in global warming, which, in turn, leads to severe consequences like the melting of ice as well as causing frequent droughts and floods. But people are not aware of these problems, and they believe that all these things are merely said for the sake of it. This is why we must educate them about global warming and its issues through the short essay on global warming awareness essay so that we can take one step at a time in protecting ourselves and our planet.

Ways to Raise Global Warming Awareness

Global warming is not a simple topic to make our children familiar with, but this global warming awareness essay will help you in making your task easier. Let us make them realise by connecting their feelings to that of a polar bear. We can simply ask our children how they would feel when their home is taken away and they are left to live without it. Then, we can link it to the situation of the polar bear, where its home (glaciers) is destroyed due to global warming.

Similarly, we can encourage them to show respect towards our planet through small yet impactful actions, like switching off lights when not in use, cleaning the surroundings etc. By teaching these actions, we are saving ourselves when we care for our Earth, and we can help them grow as conscientious individuals.

Let this short essay on global warming awareness essay be a guide for our children to realise the problems faced by us. You can also check out other essays on BYJU’S website that will make our children knowledgeable.

Frequently Asked Questions on Global Warming Awareness Essay

Why is it necessary to have awareness about global warming.

If people are not aware of global warming, we will not be able to stop our planet from destruction, and our lives will be impacted severely. Hence, it is necessary to create awareness about global warming.

How will the global warming awareness essay be useful for children?

The essay will be useful for children to understand more about global warming, its causes and effects. As they will be informed about it, they will be careful in their actions to not harm our planet.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request OTP on Voice Call

Post My Comment

Register with BYJU'S & Download Free PDFs

Register with byju's & watch live videos.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Lesson of the Day

Explore 7 Climate Change Solutions

In this lesson, students will use a jigsaw activity to learn about some of the most effective strategies and technologies that can help head off the worst effects of global warming.

By Natalie Proulx

Lesson Overview

Earlier this summer, a report issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , a body of scientists convened by the United Nations, found that some devastating impacts of global warming were unavoidable. But there is still a short window to stop things from getting even worse.

This report will be central at COP26 , the international climate summit where about 20,000 heads of state, diplomats and activists are meeting in person this week to set new targets for cutting emissions from coal, oil and gas that are heating the planet.

In this lesson, you will learn about seven ways we can slow down climate change and head off some of its most catastrophic consequences while we still have time. Using a jigsaw activity , you’ll become an expert in one of these strategies or technologies and share what you learn with your classmates. Then, you will develop your own climate plan and consider ways you can make a difference based on your new knowledge.

What do you know about the ways the world can slow climate change? Start by making a list of strategies, technologies or policies that could help solve the climate crisis.

Which of your ideas do you think could have the biggest impact on climate change? Circle what you think might be the top three.

Now, test your knowledge by taking this 2017 interactive quiz:

How Much Do You Know About Solving Global Warming?

A new book presents 100 potential solutions. Can you figure out which ones are top ranked?

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Climate Change Essays

Van gogh’s paintings attacked by climate activists 🔥 trending.

Van Gogh’s sunflowers painting was recently a subject of discussion following the environmental protests by individuals from the Just Stop Oil organization. Two women donned…

The layers of the Atmosphere

The layers of the atmosphere entail the various envelopes of gas surrounding the earth from the ground upwards. The atmosphere has got five different layers…

Environmental management for a changing world

Summary The purpose of this essay is to show the proposed updated approaches for global sustainability through the definition of the planetary boundary within which…

Global Warming Evaluation Essay

In the past one decade, the world has been struggling with the problem of global warming. Different organizations have come together to deal with the…

Accident prevention and safety promotion initiative for parents and caregivers…

Environmental factors causing a threat to children Infants are very susceptible to environmental pollution especially if it is indoors. The indoor air contamination can be…

Sustainability and technology forecasting

Sustainability evaluation is a critical aspect of technology forecasting. Technology forecasting just as the name suggests is the process of projecting the future of a…

Difference between science and faith

Scientists are annoyed when it is mentioned that there is no difference between science and faith. For instance, Ben Carson argued that Darwin was propelled…

Rising carbon dioxide levels on puffer fish sensory receptors

Introduction Most studies on the effect of CO2 level in the oceans has suggested that there is increased hypercapnic acid-base disturbance among marine animals (Heuer…

Our personal responsibility toward the natural world

We rely on the natural world as humans. However, our effect has become largely unsustainable. Thus, we ought to change our direction and base our…

Facts and fiction in climate change debates

Which newspaper article did you select and why Out of roughly 800 articles found in Lexis-Nexis academic database, on issues pertaining climate change, I decided…

How has climate change played a big role in the…

Introduction The devastating civil war in Syria is attributed to a variety of complex interrelated factors ranging from religious and social political factors to climate…

Climatic change in Australia and its effect

Australia like any other country in the world have been hit my noticeable climatic changes over the last few years. Climatic change is associated with…

Global warming: causes and mitigation

It is important to appreciate the fact that climate change can be defined as a change in the global climate patterns with particular focus from…

Wicked problem essay

In this essay, the Urban Heat Island effect will be viewed especially in the con text of Phoenix, Arizona. As a phenomenon, urban heat island…

Climate change a human rights issue

Climate change is as important matter just as people human rights are concerned. Some of the serious issues concerning climate change are the extreme weather…

Water Pollution in America: Lead Poisoning

Abstract Issues concerning water quality are a primary challenge facing the human race in contemporary society. American water systems are constructed using lead and iron…

Evidence for Global Climate Change

In such an apparent state that the world is in concerning climate change, it is not surprising to still hear people saying it is a…

Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change

Abstract Agricultural sector of an economy is the most crucial one in terms of providing food to the individuals of the nations as well as…

Isotopes in Carbon Dating

Introduction Carbon-14 is a weakly radioactive isotope of Carbon also called radiocarbon. Radiocarbon dating was developed as a technique to measure radioactivity (Andreev, 2007). C-14…

International Environmental Agreements

The environmental conservation has been one of the most debated topics in the 20th and the 21st century. The increasing human population has led to…

What is the best site for researching quality climate change paper samples?

Samples is a website filled with sample essays and papers on the subject of climate change, as well as all related topics on this and many others.

How to use climate change essay examples to create my paper?

The examples are intended to help find primary sources for studying climate-related materials, help to get acquainted with the expertise and structure of writing from our writers and assist in getting acquainted with the features of writing different types of essays.

Is it allowed to submit your climate change essay samples as mine?

It is possible but be prepared that the professor or commission may not accept them since they are all in the public domain and are intended primarily for finding the necessary information, examples of text structuring, etc.

What college paper and essay examples can students find on our site?

The catalogue contains various topics and different types of works (essays, papers, etc.). Consequently, the number of examples in each category can exceed several dozen.

If you have a chance to look inside our climate change essay examples, it may turn out to be your winning ticket to the fascinating world of writing. Here, you may find research papers compiled by professionals. In addition, the range of topics related to climate and human impact on the environment can be used to create persuasive essays of the highest quality.

Climate Change Essay Examples: Problems & Solutions

When writing an essay about climate change, we consider it a distant problem as far as it is not real or visible to the naked eye. However, the suffering of our planet due to human intervention and a long-lasting bad influence on nature resulted in atmosphere changes, the greenhouse effect, and global warming.

The temperature will rise by 1.5 ℃ during the next 20 years. The problem might not seem urgent, but the results may be harmful, hazardous, and irreversible. Students may find it dull to write about the environment. Moreover, they need deep knowledge of geography and have developed analytical skills to predict consequences. Teachers try to guide students in the precise analysis of their effect on the Earth in essays about climate change.

Sample Essay on Climate Change: Ideal to Follow

In writing an argumentative essay, it may be challenging to figure out the main principles of writing and follow a logical outline. You may use any sample essay on climate change from our database to read and follow in such a situation.

Our Essays Inspire and Provoke Thinking

Reading piles of books can overload your mind and mess up your ideas. Sometimes, you need a short but logical and informative paper to grasp concepts for perfect argumentative essay writing. However, reading our samples of climate change essays, you will be excited with certain and understandable content that provides inspiration and food for thinking.

Right Structure and Topic: Crucial Moments

When you write a climate change opinion essay, you may pay attention more to your ideas, scientific facts, and results of further development of climate change. But your teacher considers correspondence of topic to the content and proper structure. Therefore, in our templates of essays on climate change, our writers adhere to all academic writing requirements.

Moreover, on the list of topics, you may find the most interesting and develop your ideas using additional resources. Finally, remember catchy phrases that draw attention from the first sight, as our samples do.

Expert Writers Work Hard on Result

The team of professionals provides writing services to support beginners or guide amateurs. Each global climate change essay is unique and reveals all the issues of every subject and topic. There must be enough experience to write a highly-graded essay, and our authors, with good practice, may teach any willing student the subtleties of perfect writing.

Essays on Climate Change to Any Taste

Not all the students have time to write papers. Many of them have no desire to spend hours in front of the laptop screen. Few of them have enough writing experience. If you are one of those students who have not found a required sample to follow and are ready to pay for an excellent project, you are in the right place. We can cope with climate change college essays of any difficulty level. Be sure of on-time delivery and quality.

Your grades are our reputation!

• ♻️ Recycling
• Air Pollution
• Animal Rights
• Animal Testing
• Climate Change
• Deforestation
• Endangered Species
• Environmental Issues
• Global Warming