The atmosphere which surrounds our planet is a thin layer of mixed gases which make up the air we breathe. These gases, which are also called greenhouse gases, are essential for life to survive on Earth. They help trap the heat from the sun, keeping us warm, kind of like a blanket. Without this blanket life would be very different, the planet would be about 30c cooler and most of the world¹s water would be frozen solid.
But now that blanket is getting thicker and the planet is getting warmer. More greenhouse gases are being produced and these gases are trapping more heat. This is called global warming and this is what makes the climate change.
But how can this be happening?
It may seem a bit crazy and hard to believe but there is now strong scientific evidence to suggest that human activity is the main reason for why climate change is occurring faster than ever before.
One of the main greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide and over the last 100 years the amount of this gas in the atmosphere has been steadily increasing. Carbon dioxide is created by each and everyone of us, everyday.
Most of the increase has occurred because of these two activities:
Burning fossil fuels
Cutting down trees |
