Welcome to the Global Warming main page, where you'll find general information about and links to one of the most crucial issues of our time.  From here you can navigate to more detailed information in our subcategories, listed below and in the left hand column.

     Since the beginning of the Industrial Age in the mid-18^th century, the composition of the earth’s atmosphere has changed dramatically.  These changes include an increase in greenhouses gases – heat-trapping gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂) – largely due to the combustion of oil, coal and natural gas, as well as other industrial emissions.

     Most scientists agree that the effect on our climate system will be a general warming at the earth’s surface, accompanied by unpredictable regional changes in precipitation, cloud distribution, ocean currents, air circulation patterns and weather extremes (floods, droughts, heat waves, cold snaps and storms).  Global average surface temperatures have increased by .7 °C over the last century, but at a much more rapid rate in the last 30 years.  In fact, the prestigious American Geophysical Union released a position statement on global warming, asserting that:

• “Natural influences cannot explain the rapid increase in global near-surface temperatures observed during the second half of the 20th century"

• “A particular concern is that atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide may be rising faster than at any time in Earth's history”

• “It is virtually certain that increasing atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases will cause global surface climate to be warmer”

     Slowing or stopping the build-up of greenhouse gases will require major shifts in our current energy technologies, energy use and land use practices.  For example, we will need to look to renewable energy to significantly reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.  We will also need to improve the fuel efficiency of our power plants, appliances and cars.  Finally, we will need to restore and preserve "carbon sinks", like CO₂-absorbing forests. 

Greenhouse Gases

The major greenhouse gases; their current and predicted concentrations

Climate Changes

How and where has the weather already changed? 

Impacts

How and where will people, plants, animals and physical systems be affected by temperature increases?

Policy Solutions

Updating our energy policy, transportation patterns and lifestyles to combat global warming in the 21st Century

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The IPCC is a United Nations team of hundreds of international climate scientists.  Every 5 years or so, they generate summary reports on global warming science, impacts and policy solutions.

Union of Concerned Scientists

Global warming program

Natural Resources Defense Council

Global warming page

Pew Center on Global Climate Change

Information about and solutions to global warming

National Climatic Data Center

Frequently Asked Questions about Global Warming

EPA Global Warming Hub

Simple, accessible guide to global warming

National Academies of Sciences

Global change at the National Academies

U.S. Global Change Research Program

The latest news on global change research

EPA Global Warming Kids Page

A super resource for kids - easy definitions, photos, games and more.