Addressing Climate Change: A Least-Cost Strategy

Title

Addressing Climate Change: A Least-Cost Strategy

Authors

Roger W. Sant

Files

Description

Over the past two centuries, “greenhouse gases,” which trap heat in our atmosphere, have caused global temperatures to increase. The concentration of “greenhouse gases” is formed from deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels. “Greenhouse gases” are critical to life for they allow the planet to remain warm. In recent years these temperatures have risen above traditional levels, providing cause for concern. Eleven out of the past 12 years have been some of the warmest years ever recorded. Levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are 30 percent higher than they were during the Industrial Revolution. Polar ice caps are melting rapidly, at an average of 9 percent per decade; arctic thickness has decreased 40 percent in the past 40 years. Furthermore, the number of category 4 and category 5 hurricanes has multiplied dramatically over the past three decades. Such rapid developments have allowed scientists to be very confident that global temperature rises are caused in large measure by human industrial activity. It is clear that the growing climate changes are negatively impacting the world community and it is necessary for us to take immediate steps to prevent further harm to future generations.

Publication Date

3-22-2007

Keywords

climate change, greenhouse gases, Industrial Revolution, atmospheric carbon dioxide

Disciplines

Environmental Sciences

Addressing Climate Change: A Least-Cost Strategy
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