Do you believe in global warming? What is your idea? How do you feel about it? Do you support it or are you against it? Is it affecting you? Who do you think is the cause, or responsible for it? Do you know some ways to stop it?

A good percentage of humans think global warming is a hoax. But is it really?

The definition of global warming is: “a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth’s atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and other pollutants.”

The definition of carbon dioxide is: “a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning carbon and organic compounds and by respiration. It is naturally present in the air (about 0.03 percent) and is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis.”

Chlorofluorocarbon is a fuller form of CFC; CFC is a class of compounds of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine, and fluorine, gases typically used in refrigerants and aerosol propellants. They are harmful to the ozone layer in the earth’s atmosphere, owing to the release of chlorine atoms on exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Hopefully, we all know what pollution is, but just in case some of us do not, the definition for pollution is: “the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects.”

The questions asked at the beginning of this article are the same ones I asked some people I know, as well as asking Google. One of the people I asked is Elizabeth Boggs. Elizabeth says she doesn’t really know what global warming is, so she isn’t too interested in it. After I explained to her what it is and her doing some research about it, Elizabeth believes in global warming. One way Elizabeth thinks we can help reduce the situation is to treat the world better by not littering so you can save the turtles. “Because if we weren’t littering, the animals would be okay.” Since turtles are getting hurt, Elizabeth is completely against global warming and thinks that people are the main cause of this problem.

The internet states that some Americans want to restrict carbon emissions from coal power plants. The White House and Congress may do the opposite. Majorities in most surveyed countries say global warming is a major threat to their nation. Greece expresses high levels of concern, with 90% labeling it a major threat. America is less likely to be concerned, with only 59% seeing it as a serious threat. Russia with 43%, Nigeria with 41% and Israel with 38%. Those three are least likely to say global warming a major threat to their nations. 

Seven ways to help reduce global warming are: replace light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones (saves 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year), drive less, recycle more, check your tires (keeping them inflated can improve your gas mileage by 3%), use less hot water (it takes a lot of energy to heat water), avoid products with a lot of packaging (this can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you reduce your garbage by 10%), and you can plant a tree.

Another two causes of global warming are people and cows. Cows release an average of 70 to 120kg of Methane per year; Methane is a potent greenhouse gas. 

Global warming has caused rising sea levels due to thermal expansion and melting of glaciers and ice sheets, and warming of the ocean surface, leading to increased temperature stratification. They also caused the California fires.

After reading the information provided, do you believe in global warming? What is your idea? How do you feel about it? Do you support it or are you against it? Is it affecting you? Who do you think is the cause, or responsible, for it? Do you know some ways to stop it?