You may have noticed that the weather where you live is getting warmer and wilder over time, and you may know this is a part of climate change. But after that, you’re a little unclear on the details.
If you’re feeling guilty about not knowing everything there is to know, let’s get real. Sometimes the news about climate change seems overwhelming. Learning more about a problem that’s threatening nature, homes, and lives around the world can cause serious anxiety. And isn’t this problem too big for us to do anything about anyway?
Learning more can actually be the first step out of anxiety. It’s a powerful tool for inspiring action and change. Here’s a simple breakdown of the science and some ways you can start to take action.
Greenhouse gas
Do you know what would happen if the Earth’s atmosphere had no greenhouse gases? The planet would be too cold to support life as we know it.
Greenhouse gases act like the walls of a greenhouse. They let the sun’s heat pass through them, but then stop some of this heat from escaping back into space.
Here’s the problem. Humans started adding more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere during the Industrial Revolution, which lasted from around 1760 to 1890. This was a time when many countries around the world shifted from farming to machine manufacturing. Human actions have released three greenhouse gases in large amounts since the mid-1800s.
Methane is released through activities like farming cattle and producing oil and gas. Nitrous oxide is released from chemical fertilizers and by burning fossil fuels for energy. And carbon dioxide is released by burning fossil fuels for energy and cutting down forests. Carbon dioxide accounts for most of the greenhouse gas that humans release. Learn more about fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gas) by reading Do fossil fuels cause climate change?
More greenhouse gas means more heat
All this extra greenhouse gas is trapping more and more heat in the atmosphere. It’s causing global warming, where average global temperatures rise over time.
Some of the world’s leading climate scientists and organizations have graphed the temperatures rising since 1850. Average temperatures are now about 1.1 °C higher than they were before the Industrial Revolution. And Canada is warming even faster. As it loses snow and sea ice, it’s warming twice as fast as the rest of the world.
Global warming leads to long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns, also called climate change.
What does climate change look like?
Yes, 1.1 °C might seem like a small number. But we can already see the impacts in Canada and around the world, particularly on the most vulnerable communities, who have contributed the least to the problem.
How many of these impacts can you already see in the place where you live?
- Extreme weather Global warming is causing more heat waves. And when the weather is hotter and drier, wildfires start more easily and spread more rapidly. Warmer temperatures also cause more moisture from the water to evaporate into the air. This brings more frequent and intense rainfall and hurricanes.
- Disappearing wildlife One million species are at risk of extinction over the next few decades. Climate change is one of the main reasons. For example, extreme weather can change the places where wildlife lives. Wildfires in many parts of Canada destroy the habitat that species need to survive.
- Ocean acidification The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide. Now that it has more to absorb, it’s becoming more acidic. The acid makes it harder for marine life and coral reefs to grow strong shells and skeletons. The ocean surrounding Canada has become more acidic over the past century, with the fastest change in the Arctic Ocean.
- Sea-level rise As warmer temperatures melt ice sheets and glaciers, sea levels are rising. Warmer temperatures also heat the oceans, causing the water to expand. Sea levels have risen by more than 10 cm over the last decade, and 410 million people could be at risk from the rising sea by 2100. Wind and high tides are already causing more flooding in coastal communities in Canada because of the rising waters. Sea levels may rise as much as 175 cm in parts of Canada by 2100 if humans keep releasing so much greenhouse gas.
Roadmap to a cleaner and greener future
Canada and almost 200 other countries signed a historic agreement in Paris in 2015. They pledged to try to limit global warming to 1.5 °C. This will help the planet avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has explained how we can reach this goal. We must cut the greenhouse gas we release almost in half by 2030 and as close to zero as possible by 2050.
But in a 2023 report, the IPCC warned that while 1.5 °C is still within reach, the window is closing fast. We must act quickly.
What can you do about climate change?
You can help keep some greenhouse gas out of the air by taking fewer flights, using less energy, and eating less red meat. The David Suzuki Foundation has more tips about how individuals can make a difference with Four Ways to Cut Your Carbon Emissions.
Individual lifestyle changes are a start, but we must do more to solve the crisis. Most of our greenhouse gas pollution comes from the bigger systems in which we live and work.
Individuals working together can make a difference and change these bigger systems. Together, we can pressure governments, corporations, and others to make changes that we can’t make ourselves. It will be up to them to limit greenhouse gases from different industries and boost renewable energy (like solar, wind, and hydro) at the speed we need.
You can build a movement for change with people around you. Start conversations about why climate change matters and what people can do about it. Brainstorm ideas for change at work and school. And join peaceful movements that push for bold climate action at all levels of government.
