Greenhouse Effect & Climate Change

What is the Greenhouse Effect?
When people use coal to make electricity or burn petrol to power our cars high levels of greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. The main greenhouse gases are water-vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. These greenhouse gases blanket the Earth and trap in the heat of the sun, warming the planet. The increase in CO2 in the atmosphere is called the Greenhouse Effect and is linked to observed climate change.

Climate Change
The world is currently reported to be experiencing enhanced climate change due to this increase in greenhouse gases. These findings are supported by the world's best climate scientists, including Australia's own CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology.

The warming effect is causing our weather patterns to change and increasing the incidents of extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. Less reliable rainfall and more extreme storms are predicted.

Scenarios devised by climate scientists show that we need to reduce our greenhouse emissions significantly if we are to avoid further predicted climate change.

Impacts of Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released a new report that assesses the current and future impacts of global warming.

The report outines the major impacts that global warming is having and is predicted to have on: fresh water resources, eco systems, food, fibre and forest products, coastal systems and low lying areas, industry settlement and society and health.

It also outlines the major impacts on the different regions of the world including Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, Latin America, North America and the polar regions.

To find out more about the impacts of climate change visit http://www.ipcc.ch/

The Australian Science Media Centre has summarised the findings for Australia. To download a number of useful factsheets visit:

http://www.aussmc.org/IPCCWG2.php