Journal of Petroleum & Environmental Biotechnology

Global Warming vs. Climate Change

Helig E^* Managing Editor, Journal of Petroleum and Environmental Biotechnology, UK
^*Correspondence: Helig E, Managing Editor, Journal of Petroleum and Environmental Biotechnology, UK, Email:

Received: 20-May-2021 Published: 30-May-2021, DOI: 10.35248/2157-7463.21.12.425

Editorial

Global warming is the long-term heating of Earth's climate system observed since the pre-industrial period (between 1850 and 1900) due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth's atmosphere.

Global warming, the gradual heating of Earth's surface, oceans and atmosphere, is caused by human activity, primarily the burning of fossil fuels that pump carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Already, global warming is having a measurable effect on the planet.

Global warming is an aspect of climate change, referring to the long-term rise of the planet's temperatures. It is caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, mainly from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, and farming.

5 Causes of Global Warming

Greenhouse gases are the main reasons for global warming.

Cause #1: Variations in the Sun's Intensity.

Cause #2: Industrial Activity.

Cause #3: Agricultural Activity.

Cause #4: Deforestation.

Cause #5: Earth's Own Feedback Loop.

When carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other air pollutants accumulate in the atmosphere, they absorb sunlight and solar radiation that has bounced off the earth's surface, causing global warming. Normally, this radiation would escape into space, but these contaminants, which may persist in the atmosphere for years to centuries, trap the heat and cause the earth to warm.

To avert disastrous climate change, drastic reductions in emissions are required, as well as the widespread usage of alternatives to fossil fuels. The good news is that, as part of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, governments around the world have publicly pledged to reduce their emissions by setting new targets and developing new policies to meet or even exceed those levels. According to scientists, we need to cut global carbon emissions by up to 40% by 2030 to prevent the worst effects of climate change. In order for this to happen, the international community must take the following immediate and tangible steps: to decarbonize power generation by shifting fairly from fossil fuel-based production to renewable energy sources such as wind and solar; to electrify our automobiles.