Science of global warming and climate change
There is overwhelming scientific evidence that the greenhouse gas emissions released by human activities since industrialization have caused the world, including Australia, to warm. There have also been many other observed changes in climate conditions and ecosystems (like ocean acidification).
While the world has warmed and cooled in the past, this has occurred over tens of thousands of years. The warming we are experiencing now has been occurring over 100-200 years. Many of our wildlife and habitats cannot adapt to such a rapid change.
Not only is there extensive evidence but the overwhelming majority of scientists agree with the evidence. A Survey of over 3,000 Earth scientist found that 97.5% of those who specialise and publish in climate science agreed that human activity is causing global warming1. This sentiment is supported by the Academies of Science from 19 countries, and 27 pre-eminent scientific research centers in the US, Australia and Europe2.
The following pages outline the science behind global warming and its causes.
Scientific evidence of global warming
There is overwhelming scientific evidence that global warming is happening and that it is caused by humans. Please refer to the information below, issued by the Australian Government and major international scientists and scientific institutions. WWF advice on answering climate change sceptics is also provided.
- Australian Government: Science – facts and fiction
- The Copenhagen diagnosis: updating the world on the latest climate science
- NASA
- Bureau of Meteorology Annual Climate Change Statements
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
- CSIRO – understanding climate change
- How to answer the claims of a climate change sceptic
External Links
Australia’s greenhouse gases
Australians are the highest greenhouse gas polluters, per-person, among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) populations.
Australians are the highest greenhouse gas polluters, per-person, among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) populations.
1. http://tigger.uic.edu/~pdoran/012009_Doran_final.pdf. Similar results were also found in another independent study in 2010, http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2010/06/04/1003187107.abstract
2. http://www.skepticalscience.com/global-warming-scientific-consensus-intermediate.htm
2. http://www.skepticalscience.com/global-warming-scientific-consensus-intermediate.htm
