Climate Science   The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that allows the earth to be a livable planet. Carbon dioxide and other gases trap a portion of the heat coming from the sun in the atmosphere thereby warming the earth. The problem is that since the industrial revolution in the mid 1700s humans have burned an excessive amount of fossil fuels. By over consuming electricity from coal-fueled power plants and gasoline in our cars we have increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which, in turn, has led to global warming (the increase in average temperature of the earth’s near surface air and oceans). Science tells us that in order to limit the increase in the earth’s temperature the United States must reduce carbon emissions 15-20% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. More Information http://www.maui.net/~jstark/gwfig1.gif http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science/global-warming-faq.html More from the NCC Climate Change Home Eco-Justice Home Page Resources