Carbon Offset

Are Humans Causing Global Global warming?

The average temperature of our planet is rising. It has risen by 0.8 degrees in the last 200 years, essentially since the beginning of the industrial revolution. The effects of global warming are already underway. We have seen an accelerated melting of ice flows and a dramatic reduction in Greenlands' ice mass, losing 250 cubic kilometres of water each year.  All this melt water adds up to higher sea levels which are rising at about 3mm per year. Many Pacific islands will disappear and cities like London and New York are threatened by rising tides. Many scientists believe that a rise from .8 to 2 degrees, may be a tipping point which could trigger an irreversible further rise by up to 6 degrees.

Greenhouse Gasses

The cause of this rise is attributed to an increased level of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere. The gasses cause our atmosphere to absorb heat energy from the sun, but limit the amount of energy that escapes thus causing the same effect as a greenhouse - it heats up. Together with Methane and other gasses,  an over abundance of Carbon Dioxide is one of the biggest problems. Humans generate millions of tonnes of Carbon Dioxide every day. Some of the biggest pollutants are household cars and coal fired power stations. Visit our earth clock page for a visual display of our planets vital statistics.

Climate change

So, what happens to our climate when we reach 1 degree? We will find desserts developing in the High Plains of the United States and Mount Kilimanjaro will lose all its ice. The Gulf stream could switch off, which will plunge Europe into an icy climate similar to Canada. Scotlands' climate may resemble that of Alaska. Many species of animals and plants will be wiped out. Coral reefs will suffer as the carbon dioxide dissolved into the sea will increase its acidity to intolerable levels. The Great Barrier Reef could be largely destroyed by 2030

Two Degrees Warmer

A change of 2 degrees will have even more disastrous results. We could see creatures disappearing forever on a grand scale, including Polar Bears, Walruses and other ice- dependant mammals. A third of all species across the planet could be threatened with extinction.

A change of over 3 degrees would have a serious impact on water supplies and millions of people will be made homeless as their land becomes uninhabitable. This prospect is not very appealing and one that could be avoided if we move fast. It is essential that the carbon levels in the atmosphere are reduced. Reforestation projects are the natural way to reset the balance. Thousands of acres need to be planted to offset the huge volume of carbon dioxide we produce. You can make a difference today by sponsoring a reforestation program with us.