Want to know what global warming looks like? Open your window. At least, that is the conclusion of a growing number of scientists, whose years of work researching and modeling global climate trends is proving true in the weather events we are seeing everyday. And if they are correct, then this is only the beginning.

What is global warming?
Global warming, sometimes also referred to as climate change, is a term that describes the "greenhouse" effect. Put simply, heat from the sun enters the Earth's atmosphere, warming the planet's surface. Under normal conditions, some of this heat is reflected and escapes back into space. Certain gases, like carbon dioxide, trap some of this heat in the atmosphere, raising the earth's temperature. Since the industrial revolution, emissions of carbon dioxide and other "greenhouse gases" have been increasing due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. As a result, more heat has been trapped causing the earth's surface to warm.

What Are the Indicators and Effects of Global Warming?

Temperature Change
The 10 hottest years on record have been since 1980 and the hottest year ever recorded was 1998. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations sponsored panel of over 1500 of the world's leading climate scientists, predicts that the average global temperature will rise to 2.5 to 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit above 1990 levels by 2100. Regional temperatures will vary substantially, with pronounced warming in some areas and cooling in others. However, even at the low end of the IPCC projections, the average rate of warming would be greater than ever seen during the last 10,000 years, and a few degrees can make a huge difference. The Earth is only 5 to 9 degrees warmer now than it was during the last ice age.

Sea Level Rise
Sea level has risen 4-6 inches during the past 100 years. Expansion of the oceans and melting glaciers and ice sheets are causing sea level rise around the globe. The IPCC projects that the global average sea level will rise 3.5 inches to 3 feet by 2100. The middle estimate, a 19-inch rise in sea level, would put 92 million people at risk of flooding and result in significant land loss.

Extreme Weather
Warmer temperatures cause a more vigorous hydrologic cycle, and because polar regions are warming faster than tropical regions, normal weather patterns will be severely disrupted. This means stronger precipitation and increased flooding in some regions, and more severe droughts in others. Scientists believe that climate change will impact the frequency and severity of hurricanes, tropical storms, and heat waves. A heat wave in Europe in the summer of 2003 claimed 15,000 lives in France. Precipitation patterns and growing seasons that farmers have depended on since the dawn of the agricultural era will change, endangering our food supplies. In 1999, the U.S. experienced one of the most extreme droughts ever recorded; that same year, the Pacific Northwest experienced its second wettest year on record.S

Lowered Human Health
According to the IPCC, "Climate change is likely to have wide-ranging and mostly adverse impacts on human health with significant loss of human life." Health effects include illnesses and deaths due to projected increases in the intensity and duration of heat waves, as well as increases in breakouts of infectious diseases like malaria, dengue, yellow fever, and encephalitis. Recently, cases of West Nile Virus, a tropical disease, have spread as far north in the U.S. as Boston.

Loss of Ecosystems
The IPCC reports that entire forest types may disappear and that boreal (northern) forests are likely to experience large-scale losses of living trees. Many coastal ecosystems are also at risk, including saltwater marshes, mangroves, wetlands, and coral reefs.

Species Extinction
Rapid climate change threatens biodiversity. Warming shifts current climate zones toward the poles and upward in elevation and species that cannot adapt or move quickly enough can become extinct. A January 2004 study predicts that global warming will drive 15-37% of species to extinction by 2050. The midrange estimate of 24% is 1.25 million species.

What's causing global warming?
The primary cause of global warming is the release of "greenhouse gases", primarily carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels, and the destruction of forest ecosystems, thus reducing the earth's ability to absorb these gases back into the ecosystem.

More than half of the carbon dioxide pollution in the United States, one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, comes from power plants and cars. Though cleaner and more efficient technologies are readily available electric utility and auto industries continue to rely on dirty technologies that produce the lion's share of U.S. global warming gases. Legal loopholes in U.S. environmental and public health laws continue to allow the use of these outdated, polluting technologies.

Power plants are the biggest culprits, producing approximately 33% of U.S. carbon dioxide pollution, in part because there are no limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and there is a loophole in the Clean Air Act, which allows old dirty power plants to violate modern pollution standards.

The second largest source is cars and light trucks, which produce another 20% of U.S. carbon dioxide pollution. A loophole in fuel efficiency standards allows automakers to produce light trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), and minivans that cause more air pollution and get 25% fewer miles per gallon than cars.

Who's to blame?
Global warming is a global problem. While no one nation is solely to blame, the United States is by far the biggest culprit. With 4% of the world's population, the United States emits 25% of the world's greenhouse gases. According to the UNDP, in 1999, the United States put 19.7 metric tons (or 43,000 pounds) of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere for each American resident. That same year, China emitted 2.3 metric tons of carbon dioxide per person, and Bangladesh emitted 0.2 metric tons per person. Even when compared to industrialized nations with an equivalent standard of living, the U.S. rates poorly in controlling greenhouse gas emissions. Americans emit twice as much carbon dioxide per capita as Japan and Germany, three times as much as France and Spain and almost four times as much as Sweden. This shows that by simply improving our own energy efficiency, we could cut U.S. emissions levels significantly.

While global warming is truly a global crisis, it is almost exclusively the industrialized, highly developed nations that are causing the problem. However, it is important to note that it must be dealt with on a global scale. In addition to reducing the emissions of developed nations, we must work with developing nations to learn from our own mistakes and not repeat them. Nothing will be accomplished if we reduce or eliminate U.S. carbon dioxide emissions while China and other developing countries increase their own.

So why isn't something being done?
The scientific certainty that global warming is real is overwhelming. In 1995, the IPCC released a report signed by over 2,500 scientists from over 100 countries stating that the "balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate." Scientific debate has shifted from whether global warming is real to when it will happen and how bad it will be.

Unfortunately, there are a handful of individuals who continue to question the scientific basis for global warming. These "greenhouse skeptics" continue to assert that the evidence for human impact on global climate is scant or nonexistent. They further argue that even if there was such a thing, that it would be beneficial to humanity, creating longer growing seasons and higher agricultural productivity. Their theory is that more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would increase the rate of plant growth, despite evidence to the contrary. These individuals contend that no action should be taken until there is "scientific certainty" about the nature and degree of global warming, despite the fact that by then it may be too late.

Even though these skeptics are in the minority of the scientific community, they have been able to dominate the public and political debate over global warming. This is largely due to the fact that they are extremely vocal in their dissent, and their research is supported by special interest groups that have a stake in delaying action to stop global warming. These groups, primarily the oil, automobile, and mining industries and their associations, have the financial ability to shape what the media reports about global warming (and by extension what the public believes) and to increase their access to political decisions makers who could take steps to avert the coming crisis.
These industry groups have worked for years to stall environmental protections that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avert the coming crisis. The loopholes in U.S. legislation that allow the continued use of outdated power plants and low fuel efficiency in light trucks and cars are there through the diligent efforts of these industries.

As daunting as the problem may seem, the solutions are out there, and they are within our reach.

We must reduce carbon dioxide emissions from cars.
More carbon dioxide comes from America's cars and trucks than the entire nation of Japan, accounting for 20% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. If we are to make any progress in slowing global warming, we must make our cars go farther on a gallon of gas, and transition to cleaner car technologies.

By using today's best technology, carmakers could dramatically increase the fuel economy of cars and trucks. The 2004 Toyota Prius gets an estimated 55 miles per gallon of gasoline. It also produces 89% lower emissions than the average new car.

By putting more resources into developing cleaner car technologies as well, we will be able to continue to shift to types of transportation that are not dependent on fossil fuels for energy. These technologies include electric, solar, hydrogen, and fuel cell cars, all of which are either already available or soon will be. Continued support of research will speed these cars to market and make them more affordable.

Improved mass transit in many cities can also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions, by reducing the number of cars on the road and the number of miles people drive.

We must decrease energy consumption by increasing energy efficiency.
Many industrialized nations maintain similar standards of living to the U.S. while consuming far less energy, mainly through better efficiency standards. By reducing the energy consumption of common appliances, such as washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, and lights, we can achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions while saving money. Industry can also reduce energy consumption through practices such as cogeneration.

We must clean up our electrical power plants and increase the use of renewable energy.
Most electric utilities continue to use coal to produce electricity, spewing millions of tons of carbon dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere every year. Converting those plants to cleaner burning natural gas could solve part of the problem.

In the end, we must transition away from the use of fossil fuels and harness the clean, abundant energy of the sun and wind. Technological advances have brought the cost of electricity generated by wind down by 85% since 1981. Solar energy technology has made remarkable progress, as new photovoltaic cells have been developed to convert ever-greater amounts of sunlight directly into electricity. Today, the cost of wind and solar power are approaching that of dirty coal-fired plants, and with increased demand those costs will continue to decrease.

Greening Your Campus
Universities and colleges are virtually small towns within themselves and consume large amounts of energy. You can work to curb the impacts of global warming by getting your school to adopt a policy to improve energy efficiency and utilize energy from clean, renewable resources. Students have already succeeded in instituting various "green" programs ranging from switching to more energy efficient light bulbs, weatherizing and remodeling buildings, improving campus mass transit systems, and installing solar panels or switching to wind power.

For example, students at University of Colorado-Boulder passed a student referendum to increase student fees by $1 per semester to purchase wind power for the university. The fee generates enough money to purchase 2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, the largest purchase of wind power in the country.

Check out the Sustainable Energy Campaign Guide for more information about greening your campus.

Drive Ford Green
American cars and trucks are one of the biggest sources of global warming pollution, accounting for 20% of global warming emissions nationwide and 5% worldwide. For every gallon of gasoline a vehicle burns, it puts 20 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Ford Motor Company is a leader in the American auto industry, but unfortunately, it isn't leading the way to curbing global warming. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average fuel economy of Ford's Model Year 2004 fleet is 18.8 miles per gallon. This is lower than that of the 1923 Model T Ford, which got up to 25 miles per gallon. It is also the lowest overall fuel economy in the American auto industry, the place they've held since 1999.

For years, some companies, such as Toyota and Honda, have taken advantage of the conventional and hybrid technologies available to make their cars more efficient. These technologies allow companies to make passenger vehicles that get 33 to 47 miles per gallon at an affordable price. Imagine - if the American auto industry made a few key changes in the way that its vehicles are manufactured by 2015, the emission of global warming pollution from cars and trucks would be reduced by 106 million metric tons per year, about twice the amount that Switzerland currently emits. Simultaneously, the new technology would pay for itself, saving consumers a net $23 billion in 2015 alone.

As a leader in the auto industry, Ford has the power to influence the industry by putting the environment and public safety before shortoterm profit. Ford must utilize currently available technology to raise the average fuel economy of its cars and trucks to 40 miles per gallon by 2015. Ford must also stop lobbying against the increase of federal fuel economy standards. Students are holding events at Ford dealerships and local auto shows, writing letters and making calls to Bill Ford, Jr., and getting Ford's gas guzzling in the media. Check out the Drive Ford Green Action Guide for more information about the campaign and how to work on it.

To get involved with the campaign, please contact Michael Leppelmeier, Drive Ford Green Campaign Coordinator at michael@freetheplanet.org or 202o547o3656.

We'll also be pressuring Ford to increase the fuel economy of its vehicles at test drives of its new Escape Hybrid. Ford released a hybrid version of its Escape SUV in August in response to pressure from Free The Planet! and other groups to increase the fuel economy of its vehicles. Unfortunately, Ford is only manufacturing 20,000 Escape Hybrids this model year, which means they will account for .05% of its fleet and will raise its average fuel economy from 18.8 miles per gallon to 18.84 MPG. Now Ford is holding a series of test drives across the country called the Escape Hybrid Experience Tour. We'll be showing up at these events to pressure Ford to escape all gas guzzlers and use the technology available today to raise its fuel economy to 40 MPG by 2015. Event locations and dates are listed below. For more details or to sign up to attend an event, please contact Michael Leppelmeier, Drive Ford Green Campaign Coordinator at michael@freetheplanet.org or 202o547o3656.

Detroit - September 26
Boston - October 2
Washington, DC - October 9
San Francisco - October 16
Los Angeles - October 23
Chicago - October 30
New York - November 7
Orlando - November 13
Austin- November 20

Check out the Drive Ford Green Action Guide for information about the campaign and how to work on it.

Take Action Now

Send an email to President Bush urging him to track and regulate greenhouse gas emission and address global warming.

Climate Campaign - Coalition of student environmental networks working to help the Colleges and Univertisies in the Northeast become leaders in the fight against global warming.

ClimateHotMap.org - Detailed map of the local effects of global warming around the globe. Has details by continent, photos, and great information on the early warning signs of global warming.

IPCC - The website for the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.