Climate Change FAQ

The document explains that human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, have increased average global temperatures by approximately one degree Celsius since 1880. It details the resulting impacts, including rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and more severe extreme weather events. The text outlines strategies for mitigation and adaptation, discusses the role of renewable energy and energy efficiency, and describes the efforts of the United States, corporations, and the United Nations to address the crisis.

• Global average temperatures have risen by about one degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) since 1880, and are projected to increase by an additional 0.3 to 0.7 degrees Celsius (0.54–1.26 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2035.
• Human-caused global warming is increasing the severity and frequency of extreme weather; in the United States, the number of billion-dollar disasters rose from 2.9 events per year in the 1980s to 11.9 events per year in the 2010s.
• Sea levels are rising due to thermal expansion and the melting of glaciers and ice sheets in Greenland, the Antarctic, and mountain glaciers. Projections for 2100 range from a one-foot rise under low-emissions scenarios to more than eight feet under high-emissions scenarios.
• The ocean's pH value has decreased by 0.1 units, representing a roughly 30 percent increase in acidity, which can dissolve shellfish shells and stunt their formation.
• Livestock and manure are significant contributors to climate change, accounting for 38 percent of total U.S. methane emissions, while agriculture as a whole represents 10 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
• The United States' power sector emissions are at their lowest point since 1987 due to a transition from coal to natural gas and renewables, making the transportation sector the largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions at 28 percent in 2018.
• International efforts to combat climate change are coordinated through the UNFCCC and the IPCC, with the Paris Agreement aiming to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.
• Climate finance involves public and private investment in emissions reduction and resilience, utilizing mechanisms such as green banks, loans, and on-bill financing to support clean energy upgrades.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2021). Climate Change FAQ. https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Climate_Change_FAQ_2021.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Climate Change FAQ. 2021. https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Climate_Change_FAQ_2021.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Climate Change FAQ |date=February 2021 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Climate_Change_FAQ_2021.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2021climate, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Climate Change FAQ}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2021}, month = feb, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Climate_Change_FAQ_2021.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }