Climate Change FAQ

The document explains that global warming, driven primarily by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and agriculture, has increased average global temperatures by approximately 1 degree Celsius since 1880. It details the resulting impacts, including more frequent extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and ocean acidification. The text outlines various responses, such as the transition to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the roles of the United Nations and the U.S. government in international agreements like the Paris Agreement. It also defines key concepts such as climate adaptation, mitigation, and resilience, and discusses the role of climate finance in supporting these efforts.

• Global average temperatures have risen by about one degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) since 1880, with projections suggesting a further increase of 0.3 to 0.7 degrees Celsius (0.541.26 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2035.
• Human activities, specifically the burning of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil), deforestation, and livestock raising, are the primary drivers of current global warming.
• In the United States, the frequency and cost of billion-dollar disasters have increased significantly; from 1980 to 2024, there were 403 such events totaling $2,918.1 billion in costs.
• Global sea levels have risen by eight to nine inches since 1880 due to thermal expansion and the melting of glaciers and ice sheets in regions such as Greenland and the Antarctic.
• Ocean acidification, caused by the absorption of 25 to 30 percent of carbon dioxide emissions, has resulted in a 0.1 pH unit decrease, representing a roughly 30 percent increase in acidity.
• U.S. livestock and manure emissions account for 38 percent of the country's total methane emissions, while agriculture as a whole is responsible for 10 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
• The United States has a complex history with the Paris Agreement, having signed it in 2016, withdrawn in 2020, rejoined in 2021, and withdrawn again via executive order in January 2025.
• Renewable energy currently provides 21 percent of the electricity generated in the United States.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2025). Climate Change FAQ. https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Climate_Change_FAQ_2025_2.0.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Climate Change FAQ. 2025. https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Climate_Change_FAQ_2025_2.0.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Climate Change FAQ |date=July 2025 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Climate_Change_FAQ_2025_2.0.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2025climate, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Climate Change FAQ}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/FactSheet_Climate_Change_FAQ_2025_2.0.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }