Does the "Greenhouse Effect" impact climate change?

: Waimea Falls. (Photographed by Suzanne Westerly)

The combustion of fossil fuels for activities like transportation and electricity generation has lead to unnaturally elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide, as well as other greenhouse gases (methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons and sulfate aerosols), persists in the atmosphere, trapping warm air that would otherwise have dispersed beyond the earth's atmosphere into space.

Human activities have led to atmospheric concentrations of these greenhouse gases to significantly rise above pre-industrial levels and increase the Greenhouse Effect beyond its natural equilibrium. Carbon dioxide levels alone have increased from 280 ppm in 1750 to about 380 ppm today (higher than any previous levels over the last 650,000 years).

Climate change means that weather events such as extreme droughts and storm events will most probably happen more often. As the occurrence of these events increase in frequency, the negative ecological, social and economic impacts will also likely be higher. Therefore, you and your business will be impacted both directly and indirectly as this global dilemma worsens.

Everyone is capable of participating in the decrease of these activities that lead to higher levels of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases in general. We can all help minimize the negative effects by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere.

There is widespread consensus that the cost of fighting human-induced climate change immediately is a far better alternative to waiting and paying for the costs of adaptation down the road. This is significant for countries like the U.S. who is presently the largest contributing country to greenhouse gas emissions.

For those looking more information relating to climate change, feel free to peruse the following suggested websites:

: The above graph from www.globalwarmingart.com shows the variations in concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere during the last 400 thousand years as measured from ice cores.