“I want you to act as if the house was on fire –
because it is”
Greta Thunberg, Davos, January, 2019
Global warming, the gradual heating of Earth's surface,
oceans and atmosphere, is caused by human activity, primarily the
burning of fossil fuels that pump carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and
other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Warmer temperatures over time are changing weather patterns and
disrupting the usual balance of nature. This poses many risks to
human beings and all other forms of life on Earth. Nearly all land
areas are seeing more hot days and heat waves; 2020 was one of the
hottest years on record. Higher temperatures increase heat-related
illnesses and can make it more difficult to work and move around.
Wildfires start more easily and spread more rapidly when conditions
are hotter. The effects of global warming are expected to be
far-reaching and, in many cases, devastating which are already
visible on the planet.
