Much of the current scientific research on climate change points conclusively to the fact that global warming occurring today is primarily due to human activities. This has been demonstrated through numerous studies over the years, providing general consensus amongst the scientific community on this issue. While some may hold the opinion that global warming is a natural phenomenon or may be due to other external factors, the overall evidence firmly indicates that human actions are largely responsible for the increases in carbon dioxide, which is the primary cause of global warming.
One of the more prominent indicators of human-caused climate change is the rise in global temperatures that began with the Industrial Revolution. Carbon dioxide, which is released by industrial activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, is a major greenhouse gas, meaning it traps some of the heat that is radiated back from the Earth’s surface. As the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased significantly over the past century, due to human activity, so has the resulting temperatures. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has reported that the average global temperature has risen by just over one degree Celsius since pre-industrial levels, and is continuing to rise.
Furthermore, another key element of climate change science is the fact that increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is leading to an acidifying of the oceans. As carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, much of it is absorbed into the ocean. The resultant changes in the acidity of the ocean water are already having negative impacts on various marine species. This is evidenced by coral bleaching events that have been photographed around the world in recent years.
In order to confirm the predictions made by climate science, researchers have also looked to compare the rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide with the amount of carbon dioxide generated by human activities. Atmospheric carbon dioxide sampled in various locations around the world consistently reflect concentrations that match the levels that would be expected by known human sources such as burning fossil fuels. This provides strong evidence to suggest that human activities are major contributors to climate change.
One of the most significant studies of climate change was conducted by NASA in 2017. This study found that 97 percent of actively publishing climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activity. This landmark study is one of the most compelling pieces of evidence for the human influence on global warming.
Ultimately, it is relatively safe to conclude that global warming is real, and is predominantly a result of human actions. As governments and individuals begin to take more proactive steps to address climate change, further research may continue to shine light on climate change and its effects. However, it is clear that more coordinated efforts are needed to mitigate the effects of global warming and to address the sources of human emissions that are causing it.
