Understanding Climate Change

(This article first appeared in the November-December 2016 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)

Climate change is defined as “Any significant long-term change in the expected patterns of average weather of a region (or the whole Earth) over a significant period of time. These changes may take tens, hundreds or perhaps millions of years. These changes can be caused by processes inside the Earth, forces from outside (e.g. variations in sunlight intensity) or, more recently, human activities.”

Climate change occurs when heat-trapping gases known as greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and water vapor, trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and warm the planet. Without them the temperature on Earth would be too cold to support life. With too many, it would heat up beyond survivable levels.

What Causes Climate Changes?

Scientists believe that climate changes are mainly caused by carbon emissions from coal, oil, natural gas, agriculture, and man-made emissions. Many agree that the world is one degree Celsius warmer than it was in pre-industrial times and warn that we must limit temperature increases. Trees store carbon dioxide as they grow; burning forests release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere contributing to climate change. Carbon dioxide is dispensed when using electricity to heat and cool a house, and when using transportation since burning one gallon of gasoline puts 19 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Impact of Climate Changes

According to scientists, the Earth’s ocean temperatures are getting warmer because people are adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, mainly by burning fossil fuels. They acknowledge that the Earth’s climate has changed before, but this time is different because people are causing the changes, which are happening faster than any previous climate changes. Scientists predict that the impact will be longer, hotter heat waves, heavier rainfall, more powerful hurricanes, melting glaciers, early snow melt, and severe droughts, causing more dramatic water shortages and an increased risk of wildfires in the American West. Rising sea levels will lead to coastal flooding, destroying agriculture and fisheries.

Slowing Down Climate Changes

In an effort to slow down climate changes, the Department of Transportation has proposed carbon pollution and fuel economy standards to cut emissions. Chemicals that contribute to climate change, such as the hydrofluorocarbons used in air conditioners, are being phased out of production nationwide. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) attempted to reduce carbon pollution from power plants through its Clean Power Plan, but earlier this year the Supreme Court issued a “stay” of the plan, barring the EPA from enforcing any of the rule’s requirements until lawsuits against it are fully resolved.

What Can Consumers Do?

Individuals can take action to reduce personal carbon emissions by: Buying new appliances with the government’s Energy Star label; purchasing cars with the highest gas mileage and lowest emissions; turning off lights when leaving a room; purchasing fluorescents or LED light bulbs; unplugging computers, TVs, and other electronics when not in use; washing clothes in cold or warm (not hot) water; line-drying clothes; installing a programmable thermostat; buying organic and locally grown foods (18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions come from meat and dairy production); planting trees, which absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere; recycling paper, plastic, metal and glass, and flying less and walking more or traveling by greener options, such as buses or trains.

Over 30 U.S. labor organizations have gone on record concerning climate changes, protecting the environment, and jobs, but to fully address the threat of climate changes, we must demand action and vote for representatives who will support and implement climate solutions. We encourage locals and state organizations to participate in coalitions in their areas that fight for environmental justice and address the effects of climate changes. 

Resources: Natural Resources Defense Council’s Global Warming 101; NASA’s Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet.