What is the big deal of global warming?

Answer 1

Global warming is resulting in rapid environmental change. Note: Earth's climate is always changing, and it will always continue to change. The problem with anthropogenic global warming concerns more the pace or rate of change, as well as its extent.

Ice core samples from the past 800,000 years show that atmospheric CO2 has varied from 250 to 280 ppm. Rapid natural swings amounted to changes of 10 parts per million across two thousand year time spans. But with the onset of the industrial revolution in 1700, CO2 rose 10 ppm in just two centuries. That is ten times faster than the normal rate of change.

From 1900 to 1950 CO2 rose another 10 ppm, topping 300 ppm for the first time in 20 million years or more. That change was 4 times faster than that of the preceding 200 years, 40 times faster than any preindustrial rate of change.

The environmental consequences of this change are expected to be dire, with more violent, energetic storms resulting in coastal flooding from rising sea levels. The economic damages are expected to be enormous. That makes global warming kind of a "big deal."

Answer 2

Global warming is a significant issue because it leads to a rise in Earth's average temperature, causing extreme weather events, melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and disruptions to ecosystems. This can have severe impacts on communities, economies, and the environment, including threats to food and water security, increased risks of natural disasters, and loss of biodiversity. Addressing global warming requires global cooperation and action to mitigate its effects and adapt to the changing climate.