10 Terrible Things That Are Causing Global Warming

The fact that the earth has been getting warmer over the past century is no longer in question, and it’s become apparent that we’re all to blame. As with any problem that requires global cooperation, it’s important to understand what exactly is causing global warming, and how we can all work together to prevent future problems like this from arising in the first place. Here are ten of the most common causes of global warming, and what you can do to avoid them if you’re so inclined.

10 Terrible Things That Are Causing Global Warming

It is estimated that the burning of fossil fuels causes as much as 71% of greenhouse gas emissions and it is the largest contributor to global warming. As more people are using fossil fuels, the need for them increases which in turn increases greenhouse gas emissions. This is a contributing factor to how global warming has been accelerated in recent years.

Deforestation

The rainforest is being cut down for land to grow crops and for grazing areas for cattle. Deforestation has led to the release of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, which traps heat and causes global warming. Trees are also burned to make way for farming or mining. This releases more carbon into the atmosphere that worsens climate change. 

The soil in these cleared lands is often left exposed and unprotected from erosion by wind and water, leading to landslides, mudflows, and flooding downstream.

Animal Agriculture

The meat and dairy industry are the number one cause of global warming. In fact, animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than all of transportation combined. And that doesn't even include the deforestation caused by animal agriculture, which releases even more greenhouse gases into our air. Even if you don't drive a car, your diet can still have a big impact on how much global warming is happening in our world.

Coral Reef Destruction

Coral reefs are important for protecting coastlines from storms, providing a home for many species of marine life, and generating income through tourism. Coral reefs are also some of the most fragile ecosystems on the planet, which makes them especially vulnerable to damage from human activity. Coral bleaching is one result of this damage that occurs when corals get too warm. This causes them to expel their zooxanthellae algae and turn white or bleach white in color.

Use of Chlorofluorocarbons

One of the major causes of global warming is our use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). CFCs are man-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products for decades. These chemicals found in aerosols, such as hair spray and deodorant, can break down ozone molecules.

Leakage from Natural Gas Wells

Natural gas is a fossil fuel that leaks into the atmosphere during extraction. This leakage is primarily caused by equipment malfunctions and improper sealing of wells. Improper sealing can lead to significant emissions and has been found to be responsible for 60% of methane emissions from natural gas production. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that an average US natural gas well may leak between 2 and 4% of its lifetime production into the atmosphere. As a result, it's estimated that about one-quarter of U.S. methane emissions come from these types of leaks, making them a significant contributor to global warming pollution.

Landfill Methane Emissions

You probably have heard of the greenhouse effect and know that it is a natural phenomenon where the sun's radiation passes through the Earth's atmosphere and warms up the surface. This warming causes air to rise, which in turn cools at a higher altitude, allowing more heat to be trapped near the Earth's surface. The greenhouse effect is what makes our planet habitable for life as we know it. But what you may not know is that there are many human activities that contribute to global warming. For example, landfill methane emissions are one of the major contributors of global warming on earth. Methane has an even greater potential for causing global warming than carbon dioxide because methane absorbs substantially more infrared radiation than carbon dioxide does.

Permafrost Melting

Permafrost is a layer of soil that remains frozen for years, even centuries. It's usually found in the colder regions of the world, like Siberia or Canada. This permafrost has been melting over time as temperatures rise due to our misuse of fossil fuels. In fact, the Arctic ice cap is shrinking by 13% every decade and there's no sign it will stop melting any time soon. If this permafrost continues to melt, it could release more greenhouse gases than all other countries combined.

Soil Degradation

As the world population increases and natural resources are depleted, we are degrading the soil that grows our food. Pests and diseases can thrive in these poor conditions, resulting in widespread crop failure. Soil degradation also leads to desertification, which is one of the main causes of drought. Dry soil cannot hold water and plants are unable to grow roots deep enough to access it. Eventually plants die or migrate elsewhere in search of more water, causing biodiversity loss on a global scale.

Short-Lived Pollutants

One of the largest contributors to global warming is short-lived pollutants. These are chemicals like black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone, and hydro fluorocarbons that cause a large amount of greenhouse gas emissions but only remain in the atmosphere for anywhere from five days to two years. With these chemicals in the atmosphere for such a short period of time, it's difficult to regulate their levels before they're released into the air.