Climate Change Explained: The New York Times’ Answers to FAQs
In case you’re one of many people often confused about global warming and climate change, the New York Times published the most commonly asked questions and some pretty straightforward answers.
Global warming: what does that mean? The answer has so much to do with science, ideology, and politics—and that can be confusing. New York Times writer Justin Gillis breaks down the following 17 common questions about global warming to help you better understand everything behind the climate crisis and Earth’s climate changes.
Justin Gillis answers 17 questions under three broad categories: What is happening? What could happen? What can we do?
Read Gillis’ answers for the following questions:
- Climate change? Global warming? What do we call it?
- How much is the Earth heating up?
- What is the greenhouse effect, and how does it cause global warming?
- How do we know humans are responsible for the increase in carbon dioxide?
- Could natural factors be the cause of the warming?
- Why do people deny the science of climate change?
- How much trouble are we in?
- How much should I work about climate change affecting me directly?
- How much will the seas rise?
- Is recent crazy weather tied to climate change?
- Are there any realistic solutions to the problem?
- What is the Paris Agreement?
- Does clean energy help or hurt the economy?
- What about fracking or ‘clean coal’?
- What’s the latest with electric cars?
- What are carbon taxes, carbon trading and carbon offsets?
- Climate change seems so overwhelming. What can I personally do about it?
The topic can be overwhelming and confusing to say the least. Get your quick answers to the above questions so you can make educated decisions about global warming and climate change in the future for yourself, your company, and your policy choices.