The Facts About Global Warming

Ironically, global warming might actually plunge parts of the world into a deep freeze by stopping or slowing the ocean's thermohaline circulation (THC), the conveyor belt of ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream that influence the world's climate. Global warming could trigger more rain and the melting of the polar ice caps, which would change the salinity and density of the water and alter the circulation patterns that parts of North America and Europe depend upon for warmth. For example, without the warm ocean currents carried up from the tropics, Europe could wind up with a climate similar to that of Alaska.

6. The Impact on Wildlife

Climate change has an enormous impact on ecosystems and wildlife, and it's believed that global warming will lead to significant loss in biodiversity. Animals are already on the move across the globe, migrating and, if they're lucky, adapting to environmental changes. Global warming is perhaps most famous for melting the Arctic habitat of polar bears, but birds, butterflies, kangaroos, and coral reefs are among the many lower-profile species and ecosystems that are already at risk due to increased temperatures. Since wildlife takes migratory and reproductive cues from temperature (and the flora and fauna affected by temperature), global warming causes near-misses in fertilization and feeding cycles that would seem prime fodder for a Pixar comedy except that species such as the golden toad and the harlequin frog of Costa Rica have already died out as a result.

7.  The Future Climate

If things continue along the current path, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts average temperatures in the US will climb more than three degrees Fahrenheit in this century and projects the global sea level will rise between seven and 23 inches. The Bush administration's 2008 report predicts "increased frequency and severity of heat waves…leading to more illness and death, particularly among the young, elderly, frail, and poor."

8.  Change Begins at Home

Forget what your life coach said and start sweating the small stuff. It's time to give up your attachment to your car: Walk and bike more, or take public transportation. If you're already taking the bus to work, pat yourself on the back: Public transportation prevents about 14 million tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, according to the American Public Transportation Association. If you must drive, keep your tires inflated and get regular tune-ups — a tune-up can boost your miles-per-gallon ratio anywhere from four to 40 percent, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. While you're at it, make your home a lean, green, energy-efficient machine: Buy Energy Star appliances, convert to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), install a programmable thermostat and unplug electronics that aren't in use. If every American replaced their five most-used light fixtures with EnergyStar CFLs, we could prevent greenhouse gases emissions equivalent to those of nearly 10 million cars.

9.  Eating Our Way Out of This

Turns out one of the most effective ways to minimize your carbon footprint is to just say no to meat: A 2006 report by the United Nations found that the meat industry produces more greenhouse gases than all of the cars, trucks, planes, and ships in the world combined. If every American ate one vegetarian meal per week, it would be the same as taking more than five million cars off the road, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. If you go for the full Monty and adopt a vegetarian diet, you'll reduce your carbon footprint by up to 1.5 tons of CO2 per year, according to University of Chicago researchers — that's more than buying a hybrid car!

10. Not Perfect? Carbon Offsetting Is Your Friend

Even if you're working to minimize your carbon footprint, chances are an upcoming vacation or business trip will have you on a gas-guzzling plane or car-trip sometime soon. Companies like NativeEnergy.com and ClimateTrust.com allow you to calculate your carbon emissions and offset their impact by investing in renewable energy projects that will lessen our dependence on carbon-emitting energy production in the future. In 2007, more than 42 million metric tons of CO2 emissions were offset through voluntary purchases, according to EcoSystem Marketplace and New Carbon Finance's State of Voluntary Carbon Markets report. Since the average American generates 20 tons of CO2 each year, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists, that means the voluntary carbon offset market compensated for the emissions of more than 2 million Americans last year!

Keep in mind that carbon offsetting is not a solution to the global warming crisis in and of itself, nor should it be used as a way to assuage guilty consciences or enable excessive energy-guzzling. We should all strive to minimize our individual carbon footprints as much as possible, and look to carbon offsets as a way to neutralize the damage of any remaining, unavoidable emissions. In other words, you're not doing the world a favor by buying a brand-new SUV with the justification that you'll offset the gas emissions — it's far better to buy a hybrid or small, high-mileage car, use it as infrequently as possible, and offset any necessary emissions.