Two Minutes on Oceans With Jim Toomey: The Climate Change Connection

Our climate is steadily getting warmer. Through cars and factories—among other things—people emit greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere, and these gases go into the atmosphere where they trap heat and warm the Earth. We are starting to see the effects of climate change now. In some low-elevated areas, rising sea levels infiltrate fresh water sources, and are contaminating drinkable water. Some areas are experiencing extreme weather conditions—from droughts to heavy precipitation. Sea ice is melting at faster rates, leaving animals such as polar bears with less space to breed and feed. But, there are ways to reduce climate change and lessen these harmful consequences: take public transportation, drive fuel-efficient cars, and find larger efforts in your community to reduce your impact. If we all work together, we can make a difference to reduce climate change.