Short- and long-term changes in average temperatures and weather patterns are together known as climate change. These changes might have a natural origin, like the sun’s cyclical changes.
However, since the 1800s, human activities, especially the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, have been the primary cause of climate change.
Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned, and they function like a blanket to keep the sun’s heat trapped on Earth and drive up global temperatures.
Carbon dioxide and methane are two examples of greenhouse gases that have been emitted and are contributing to the current climate crisis. These are produced when, say, gasoline is used to propel a vehicle or coal is used to heat a home.
Carbon dioxide may also be released when land and forest are cleared. Trash dumps produce a lot of methane gas. Emissions come mostly from the following sources: energy, industry, transportation, buildings, agriculture, and land use.
Climate Change: What Causes It?
Earth’s climatic mechanisms are straightforward. The globe cools when solar radiation is reflected back into space (mostly by clouds and ice) or when energy is released by the earth’s atmosphere.
Because of the greenhouse effect and the planet’s ability to soak up solar energy, Earth is warming. Earth’s climate may be affected by both natural and human-caused phenomena. Find out what’s causing global warming and how to stop it.
We don’t have to worry about global warming till the far-off future. Glaciers and ice sheets are melting, river and lake ice is breaking up a bit earlier, plant and animal geographic ranges are moving, and plants and trees are blossoming earlier, all as a result of human-caused changes to Earth’s climate.
Effects Of Climate Change
Loss of sea ice, faster sea level rise, and longer, more severe heat waves are just some of the effects of global warming that scientists have long anticipated will occur.
Increased temperature
Increases in the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have been linked to an increase in average world temperature. Since records have been kept, the years 2011-2020 have been the hottest on record.
Temperatures have increased steadily since the 1980s. More hot days and heat waves are being experienced in almost all geographical regions. Heat-related diseases become more common, and outdoor labor becomes more strenuous when temperatures rise.
When temperatures are higher, wildfires are more likely to start and spread quickly. The Arctic has warmed at a rate that is at least double the world norm.
Worsening drought
The weather and climate have a direct effect on the availability of our food supply. Some changes will be challenging to handle, but farmers and researchers may be able to adapt existing agricultural practices and technology or create new ones.
Farmers and ranchers have difficulties due to rising temperatures, drought and water stress, illnesses, and weather extremes in providing the food we consume.
Human agricultural laborers are susceptible to heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and cardiac arrest. In addition to humans, cattle may be negatively affected by heat stress and rising temperatures.
Intensified storms
Many places have seen an increase in the frequency and severity of destructive storms. Extreme precipitation and floods are made worse by rising temperatures, which in turn fuel more powerful storms.
As the water heats up, tropical storms become more intense and widespread. In order to survive, cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons rely on the warm waters found near the ocean’s surface.
Devastating economic and human costs resulting from the widespread damage that these storms may wreak.
Ocean warming and rising
Modifications to the availability of water may have far-reaching effects on our society and way of life. As the climate changes, flooding becomes more of a problem.
The United States as a whole is seeing greater and more frequent instances of exceptionally high precipitation events compared to the turn of the 20th century.
Numerous communities rely on snowpacks as a reliable supply of drinkable water. Because of the lack of precipitation in the hot months, places like the Western United States rely on the freshwater that is released when the snow melts.
However, when global temperatures rise, there is less snow overall, and the snow starts to melt earlier in the year. This means that snowpacks may not be a dependable supply of water over the full warm and dry seasons.
The extinction of species
The future of both land-based and marine animals is threatened by climate change. As temperatures rise, so do these dangers.
A thousand times more species are being lost now than at any point in human history, and climate change is a major contributor. In the next several decades, a million different species might become extinct.
Extreme weather, pests and illnesses that spread rapidly, and forest fires are just some of the risks we face as a result of global warming. Though many species will make the journey, not all will make it.
Displacement and poverty
Variables that contribute to and maintain low income are exacerbated by climate change. There is a risk that urban slums may be wiped out by flooding, taking with them people’s houses and means of subsistence.
Outdoor tasks might be challenging if the temperature is high. Crops may be impacted by water shortage. An estimated 23.1 million individuals each year were relocated due to weather-related catastrophes during the last decade (2010-2019), making them more susceptible to poverty.
The majority of the world’s refugees are located in the most climate-vulnerable and least-prepared nations.
Top 5 Charities Working For Climate Change
As a result of the global nature of climate change, it is crucial to learn about the role your country plays in the issue and the steps that can be taken to combat it.
The United States of America is now one of the world’s leading contributors to global warming. We have a massive population and a lot of carbon emissions, so we need to start fixing that right now.
But there are many things you can do to fight climate change and better the globe, regardless of whether you live in the United States or Canada.
The good news is that you can help rescue the earth by donating to one of the organizations on our list of top climate change charities.
Well Done Foundation
When it comes to combating climate change, no other organization in the United States is doing more than the Well Done Foundation, which is a nonprofit that focuses on sealing abandoned oil and gas wells.
Wasteful as they are, orphaned wells also contribute significantly to global warming because of the greenhouse gases they release. To immediately stop the release of greenhouse gases, Well Done aims to seal off all of these wells.
They achieved this result by using a patented method they created for finding and sealing off the wells. They also assist landowners in making necessary improvements to fortify their properties against further threats.
Give directly here, this is a US based charity and donations by Canadians are not tax deductible.
Natural Resources Defense Council
The New York Times calls NRDC “one of the nation’s most influential environmental organizations” because of its ability to “marry the grassroots strength of 1.4 million members and online activists with the courtroom heft and knowledge of more than 350 attorneys, biologists, and other professionals.”
This time of year, NRDC provides holiday-ready “green gifts”: your contribution results in a gift card outlining the action it supports, such as “adopt a wolf in Yellowstone” or “save an acre of whale nursery” to give practical meaning to a customized present.
Give directly here, this is a US based charity and donations by Canadians are not tax deductible.
Nature For Justice
Nature For Justice (N4J) is an organization that was founded to combat the global climate crisis by utilizing nature to meet the social justice needs of marginalized communities.
The group raises money to further environmental projects, including land restoration and forest management. Together with Black, Indigenous, and People of Color farmers in the US, they promote, quantify, and put a price on regenerative agriculture.
Give directly here, this is US based charity and donations by Canadians are not tax deductible.
Be the Change Earth Alliance
Go Out There and Make a Difference! In 2005, a group called Earth Alliance was formed to promote cross-disciplinary learning and action on environmental and social problems.
Its aim is to inspire, enlighten, and empower today’s youth to work together and independently to build a more equitable, sustainable, and satisfying world for everyone. Their goal of bringing eco-social education materials and workshops to secondary schools in British Columbia has been met.
Recent initiatives have focused on educating students about environmental and social issues and hosting seminars for teachers and other community members to improve their own abilities.
Give directly here, this is a US based charity and donations by Canadians are not tax deductible.
Environmental Working Group
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) conducts research and raises awareness about toxic chemicals, sustainable versus exploitative agricultural practices, consumer product safety, and corporate accountability, and publishes an annual “Dirty Dozen” list revealing the highest (and lowest) pesticide concentrations in conventionally grown produce.
As of right now, EWG is promising to double any donations made via a matching campaign. Those who value healthy, unprocessed foods would like this recommendation.
Give directly here, this is a US based charity and donations by Canadians are not tax deductible.
Conclusion
It is evident that the United States has a great deal of work to do in order to mitigate the effects of climate change. Many groups and people, however, are exerting significant effort to aid the nation in its search for answers.
These groups are working on getting climate change addressed on a global and national scale so that we can all relax knowing that our efforts are helping the planet.
We encourage you to support organizations like these if you want to make a difference in climate change while sitting in your own living room.
A number of Canadian Charities are doing great work in support of Climate Change Efforts, explore a few we have selected below.
- Be The Change Earth Alliance
- SeedChange
- The Gaia Project
- Foundation for Environmental Stewardship
- The Charitree Foundation
- Tomorrow Foundation for a Sustainable Future
- International Conservation Fund of Canada
- Ecology Action Centre
- Coastal Action
