Global Warming. Climate Crisis. CO2s. Carbon Neutral are all words heard a lot these days...here are some definitions and what you can do to take responsibility for your own part in causing Global Warming.

WHAT IS IT?

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases warm the surface of the planet naturally by trapping solar heat in the atmosphere. This is a good thing because it keeps our planet habitable. However, by burning fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil and clearing forests we have dramatically increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere and temperatures are rising.

The vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is real, it's already happening and that it is the result of our activities and not a natural occurrence. The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable.

We're already seeing changes. Glaciers are melting, plants and animals are being forced from their habitat, and the number of severe storms and droughts is increasing. [source: climatecrisis.net]

Climate Crisis is another term used for global warming and is what it sounds like; our climate must stay in balance for life to survive. The atmosphere now has changed due to all of our lifestyles. Transportation, coal powered energy plants (electricity), destruction of forests, all have thrown the climate of Earth into an out of balance crisis!

CARBON FOOTPRINT

We all have a "carbon footprint" that is the result of our lifestyles. Everything we do emits CO2s into the air, everything we own emitted CO2s to make (factories, trucks, etc). All human activity has hugely added to our climate crisis (global warming). If you live in a huge house and leave your lights on, get low gas mileage, buy a lot of man made products, and fly in airplanes a lot, your carbon foot print is bigger than someone who does not.

Undoing Your Contribution to global warming is easier than you think!

Calculate your carbon footprint and offset it easily and inexpensively! Go to any of these sites, calculate your lifestyle's CO2s emitted into the air, then pay to offset your footprint on the planet!

Terrapass.org
Americanforests.org
Carbonneutral.org


TAKE ACTION

	Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Replace 3 frequently used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. Save 300 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $60 per year.
	Adjust Your Thermostat Move your heater thermostat down two degrees in winter and up two degrees in the summer. Save 2000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $98 per year.
	Change Your Air Filter Check your car's air filter monthly. Save 800 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $130 per year.
	Buy Products Locally Buy locally and reduce the amount of energy required to drive your products to your store.
	Buy a Fuel Efficient Car Getting a few extra miles per gallon makes a big difference. Save thousands of lbs. of CO2 and a lot of money per year.
	Plant a Tree Trees suck up carbon dioxide and make clean air for us to breathe. Save 2,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide per year.
	Weatherize Your Home Caulk and weather strip your doorways and windows. Save 1,700 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $274 per year.
	Put on a Sweater Instead of turning up the heat in your home, wear more clothes Save 1,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide and $250 per year.
	Unplug Un-Used Electronics Even when electronic devices are turned off, they use energy. Save over 1,000 lbs of carbon dioxide and $256 per year.
	Buy Minimally Packaged Goods Less packaging could reduce your garbage by about 10%. Save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide and $1,000 per year.
	Write to your political representatives. Click here to find out yours.
	[source: stopglobalwarming.org]