Whether or not climate change is caused by humans is still being debated, but there is no denying that it is happening – the signs are everywhere. Notoriously warm places are receiving snow for the first time in years, natural disasters are occurring at alarming rates, and areas all over the world are hitting record temperatures. So while an arctic blast turned North America into a Popsicle, concurrently in Australia it was so hot, the asphalt melted on a stretch of highway.   Scientists agree that global temperatures will continue to rise with the release of greenhouse gases produced by humans. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts a global increase in temperature of 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century.

So what does this mean? Temperatures are going to continue to rise in a chaotic fashion, and scientists are pinning humans as the cause. Summers will be much warmer and winters will be much colder. Natural disasters (hurricanes, droughts, wildfires) will become much more intense and will occur much more frequently. The sea level will rise 1 to 4 feet within the next century (after only rising 8 inches since 1880), which will cause more storms and severe flooding in low sea level areas. The ice in the Arctic Ocean is predicted to melt completely. The right response would be fear.

The only way to slow this process is to reduce carbon emissions, which many areas are taking part in. Countries such as Sweden, Costa Rica, China, Germany, and Uruguay are all making an effort to put a stop to fossil fuel usage and save the planet.

Want to take action? Contact your political representatives and raise awareness in your city by participating in fundraisers – post on social media and get your friends involved. The most important thing you can do right now is understand what is happening; make changes in your life that can reduce emissions, such as switching to green cars or just turning off lights more frequently. Eat wisely – buy organic and locally grown foods. You can also compost kitchen scraps and garden trimmings, and recycle paper, plastic, metal and glass.

We cannot stop climate change, but we can still slow it down. Click here to find out how you can help.

Sources: Climate.NASA, Climate Reality Project