Climate change is a major global issue, and it is crucial that we all take action and do what we can to help fight it. One way that you as an individual can help is by switching to a green energy company for your electricity and gas. Keep reading to learn more about climate change, the effects it has and how switching to a green energy company can help combat it.

What is climate change?

The terms “climate change” and “global warming” tend to be used interchangeably. However, there is a distinction between the two. Global warming refers to the long-term increase in the Earth’s global surface temperature. It is largely driven by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and consequent emissions of greenhouse gases. As a consequence heat is trapped from the Sun in the Earth’s atmosphere in a process that is known as the greenhouse effect. During the last century, the Earth’s average global temperature is estimated to have increased by about 2  degrees Fahreinheit as a result of human activities. This trend of global warming appears to be accelerating at an alarming rate, as the Earth’s temperature has increased over the last 50 years.

Climate change refers to global warming as well as the long-term shifts in the Earth’s weather patterns. In other words, global warming is just one of many aspects of climate change. Recently there has been a number of tragic wildfires and hurricane flooding throughout America. Climate change has a big effect on the moisture in the air. The change leads to dry vegetation and contributes to the dangerous wildfires that occur more and more frequently. Also as the earth’s temperature rises it causes our seawater to expand and ice to melt, this can result in the sea level rising. A rise in sea levels can have the result of devastating flooding and erosion. Even though human activities only partly cause climate change, it is also caused by natural processes such as volcanic eruptions, ocean currents, and changes in the Earth’s orbit.

What are the effects of climate change?

As humans continue to burn fossil fuels and emit heat-trapping greenhouse gases, the Earth’s global temperature will continue to rise. In fact, scientists predict that over the next century, the Earth’s temperature would increase by 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Below is a simple list of the types of  climate changes to be aware of:

● Extreme weather; As the Earth’s temperature increases, weather events such as hurricanes, floods, droughts and heat waves increase in intensity as well as frequency.

● Polluted air; Higher temperatures lead to increased levels of smog and soot in the air. Extreme weather events and increased flooding lead to damp conditions that increase the amount of mold in the air.

● Rising sea levels; Expanding ocean waters and melting ice due to temperature changes  are causing sea levels to rise. By 2100, the Earth’s sea levels are expected to rise another one to eight feet higher, which will increase flooding.  It is also anticipated that parts of many coastal cities such as Long Island, NY, Miami and  the Middle and Lower Keys in Florida will be underwater.

● Warmer ocean waters; As the oceans absorb fossil fuel emissions, they become more Acidic, which threatens sea life, especially shellfish and corals.

● Threats to ecosystems; Many species have shifted their habitats in search of cooler temperatures and higher altitudes. This has altered entire ecosystems and threatened the species that depend on them. A large number of species are currently facing increased extinction risk as a result of climate change.

How can choosing a green energy company help with climate change?

As mentioned earlier, humanity’s cause of global warming and climate change is the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, and the resulting release of heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The amount of carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels is called a carbon footprint. In order to combat climate change, it is key that we all make efforts to minimize our carbon footprints. One way that you can reduce your carbon footprint is by switching to a green energy company.

Green energy companies such as Renaissance can provide your home or business with cleaner sources of energy that help preserve the environment and reduce carbon footprints. Renaissance is focused on carbon-neutral energy, meaning that our energy systems have no net greenhouse gas emissions. We achieve this by purchasing carbon credits and contributing to various green projects so that 100% of our carbon output is offset. In other words, we provide energy that has no carbon footprint.

If you want to switch to a green energy company and reduce your carbon footprint, visit our website.