climate change, global warming An increase in the temperature of the earth's atmosphere to levels that threaten our survival, caused by the release of greenhouse gases (mostly carbon dioxide) from energy sources like coal and oil. "Without realizing the consequences of our actions, we have begun to put so much carbon dioxide into the thin shell of air surrounding our world that we have literally changed the heat balance between Earth and the Sun. If we don’t stop doing this pretty quickly, the average temperature will increase to levels humans have never known and put an end to the favorable climate balance on which our civilization depends. -- Al Gore, New York Times Op-Ed, July 1, 2007 >> CAP-AND-TRADE, CARBON FOOTPRINT

>> Connections << American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) -Proposed legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives (Waxman-Markey bill, Committee on Energy and Commerce) - a "comprehensive approach to America's energy policy that will create millions of new clean energy jobs, save consumers hundreds of billions of dollars in energy costs, enhance America's energy independence, and cut global warming pollution"Act Carbon Reduction Institute - committed to protecting our environment by encouraging businesses to reduce their carbon emissions. Environmental Defense Fund - "partners with businesses, government and communities to find practical environmental solutions." See, Climate Action Facts. Alliance for Climate Protection - a nonprofit, non-partisan organizationfounded in 2006 by Al Gore, Nobel Laureate and former Vice President of the United States, "educating the global community about the urgency of implementing comprehensive solutions to the climate crisis." Kyoto Protocol - an international agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to reduce greenhouse gases, adopted in Kyoto, Japan in December 1997 (effective January 2005, expires 2012) and ratified by 184 countries, but neither China nor the United States. COP15 - United Nations Climate Change Conference, Copenhagen, December 2009 - The 15th conference of parties (COP15) in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, possibly developing an agreement to replace Kyoto Protocol after it expires in 2012. International Day of Climate Action - 350.org - "an international campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis--the solutions that science and justice demand. On 24 October, people in 181 countries are coming together for the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet's history. Natural Resources Defense Council - Climate Change - Global warming solutions include clean energy and green jobs, driving smarter cars, green building and transportation. The Nature Conservancy - Climate Change - "joining with policy makers, community members, businesses, scientists, industry leaders and others to slow the pace of climate change. We work to reduce the accumulation of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere and help natural areas adjust to the impacts of climate change." World Wildlife Fund - Climate Change -"climate disruption poses a fundamental threat to the vulnerable places, species and people WWF seeks to protect. To adequately slow climate change we urgently must reduce global greenhouse gas emissions."

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