Causes, effects and possible solutions to global warmingGlobal warming is a problem that threatens the entire world. Although it has had little noticeable impact on the world so far, its potential impact could be disastrous, which is why global warming has become an ever-present issue in the media and for governments. Global warming is not a new phenomenon. The sun heats the Earth's surface and to prevent it from overheating, thermal energy is radiated through the atmosphere and into space. Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, CFCs, and nitrogen oxides trap some of this heat, thereby warming the lower atmosphere, which in turn warms the Earth's surface. This is the "greenhouse effect" and is essential for life, since without it the earth would be so cold as to be uninhabitable. However, global warming is attributed to the greenhouse effect as the increase in greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere by humans slowly warms the Earth, potentially changing the world's climate by causing sea levels to rise and land to flood. The evidence clearly shows a steady increase in global temperature since 1980. Prior to this period temperatures had fluctuated, although generally rising, and the average temperature between 1961 and 1990 was 14°C. However, the most dramatic temperature increases occurred in the 1990s, when higher-than-average temperatures occurred each year. Over the last 100 years, the average global temperature has increased by 0.5°C. The increase in temperature has a positive correlation with the increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Since the industrial revolution, total cumulative carbon emissions...... middle of paper ......r aim to reduce emissions and in doing so will be able to trade “carbon credits” with other countries that may be worth up to £100 million. However, environmentalists believe that the 12.5% ​​emissions reduction is too small and that the target should be closer to 60%. The effects of CFCs are well known and their use in manufacturing is decreasing and may eventually be banned. New environmentally friendly fuels have been developed and cars can now run on gas. However, greenhouse gases have never been proven to be the main cause of global warming, although scientists have yet to find out whether anything else is to blame. Meanwhile, governments are working under the assumption that they are to blame and that if they want to slow global warming, they need to introduce more policies on greenhouse gas emissions...