The science of climate change
Global warming is causing our climate to change. Learn how it will affect the world around us.
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Environment
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1 City Hall Square
Room 709Boston, MA 02201-2031
Greenhouse gases and global warming
Gases in the atmosphere absorb energy from the sunlight-warmed surface of the Earth. These gases include:
- carbon dioxide
- methane
- nitrous oxide, and
- ozone.
When these gases can’t escape into space, they create the "Greenhouse Effect." The greenhouse gases in the air keep the Earth a warm and comfortable place to live. Unfortunately, human activities raise the concentration of these gases.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found proof that our planet is getting warmer. The rise in temperatures is due to an increase in greenhouse gases.
How global warming affects our planet
Global warming is changing climate and weather patterns across the Earth.
Climate Projection ConsensusTo better understand climate change impacts at the local level, the City of Boston and the Green Ribbon Commission convened the Boston Research Advisory Group (BRAG), a team of the region’s top climate scientists, to develop the Climate Projection Consensus. This document summarizes how Boston’s climate is expected to change throughout the 21st century, focusing on four climate factors and three hazards they create:
We can still solve our climate issues, but it's time to change the way we think. We need to be part of the solution, and take action to slow down climate change.
