Increases in GHG emissions into the atmosphere disrupt the biosphere
Ice core studies – including the Vostek ice core study that has provided information dating back 400,000 years – have helped scientists to understand the connection between temperature rise and increases in greenhouse gas.

The current increases in GHG emissions cause an increase in the Earth’s temperature, which in turn impacts the delicate environmental balance of the planet. There are numerous consequences of the green house effect which are already affecting different regions of the world in a variety of negative ways.

Climate change causes glaciers at the Earth’s poles (in particular, the North Pole) to melt, leading to rising ocean levels. Apart from flooding coastal and low level areas, this could also increase the salt concentration of our ground water (which would be harmful to many species).

Climate change also causes permafrost thaw. Since permafrost contains a high quantity of methane, this thawing would contribute to further increases in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Ocean currents could also be affected, especially the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic near Europe which will could severely influence our climate.

Extreme weather incidents such as hurricanes could also occur more often, destroying human housing, as well as fauna and flora in some areas. Human health could also suffer as a consequence of these disruptions. Some areas would also face significant water shortages, particularly in the United States, Africa, China and Asia.

These changes will also impact ecosystems and forest cover with some species of fauna and flora disappearing altogether.

Finally, the disruption to the complex global environmental balance could introduce unexpected issues that produce negative changes in ways that we cannot yet predict.