Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the most frequently asked questions about global warming answered by reliable sources
Union of Concerned Scientists
The UCS is recognised as a reliable source for independent scientific analysis with a highly qualified staff of scientists and policy experts. Click on the questions below to get the answers.
- What does the greenhouse effect have to do with global warming?
- What is causing global warming?
- What is the best source of scientific information on global warming?
- Is global warming already happening?
- Are humans contributing to global warming?
- How much warmer is the Earth likely to become?
- Would a temperature rise of a couple degrees really change the global climate?
- Is global warming connected to the hole in the ozone layer?
- Is there anything we can do about global warming?
- Will responding to global warming be harmful to our economy?
The National Centre for Atmospheric Research
NCAR is a collaborative unit of scientists dedicated to understanding the atmosphere and the interconnected processes of the Earth system. Click on the questions below to get the answers.
- How do we know human activities are contributing to global warming?
- Could global warming be beneficial?
- What is "abrupt climate change?"
- What are the shortcomings of climate models?
- Are we committed to future climate change?
- What caused global temperatures to vary naturally, thousands of years ago, before humankind started burning fossil fuels?
- Are regional temperature changes due to human activities?
- What about cities and the urban heat island effect?
