Tens of thousands of smart, honest, highly trained scientists have been working on the complex problem of global climate change. Their techniques and results are subjected to intense scrutiny by other equally good scientists, and their findings are reported in respected international peer-reviewed journals.

Even though they have approached their work from different angles and used different data and techniques, virtually all of these scientists have arrived at the same conclusion: The world’s climate is changing, and the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) is the primary reason.

The supporting evidence is clear. We know burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. We know carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that causes more of the sun’s heat to be trapped in Earth’s lower atmosphere.

And we know carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by about 45 percent in the last 150 years or so, since the burning of fossil fuels skyrocketed during the Industrial Revolution.

The effects of higher carbon-dioxide levels and more trapped heat are quite predictable by chemistry and physics, and we are seeing those effects across the globe. Temperatures are climbing, weather is becoming more severe, glaciers and ice sheets are melting, sea levels are rising, oceans are acidifying, and permafrost is thawing.

Sign up for our newsletter Success! An email has been sent with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.

These effects are going to get worse, and they are going to have significant negative impacts on human civilization and life on Earth.

We have a chance to limit the effects of global climate change by quickly reducing and eventually eliminating the burning of fossil fuels. Viable and cleaner energy alternatives (solar, wind) exist, but so far, we Americans have not demonstrated the vision, will or sacrifice needed to embrace them.

The future is in our hands.

Jim Gerhart

Manheim Township