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Global climate change and global warming are phrases typically used interchangeably to describe the negative impact of greenhouse gases on the Earth’s climate. In the U.S., energy-related activities account for three-quarters of our human-generated greenhouse gas emissions, mostly in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels. More than half the energy-related emissions come from large stationary sources such as power plants, while about a third comes from transportation.
Continuation of historical trends of greenhouse gas emissions will result in additional warming over the 21st century, with current projections of a global increase of between 2ºF and 10ºF by 2100. This warming will have real consequences including a rise in sea level that will gradually inundate coastal areas, changes in precipitation patterns, increased risk of droughts and floods, threats to biodiversity, and numerous potential challenges for public health and socio-economic stability.
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