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In July 1995, Chicago experienced its worst weather-related disaster ever. Temperatures reached or exceeded 90°F for seven days in a row and exceeded 100°F on two days (Kaiser et al. 2007). Conditions were made worse by high humidity levels and unusually warm night-time temperatures.

The climate of the Midwest has changed measurably over the last half century.  Average annual temperatures have risen, accompanied by a number of major heat waves in the last few years. There have been fewer cold snaps, and ice and snow are melting sooner in the spring and arriving later in the fall. Heavy rains are occurring about twice as frequently as they did a century ago, increasing the risk of flooding. New analysis for Ohio projects more heat days with temperatures over 90- and 100-degree F. 


Climate scientists agree that that the 21st century will be warmer and will likely bring economic pain through the US. with the poorest counties suffering the most- especially those to the south.  In places were average summertime high is around 90 deg F, a high above 95 deg F is very likely by the end of the century.   This is a tipping point for more heat-related deaths, violent crime, and a drop in productivity (source).

Aside from few skeptics, 97% of scientists agree that climate change is caused by greenhouse gases produced by human activity.   In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a report  on the impact of global warming of 1.5 degree C.  If greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current rate, the atmosphere will warm up by as much as 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius) above preindustrial levels by 2040, inundating coastlines and intensifying droughts and poverty.


So where do these gasses come from? What causes climate change? View the video and take our quiz to learn some more about climate change.


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Discover ways you can help by taking personal action. You can select actions you're already doing,or will start doing, now that you learned something new. Small actions taken by a large number of people makes a difference.

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