What Causes Climate Change? Human and Natural Causes

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data-drupal-link-system-path="node/60005"><svg class="c-icon c-icon--link is-spaced-after" role="img" aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/themes/nrdc_theme/dist/images/sprite.artifact.svg#translation"></use></svg>Español</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__content"> <div class="l-constrain"> <div class="l-page__main"> <figure class="c-figure"> <div class="c-figure__media"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_25/public/media-uploads/nrdc-climate-change-causes-0418-2400.jpg.webp?h=c3635fa2&itok=3R2zHXc0 192w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_50/public/media-uploads/nrdc-climate-change-causes-0418-2400.jpg.webp?h=c3635fa2&itok=4jb256ge 384w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_75/public/media-uploads/nrdc-climate-change-causes-0418-2400.jpg.webp?h=c3635fa2&itok=LSLASgF_ 576w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc-climate-change-causes-0418-2400.jpg.webp?h=c3635fa2&itok=vXOPQWqr 768w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_150/public/media-uploads/nrdc-climate-change-causes-0418-2400.jpg.webp?h=c3635fa2&itok=fxrH8UcA 1152w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_200/public/media-uploads/nrdc-climate-change-causes-0418-2400.jpg.webp?h=c3635fa2&itok=qyIYg_ne 1360w" sizes="min(calc(100vw - 2.22222rem), 768px)" width="576" height="324" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc-climate-change-causes-0418-2400.jpg.jpg?h=c3635fa2&itok=vXOPQWqr" alt="A river runs through a valley between mountains, with brown banks visible on either side of the water" /> </div> <figcaption class="c-figure__caption"><div class="c-figure__caption-text"><p>Low water levels at Shasta Lake, California, following a historic drought in October 2021</p></div><div class="c-figure__caption-credit"> <span class="u-visually-hidden">Credit: </span><p>Andrew Innerarity/California Department of Water Resources</p></div></figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="l-page__metadata"> <div class="c-article__authors"> <div data-history-node-id="18580" class="c-profile is-link"> <a class="c-profile__link" href="/bio/jeff-turrentine"> <div class="c-profile__photo"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/profile_100/public/2023-05/jeff-turrentine-9029.jpg.webp?h=b13ea8c4&itok=JdsZa3q1 48w, /sites/default/files/styles/profile_200/public/2023-05/jeff-turrentine-9029.jpg.webp?h=b13ea8c4&itok=4bCT-bkO 96w" sizes="min(calc(100vw - 2.22222rem), 48px)" width="96" height="96" src="/sites/default/files/styles/profile_100/public/2023-05/jeff-turrentine-9029.jpg.jpg?h=b13ea8c4&itok=JdsZa3q1" alt="A headshot of Jeff Turrentine" /> </div> <div class="c-profile__content"> <div class="c-profile__name">Jeff Turrentine </div> <div class="c-profile__title">Contributor</div> </div> </a></div> </div> <div id="block-sharethispageblock" class="c-social-share js-share"> <div class="c-social-share__label">Share this page</div> <ul class="c-social-share__list"> <li class="c-social-share__item"> <a href="https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=https%3A//www.nrdc.org/stories/what-are-causes-climate-change" aria-label="Share on Bluesky" class="c-social-share__link"> <svg class="c-icon c-icon--social-share" role="img" aria-hidden="true"><title>Share this page block</title><use href="/themes/nrdc_theme/dist/images/sprite.artifact.svg#circle-bluesky"></use></svg> </a> </li> <li class="c-social-share__item"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A//www.nrdc.org/stories/what-are-causes-climate-change" aria-label="Share on Facebook" class="c-social-share__link"> <svg class="c-icon c-icon--social-share" role="img" aria-hidden="true"><title>Share this page block</title><use href="/themes/nrdc_theme/dist/images/sprite.artifact.svg#circle-facebook"></use></svg> </a> </li> <li class="c-social-share__item"> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A//www.nrdc.org/stories/what-are-causes-climate-change" aria-label="Share on LinkedIn" class="c-social-share__link"> <svg class="c-icon c-icon--social-share" role="img" aria-hidden="true"><title>Share this page block</title><use href="/themes/nrdc_theme/dist/images/sprite.artifact.svg#circle-linkedin"></use></svg> </a> </li> <li class="c-social-share__item"> <a href="https://www.twitter.com/share?url=https%3A//www.nrdc.org/stories/what-are-causes-climate-change" aria-label="Share on X" class="c-social-share__link"> <svg class="c-icon c-icon--social-share" role="img" aria-hidden="true"><title>Share this page block</title><use href="/themes/nrdc_theme/dist/images/sprite.artifact.svg#circle-x-twitter"></use></svg> </a> </li> <li class="c-social-share__item"> <button class="c-social-share__link js-copy-link" aria-label="Copy link" type="button"> <svg class="c-icon c-icon--social-share" role="img" aria-hidden="true"><title>Share this page block</title><use href="/themes/nrdc_theme/dist/images/sprite.artifact.svg#circle-link"></use></svg> </button> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg u-clearfix" data-wysiwyg> <p>At the root of climate change is the phenomenon known as the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/greenhouse-effect-101">greenhouse effect</a>, the term scientists use to describe the way that certain atmospheric gases “trap” heat that would otherwise radiate upward, from the planet’s surface, into outer space. On the one hand, we have the greenhouse effect to thank for the presence of life on earth; without it, our planet would be cold and unlivable.</p> <p>But beginning in the mid- to late-19th century, human activity began pushing the greenhouse effect to new levels. The result? A planet that’s warmer right now than at any other point in human history, and getting ever warmer. This <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/global-warming-101">global warming</a> has, in turn, dramatically altered natural cycles and weather patterns, with impacts that include extreme heat, protracted drought, increased flooding, more intense storms, and rising sea levels. Taken together, these miserable and sometimes deadly effects are what have come to be known as <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/global-climate-change-what-you-need-know">climate change</a>.</p> <p>Detailing and discussing the human causes of climate change isn’t about shaming people, or trying to make them feel guilty for their choices. It’s about defining the problem so that we can arrive at effective solutions. And we must honestly address its origins—even though it can sometimes be difficult, or even uncomfortable, to do so. Human civilization has made extraordinary productivity leaps, some of which have led to our currently overheated planet. But by harnessing that same ability to innovate and attaching it to a renewed sense of shared responsibility, we can find ways to cool the planet down, <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/how-you-can-stop-global-warming">fight climate change</a>, and chart a course toward a more just, equitable, and sustainable future.</p> <p>Here’s a rough breakdown of the factors that are driving climate change.</p> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__full-width"> <div class="c-table-of-contents u-clearfix" data-table-of-contents> <div class="c-table-of-contents__sidebar" data-table-of-contents-sidebar> <ul class="c-table-of-contents__menu" id="table-of-contents--menu" data-table-of-contents-menu> <li class="c-table-of-contents__menu-item"> <a class="c-table-of-contents__menu-link" href="#natural" data-table-of-contents-link>Natural causes of climate change</a> </li> <li class="c-table-of-contents__menu-item"> <a class="c-table-of-contents__menu-link" href="#human" data-table-of-contents-link>Human-driven causes of climate change</a> </li> <li class="c-table-of-contents__menu-item"> <a class="c-table-of-contents__menu-link" href="#transportation" data-table-of-contents-link>Transportation</a> </li> <li class="c-table-of-contents__menu-item"> <a class="c-table-of-contents__menu-link" href="#electricity" data-table-of-contents-link>Electricity generation</a> </li> <li class="c-table-of-contents__menu-item"> <a class="c-table-of-contents__menu-link" href="#industry" data-table-of-contents-link>Industry & manufacturing</a> </li> <li class="c-table-of-contents__menu-item"> <a class="c-table-of-contents__menu-link" href="#agriculture" data-table-of-contents-link>Agriculture</a> </li> <li class="c-table-of-contents__menu-item"> <a class="c-table-of-contents__menu-link" href="#oilampgas" data-table-of-contents-link>Oil & gas development</a> </li> <li class="c-table-of-contents__menu-item"> <a class="c-table-of-contents__menu-link" href="#buildings" data-table-of-contents-link>Buildings</a> </li> <li class="c-table-of-contents__menu-item"> <a class="c-table-of-contents__menu-link" href="#deforestation" data-table-of-contents-link>Deforestation</a> </li> <li class="c-table-of-contents__menu-item"> <a class="c-table-of-contents__menu-link" href="#choices" data-table-of-contents-link>Our lifestyle choices</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="c-table-of-contents__section u-clearfix" id="natural" data-table-of-contents-section> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg"> <h2>Natural causes of climate change</h2> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg u-clearfix" data-wysiwyg> <p>Some amount of climate change can be attributed to natural phenomena. Over the course of Earth’s existence, <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/faq/42/what-do-volcanoes-have-to-do-with-climate-change/">volcanic eruptions</a>, fluctuations in <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/ask-nasa-climate/2910/what-is-the-suns-role-in-climate-change/#:~:text=Warming%20from%20increased%20levels%20of,0.1%20percent%20during%20that%20period.">solar radiation</a>, <a href="https://eos.org/features/three-times-tectonics-changed-the-climate">tectonic shifts</a>, and even small <a href="https://ugc.berkeley.edu/background-content/earths-spin-tilt-orbit/">changes in our orbit</a> have all had observable effects on planetary warming and cooling patterns.</p> <p>But climate records are able to show that today’s global warming—particularly what has occured since the start of the industrial revolution—is happening much, much faster than ever before. According to <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/GlobalWarming/page4.php">NASA</a>, “[t]hese natural causes are still in play today, but their influence is too small or they occur too slowly to explain the rapid warming seen in recent decades.” And the records refute the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/climate-misinformation-social-media-undermining-climate-action">misinformation</a> that natural causes are the main culprits behind climate change, as some in the fossil fuel industry and conservative think tanks would like us to believe.</p> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <figure class="c-figure"> <div class="c-figure__media"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_25/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-4a07766v-2400-2.jpg.webp?itok=hCXH9zt8 192w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_50/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-4a07766v-2400-2.jpg.webp?itok=h6kr2a3e 384w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_75/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-4a07766v-2400-2.jpg.webp?itok=4052VjCf 576w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-4a07766v-2400-2.jpg.webp?itok=Xz7yE1uC 768w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_150/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-4a07766v-2400-2.jpg.webp?itok=Uu3CoGTx 1152w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_200/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-4a07766v-2400-2.jpg.webp?itok=mZwLvVsc 1360w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) min(calc((100vw - 4.44444rem) / 2), 768px), (min-width: 808px) max(calc((100vw - 2.22222rem) / 2), 29rem), calc(100vw - 2.22222rem)" width="576" height="384" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-4a07766v-2400-2.jpg.jpg?itok=Xz7yE1uC" alt="A black and white image of an industrial plant on the banks of a body of water, with black smoke rising from three smokestacks" /> </div> <figcaption class="c-figure__caption"><div class="c-figure__caption-text"><p>Chemical manufacturing plants emit fumes along Onondaga Lake in Solvay, New York, in the late-19th century. Over time, industrial development severely polluted the local area.</p></div><div class="c-figure__caption-credit"> <span class="u-visually-hidden">Credit: </span><p>Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Detroit Publishing Company Collection</p></div></figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="c-table-of-contents__section u-clearfix" id="human" data-table-of-contents-section> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg"> <h2>Human-driven causes of climate change</h2> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg u-clearfix" data-wysiwyg> <p><a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/ipcc-weve-already-warmed-planet-catastrophic-effect-level-catastrophe-us">Scientists agree</a> that human activity is the primary driver of what we’re seeing now worldwide. (This type of climate change is sometimes referred to as <em>anthropogenic</em>, which is just a way of saying “caused by human beings.”) The unchecked burning of fossil fuels over the past 150 years has drastically increased the presence of atmospheric greenhouse gases, most notably <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3020/how-much-carbon-dioxide-are-we-emitting/">carbon dioxide</a>. At the same time, logging and development have led to the widespread destruction of forests, wetlands, and other <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/stop-clearcutting-carbon-sinks">carbon sinks</a>—natural resources that store carbon dioxide and prevent it from being released into the atmosphere.</p> <p>Right now, atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/natural-gas-101">methane</a>, and nitrous oxide are the highest they’ve been in the last <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_SPM_final.pdf">800,000 years</a>. Some greenhouse gases, like <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/issues/phase-down-hfcs">hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HFCs)</a>, do not even exist in nature. By continuously pumping these gases into the air, we helped raise the earth’s average temperature by about <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/global-temperatures">1.9 degrees Fahrenheit</a> during the 20th century—which has <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/are-effects-global-warming-really-bad">brought us to our current era</a> of deadly, and increasingly routine, weather extremes. And it’s important to note that while climate change affects everyone in some way, it doesn’t do so equally: All over the world, people of color and those living in economically disadvantaged or politically marginalized communities bear <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/vijay-limaye/inequitable-health-economic-burdens-climate-change">a much larger burden</a>, despite the fact that these communities play a much smaller role in warming the planet.</p> <p>Our ways of generating power for electricity, heat, and transportation, our built environment and industries, our ways of interacting with the land, and our consumption habits together serve as the primary drivers of climate change. While the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions">percentages of greenhouse gases</a> stemming from each source may fluctuate, the sources themselves remain relatively consistent.</p> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <figure class="c-figure"> <div class="c-figure__media"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_25/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-472072587-2400.jpg.webp?itok=VC4u1JsD 192w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_50/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-472072587-2400.jpg.webp?itok=4giBw7Ru 384w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_75/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-472072587-2400.jpg.webp?itok=fjV2hnBr 576w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-472072587-2400.jpg.webp?itok=iWN-OqwI 768w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_150/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-472072587-2400.jpg.webp?itok=-VqwTnJs 1152w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_200/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-472072587-2400.jpg.webp?itok=oZePwzT9 1360w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) min(calc((100vw - 4.44444rem) / 2), 768px), (min-width: 808px) max(calc((100vw - 2.22222rem) / 2), 29rem), calc(100vw - 2.22222rem)" width="576" height="384" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-472072587-2400.jpg.jpg?itok=iWN-OqwI" alt="Four lanes of cars and trucks sit in traffic on a highway" /> </div> <figcaption class="c-figure__caption"><div class="c-figure__caption-text"><p>Traffic on Interstate 25 in Denver</p></div><div class="c-figure__caption-credit"> <span class="u-visually-hidden">Credit: </span><p>David Parsons/iStock</p></div></figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="c-table-of-contents__section u-clearfix" id="transportation" data-table-of-contents-section> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg"> <h2>Transportation</h2> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg u-clearfix" data-wysiwyg> <p>The cars, trucks, ships, and planes that we use to transport ourselves and our goods are a major source of global greenhouse gas emissions. (In the United States, they actually constitute the single-largest source.) Burning petroleum-based fuel in combustion engines releases massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Passenger cars account for 41 percent of those emissions, with the typical passenger vehicle emitting about <a href="https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/greenhouse-gas-emissions-typical-passenger-vehicle">4.6 metric tons</a> of carbon dioxide per year. And trucks are by far the worst polluters on the road. They run almost constantly and largely burn diesel fuel, which is why, despite accounting for just 4 percent of U.S. vehicles, <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/bidens-clean-trucks-proposal-too-slow-ditching-dirty-diesel">trucks emit 23 percent</a> of all greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.</p> <p>We can get these numbers down, but we need <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/resources/inflation-reduction-act-big-step-toward-climate-safe-future">large-scale investments</a> to get more <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/electric-vs-gas-it-cheaper-drive-ev">zero-emission vehicles</a> on the road and increase <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/deron-lovaas/investing-clean-just-transportation-future">access to reliable public transit</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-table-of-contents__section u-clearfix" id="electricity" data-table-of-contents-section> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg"> <h2>Electricity generation</h2> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg u-clearfix" data-wysiwyg> <p>As of 2021, nearly <a href="https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us.php">60 percent</a> of the electricity used in the United States comes from the burning of coal, <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/natural-gas-101">natural gas</a>, and other <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/fossil-fuels-dirty-facts">fossil fuels</a>. Because of the electricity sector’s historical investment in these dirty energy sources, it accounts for roughly a quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.</p> <p>That history is undergoing a major change, however: As renewable energy sources like wind and solar become cheaper and easier to develop, utilities are turning to them more frequently. The percentage of <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/renewable-energy-clean-facts">clean, renewable energy</a> is growing every year—and with that growth comes a corresponding decrease in pollutants.</p> <p>But while things are moving in the right direction, they’re not moving fast enough. If we’re to keep the earth’s average temperature from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius, which <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/ipcc-climate-change-reports-why-they-matter-everyone-planet">scientists say we must do</a> in order to avoid the very worst impacts of climate change, we have to take every available opportunity to <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/manish-bapna/why-congress-must-pass-climate-bill">speed up the shift</a> from fossil fuels to renewables in the electricity sector.</p> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <figure class="c-figure"> <div class="c-figure__media"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_25/public/media-uploads/nrdc_edt_topofmindiragraphicresize_600x400.png.webp?itok=SW_pfEwS 192w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_50/public/media-uploads/nrdc_edt_topofmindiragraphicresize_600x400.png.webp?itok=fKyhRQT8 384w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_75/public/media-uploads/nrdc_edt_topofmindiragraphicresize_600x400.png.webp?itok=tfp2ukce 576w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc_edt_topofmindiragraphicresize_600x400.png.webp?itok=URISDZYo 768w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_150/public/media-uploads/nrdc_edt_topofmindiragraphicresize_600x400.png.webp?itok=X5jqsCdm 1152w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_200/public/media-uploads/nrdc_edt_topofmindiragraphicresize_600x400.png.webp?itok=LMv6TH4i 1360w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) min(calc((100vw - 4.44444rem) / 2), 768px), (min-width: 808px) max(calc((100vw - 2.22222rem) / 2), 29rem), calc(100vw - 2.22222rem)" width="576" height="432" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc_edt_topofmindiragraphicresize_600x400.png.jpg?itok=URISDZYo" alt="A graphic titled "Total U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Economic Sector (2020)"" /> </div> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="c-table-of-contents__section u-clearfix" id="industry" data-table-of-contents-section> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg"> <h2>Industry & manufacturing</h2> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg u-clearfix" data-wysiwyg> <p>The factories and facilities that produce our goods are significant sources of greenhouse gases; in 2020, they were responsible for fully 24 percent of U.S. emissions. Most industrial emissions come from the production of a small set of carbon-intensive products, including basic chemicals, iron and steel, cement and concrete, aluminum, glass, and paper. To manufacture the building blocks of our infrastructure and the vast array of products demanded by consumers, producers must burn through massive amounts of energy. In addition, older facilities in need of efficiency upgrades frequently leak these gases, along with other harmful forms of <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/air-pollution-everything-you-need-know">air pollution</a>.</p> <p>One way to reduce the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/sasha-stashwick/we-can-transform-us-industry">industrial sector’s carbon footprint</a> is to increase efficiency through improved technology and stronger enforcement of pollution regulations. Another way is to rethink our attitudes toward consumption (particularly when it comes to <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/single-use-plastics-101">plastics</a>), <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/spare-yourself-guilt-trip-earth-day-its-companies-need-clean-their-acts">recycling</a>, and <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/reduce-reuse-recycle-most-all-reduce">reuse</a>—so that we don’t need to be producing so many things in the first place. And, since major infrastructure projects rely heavily on industries like cement manufacturing (responsible for <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/sasha-stashwick/cut-carbon-and-toxic-pollution-make-cement-clean-and-green">7 percent</a> of annual global greenhouse gas), policy mandates must <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/amanda-levin/top-climate-elements-senate-budget-reconciliation">leverage the government’s purchasing power</a> to grow markets for cleaner alternatives, and ensure that state and federal agencies procure more sustainably produced materials for these projects. Hastening the switch from fossil fuels to renewables will also go a long way toward cleaning up this energy-intensive sector.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-table-of-contents__section u-clearfix" id="agriculture" data-table-of-contents-section> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg"> <h2>Agriculture</h2> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg u-clearfix" data-wysiwyg> <p>The advent of modern, <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/industrial-agriculture-101">industrialized agriculture</a> has significantly altered the vital but <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/resources/regenerative-agriculture">delicate relationship</a> between soil and the climate—so much so that agriculture accounted for 11 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2020. This sector is especially notorious for giving off large amounts of nitrous oxide and methane, powerful gases that are highly effective at trapping heat. The widespread adoption of <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/industrial-agricultural-pollution-101">chemical fertilizers</a>, combined with certain crop-management practices that prioritize high yields over soil health, means that agriculture accounts for nearly three-quarters of the nitrous oxide found in our atmosphere. Meanwhile, large-scale industrialized livestock production continues to be a significant source of atmospheric methane, which is emitted as a function of the digestive processes of cattle and other ruminants.</p> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <figure class="c-figure"> <div class="c-figure__media"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_25/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-0029-2400.jpg.webp?itok=xcCZOoVR 192w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_50/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-0029-2400.jpg.webp?itok=irqUi38D 384w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_75/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-0029-2400.jpg.webp?itok=lT4_2xri 576w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-0029-2400.jpg.webp?itok=T1Gyn5m6 768w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_150/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-0029-2400.jpg.webp?itok=tnrijCTR 1152w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_200/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-0029-2400.jpg.webp?itok=y4UA6BsX 1360w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) min(calc((100vw - 4.44444rem) / 2), 768px), (min-width: 808px) max(calc((100vw - 2.22222rem) / 2), 29rem), calc(100vw - 2.22222rem)" width="576" height="384" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-0029-2400.jpg.jpg?itok=T1Gyn5m6" alt="A man in a cap and outdoor vest in front of a wooden building holds a large squash" /> </div> <figcaption class="c-figure__caption"><div class="c-figure__caption-text"><p>Stephen McComber holds a squash harvested from the community garden in Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Territory, a First Nations reserve of the Mohawks of Kahnawà:ke, in Quebec.</p></div><div class="c-figure__caption-credit"> <span class="u-visually-hidden">Credit: </span><p>Stephanie Foden for NRDC</p></div></figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg u-clearfix" data-wysiwyg> <p>But farmers and ranchers—especially Indigenous farmers, who have been <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/mississippi-tribe-growing-its-own-organic-movement">tending the land</a> according to <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/saving-salmon-one-generation-fisherwomen-next">sustainable principles</a>—are reminding us that there’s more than one way to feed the world. By adopting the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/resources/regenerative-agriculture">philosophies and methods</a> associated with <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/regenerative-agriculture-101">regenerative agriculture</a>, we can slash emissions from this sector while boosting our soil’s capacity for sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, and producing healthier foods.</p> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <figure class="c-figure"> <div class="c-figure__media"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_25/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-1233720228-2400.jpg.webp?itok=Ussay_PJ 192w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_50/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-1233720228-2400.jpg.webp?itok=LwdpoQm2 384w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_75/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-1233720228-2400.jpg.webp?itok=pwK5ym-u 576w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-1233720228-2400.jpg.webp?itok=NGx1D8mj 768w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_150/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-1233720228-2400.jpg.webp?itok=f5cOKlRB 1152w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_200/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-1233720228-2400.jpg.webp?itok=sdYFxrF8 1360w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) min(calc((100vw - 4.44444rem) / 2), 768px), (min-width: 808px) max(calc((100vw - 2.22222rem) / 2), 29rem), calc(100vw - 2.22222rem)" width="576" height="384" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-1233720228-2400.jpg.jpg?itok=NGx1D8mj" alt="A pipe sticks out of a hole in the ground in the center of a wide pit surrounded by crude fencing" /> </div> <figcaption class="c-figure__caption"><div class="c-figure__caption-text"><p>A decades-old, plugged and abandoned oil well at a cattle ranch in Crane County, Texas, in June 2021, when it was found to be leaking brine water</p></div><div class="c-figure__caption-credit"> <span class="u-visually-hidden">Credit: </span><p>Matthew Busch/Bloomberg via Getty Images</p></div></figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="c-table-of-contents__section u-clearfix" id="oilampgas" data-table-of-contents-section> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg"> <h2>Oil & gas development</h2> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg u-clearfix" data-wysiwyg> <p>Oil and <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/natural-gas-101">gas</a> lead to emissions at every stage of their production and consumption—not only when they’re burned as fuel, but just as soon as we drill a hole in the ground to begin extracting them. <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/fossil-fuels-dirty-facts">Fossil fuel</a> development is a major source of methane, which invariably leaks from <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/onearth/natural-gas-industry-has-methane-problem">oil and gas operations</a>: drilling, <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/fracking-101">fracking</a>, transporting, and refining. And while methane isn’t as prevalent a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide, it’s many times more potent at trapping heat during the first 20 years of its release into the atmosphere. Even abandoned and inoperative wells—sometimes known as <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/millions-leaky-and-abandoned-oil-and-gas-wells-are-threatening-lives-and-climate">“orphaned” wells</a>—leak methane. More than 3 million of these old, defunct wells are spread across the country and were responsible for emitting more than 280,000 metric tons of methane in 2018.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-table-of-contents__section u-clearfix" id="buildings" data-table-of-contents-section> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg"> <h2>Buildings</h2> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg u-clearfix" data-wysiwyg> <p>Unsurprisingly, given how much time we spend inside of them, our buildings—both residential and commercial—emit a lot of greenhouse gases. Heating, cooling, cooking, running appliances, and maintaining other building-wide systems accounted for 13 percent of U.S. emissions overall in 2020. And even worse, some 30 percent of the energy used in U.S. buildings <a href="https://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/publications/pubdocs/C+I_brochure.pdf">goes to waste, on average.</a></p> <p>Every day, great strides are being made in <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/energy-efficiency-clean-facts">energy efficiency</a>, allowing us to achieve the same (or even better) results with less energy expended. By requiring all new buildings to employ the highest efficiency standards—and by retrofitting existing buildings with the most up-to-date technologies—we’ll <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/pierre-delforge/cutting-emissions-buildings-critical-climate-fight">reduce emissions</a> in this sector while simultaneously making it easier and cheaper for people in all communities to heat, cool, and power their homes: <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/marissa-ramirez/energy-efficiency-nrdcs-commitment-environmental-justice">a top goal</a> of the environmental justice movement.</p> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <figure class="c-figure"> <div class="c-figure__media"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_25/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-2589-2400.jpg.webp?itok=SEsqmCHi 192w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_50/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-2589-2400.jpg.webp?itok=N5cBBI_6 384w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_75/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-2589-2400.jpg.webp?itok=LbfErZcw 576w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-2589-2400.jpg.webp?itok=iZu0UYXL 768w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_150/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-2589-2400.jpg.webp?itok=e32prSc- 1152w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_200/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-2589-2400.jpg.webp?itok=gBeuayg6 1360w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) min(calc((100vw - 4.44444rem) / 2), 768px), (min-width: 808px) max(calc((100vw - 2.22222rem) / 2), 29rem), calc(100vw - 2.22222rem)" width="576" height="384" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-2589-2400.jpg.jpg?itok=iZu0UYXL" alt="An aerial view show a large area of brown land surrounded by deep green land" /> </div> <figcaption class="c-figure__caption"><div class="c-figure__caption-text"><p><span>An aerial view of clearcut sections of boreal forest near Dryden in Northwestern Ontario, Canada, in June 2019</span></p></div><div class="c-figure__caption-credit"> <span class="u-visually-hidden">Credit: </span><p>River Jordan for NRDC</p></div></figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="c-table-of-contents__section u-clearfix" id="deforestation" data-table-of-contents-section> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg"> <h2>Deforestation</h2> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg u-clearfix" data-wysiwyg> <p>Another way we’re injecting more greenhouse gas into the atmosphere is through the <a href="/stories/deforestation-forest-degradation-causes-effects-solutions" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="2890362d-88c8-415d-a0f7-878b1257e738" data-entity-substitution="canonical" title="Deforestation and Forest Degradation: The Causes, Effects, and Solutions">clearcutting</a> of the world’s forests and the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/melanie-sturm/stewardship-wetlands-and-soils-has-climate-benefits">degradation of its wetlands</a>. Vegetation and soil store carbon by keeping it at ground level or underground. Through logging and other forms of development, we’re cutting down or digging up vegetative biomass and releasing all of its stored carbon into the air. In <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/josh-axelrod/canadas-boreal-clearcutting-climate-threat">Canada’s boreal forest</a> alone, clearcutting is responsible for releasing more than 25 million metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year—the emissions equivalent of 5.5 million vehicles.</p> <p>Government policies that emphasize sustainable practices, combined with shifts in <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/shoppers-guide-home-tissue-products">consumer behavior</a>, are needed to offset this dynamic and restore the planet’s <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/stop-clearcutting-carbon-sinks">carbon sinks</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <figure class="c-figure"> <div class="c-figure__media"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_25/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-4z7a1030-2400.jpg.webp?itok=hE-742m9 192w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_50/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-4z7a1030-2400.jpg.webp?itok=givtH0h2 384w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_75/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-4z7a1030-2400.jpg.webp?itok=tnHuU3Vz 576w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-4z7a1030-2400.jpg.webp?itok=-c0HnEz0 768w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_150/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-4z7a1030-2400.jpg.webp?itok=STT-KlUa 1152w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_200/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-4z7a1030-2400.jpg.webp?itok=vS3Qsjg8 1360w" sizes="(min-width: 1024px) min(calc((100vw - 4.44444rem) / 2), 768px), (min-width: 808px) max(calc((100vw - 2.22222rem) / 2), 29rem), calc(100vw - 2.22222rem)" width="576" height="384" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_100/public/media-uploads/nrdc-causes-climate-change-4z7a1030-2400.jpg.jpg?itok=-c0HnEz0" alt="A passnger train crosses over a bridge on a river" /> </div> <figcaption class="c-figure__caption"><div class="c-figure__caption-text"><p>The Yellow Line Metro train crossing over the Potomac River from Washington, DC, to Virginia on June 24, 2022</p></div><div class="c-figure__caption-credit"> <span class="u-visually-hidden">Credit: </span><p>Sarah Baker</p></div></figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="c-table-of-contents__section u-clearfix" id="choices" data-table-of-contents-section> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg"> <h2>Our lifestyle choices</h2> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg u-clearfix" data-wysiwyg> <p>The <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/how-you-can-stop-global-warming">decisions we make every day</a> as individuals—which products we purchase, how much electricity we consume, how we get around, what we eat (and what we don’t—food waste makes up <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/darby-hoover/federal-food-waste-bills-offer-climate-solution">4 percent</a> of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions)—add up to our single, unique <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/how-ditch-biggest-fossil-fuel-offenders-your-life">carbon footprints</a>. Put all of them together and you end up with humanity’s collective carbon footprint. The first step in reducing it is for us to acknowledge the uneven distribution of climate change’s causes and effects, and for those who bear the greatest responsibility for global greenhouse gas emissions to slash them without bringing further harm to <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/rich-polluting-nations-still-owe-developing-world">those who are least responsible</a>.</p> <p>The big, climate-affecting decisions made by utilities, industries, and governments are shaped, in the end, by <em>us</em>: our needs, our demands, our priorities. Winning the fight against climate change will require us to rethink those needs, <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/demand-climate-action">ramp up those demands</a>, and reset those priorities. Short-term thinking of the sort that <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/spare-yourself-guilt-trip-earth-day-its-companies-need-clean-their-acts">enriches corporations</a> must give way to long-term planning that strengthens communities and secures the health and safety of all people. And our definition of climate advocacy must go beyond slogans and move, swiftly, into the realm of collective action—fueled by righteous anger, perhaps, but guided by faith in science and in our ability to change the world for the better.</p> <p>If our activity has brought us to this dangerous point in human history, breaking old patterns can help us find a way out.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__main"> <div class="c-wysiwyg u-clearfix" data-wysiwyg> <hr> <p><em><small>This NRDC.org story is available for online republication by news media outlets or nonprofits under these conditions: The writer(s) must be credited with a byline; you must note prominently that the story was originally published by NRDC.org and link to the original; the story cannot be edited (beyond simple things such as grammar); you can’t resell the story in any form or grant republishing rights to other outlets; you can’t republish our material wholesale or automatically—you need to select stories individually; you can’t republish the photos or graphics on our site without specific permission; you should </small></em><a href="/contact-us"><em><small>drop us a note</small></em></a><em><small> to let us know when you’ve used one of our stories.</small></em></p> </div> </div> <div class="l-page__full-bleed"> <div data-call-to-action> <div class="c-call-to-action-sticky" data-call-to-action-hide> <div class="l-constrain"> <div class="c-call-to-action-sticky__content" data-call-to-action-fade> <div class="c-call-to-action-sticky__left"> <h2 class="c-call-to-action-sticky__header"><p>The Trump administration will bring an unrelenting assault on our planet.</p></h2> <div class="c-call-to-action-sticky__body"> <p>Join us in fighting back to stop the Trump administration's agenda. Are you with us?</p> </div> </div> <div class="c-call-to-action-sticky__right"> <a class="c-button c-button--secondary" href="https://action.nrdc.org/petition/3658-stop-trump-agenda-pledge-120524?initms=WBSNATAPPETC31224&ms=WBSNATAPPETC31224">STAND WITH US</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-call-to-action" id="call-to-action"> <div class="l-constrain"> <div class="c-call-to-action__content" data-call-to-action-content> <div class="c-call-to-action__media"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_25/public/2024-11/NRDC_DAF_Asset11_TrumpAdministrationPopUp_White%20House_1536x864_003.jpg.webp?h=44e2402b&itok=cWgEVZT8 192w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_50/public/2024-11/NRDC_DAF_Asset11_TrumpAdministrationPopUp_White%20House_1536x864_003.jpg.webp?h=44e2402b&itok=Junecta9 384w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_75/public/2024-11/NRDC_DAF_Asset11_TrumpAdministrationPopUp_White%20House_1536x864_003.jpg.webp?h=44e2402b&itok=8tQtq2Cj 576w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_100/public/2024-11/NRDC_DAF_Asset11_TrumpAdministrationPopUp_White%20House_1536x864_003.jpg.webp?h=44e2402b&itok=x0vAlKdA 768w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_150/public/2024-11/NRDC_DAF_Asset11_TrumpAdministrationPopUp_White%20House_1536x864_003.jpg.webp?h=44e2402b&itok=McRJGgsm 1152w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_200/public/2024-11/NRDC_DAF_Asset11_TrumpAdministrationPopUp_White%20House_1536x864_003.jpg.webp?h=44e2402b&itok=sIJfBNke 1360w" sizes="(min-width: 768px) min(calc((100vw - 2.22222rem) / 2), 768px), 100vw" width="576" height="324" src="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_100/public/2024-11/NRDC_DAF_Asset11_TrumpAdministrationPopUp_White%20House_1536x864_003.jpg.jpg?h=44e2402b&itok=x0vAlKdA" alt="A black and white image of the White House, with the black shades darker than the rest of the photo" /> </div> <div class="c-call-to-action__main"> <h2 class="c-call-to-action__heading">Stand with NRDC to stop the Trump agenda</h2> <div class="c-call-to-action__body"> <p>During Trump’s first term, we sued the administration an average of once every 10 days for four years, and we're ready to use our legal muscle again—but it’s going to take more to stop the administration's assault on our planet. Whether we succeed or fail at stopping the Trump agenda rests in part on how many of us come together to fight back. Are you with us?</p> </div> <div class="c-call-to-action__button"> <a class="c-button c-button--secondary" href="https://action.nrdc.org/petition/3658-stop-trump-agenda-pledge-120524?initms=WBSNATAPPETC31224&ms=WBSNATAPPETC31224">STAND WITH US</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div class="l-page__main u-spaced-2-above"> <div class="c-field c-field--name-field-issue-terms c-field--type-entity-reference c-field--label-hidden"> <div class="c-field__label">Related Issues</div> <a class="c-button c-button--tertiary" href="/issues/climate-change" rel="nofollow">Climate Change</a> <a class="c-button c-button--tertiary" href="/issues/transportation" rel="nofollow">Transportation</a> <a class="c-button c-button--tertiary" href="/issues/buildings" rel="nofollow">Buildings</a> <a class="c-button c-button--tertiary" href="/issues/industrial-production" rel="nofollow">Industrial Production</a> <a class="c-button c-button--tertiary" href="/issues/agriculture-food" rel="nofollow">Agriculture & Food</a> <a class="c-button c-button--tertiary" href="/issues/fossil-fuels" rel="nofollow">Fossil Fuels</a> <a class="c-button c-button--tertiary" href="/issues/forests-lands" rel="nofollow">Forests & Lands</a></div></div> <div class="l-page__full-bleed"> <section class="l-section has-top-border"> <div class="l-constrain"> <div class="l-section__main"> <h2 class="l-section__title">Related Stories</h2> <div class="l-section__content"> <div class="c-view c-view--related-content c-view--display-news_commentary_how_to_guide_issue_location_audience view js-view-dom-id-86fc3d8a76677c6f6b1cf89024c4b52251942efe401d2b75a48935189bb1d63c"> <div class="l-card-grid l-card-grid--carousel" data-card-grid-carousel> <a class="l-card-grid__skipnav u-visually-hidden u-focusable" href="#carousel">Skip carousel items</a> <div class="l-card-grid__controls" data-card-grid-carousel-controls> <button class="l-card-grid__prev" aria-label="Previous"> <svg class="c-icon is-left icon--card-grid" role="img" aria-hidden="true"><use href="/themes/nrdc_theme/dist/images/sprite.artifact.svg#angle"></use></svg></button> <button class="l-card-grid__next" aria-label="Next"> <svg class="c-icon is-right icon--card-grid" role="img" aria-hidden="true"><use href="/themes/nrdc_theme/dist/images/sprite.artifact.svg#angle"></use></svg></button> </div> <div class="l-card-grid__content" data-card-grid-carousel-content > <div data-history-node-id="36270" class="c-card"> <div class="c-card__wrapper"> <div class="c-card__media"> <img loading="lazy" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_25/public/greatblueheron_14538878988_2400.jpg.webp?h=25af63a6&itok=rzgLtUTe 192w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_50/public/greatblueheron_14538878988_2400.jpg.webp?h=25af63a6&itok=o71ysOgt 384w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_75/public/greatblueheron_14538878988_2400.jpg.webp?h=25af63a6&itok=VISRZNlT 576w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_100/public/greatblueheron_14538878988_2400.jpg.webp?h=25af63a6&itok=sOZpRtI6 768w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_150/public/greatblueheron_14538878988_2400.jpg.webp?h=25af63a6&itok=kR1oss9r 1152w, /sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_200/public/greatblueheron_14538878988_2400.jpg.webp?h=25af63a6&itok=9ofKHjfB 1360w" sizes="(min-width: 1044px) min(calc((100vw - 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