Scientists began closely examining man-made climate change in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They observed that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere had been increasing steadily since the industrial revolution, and that the rate of increase was becoming much more dramatic. Higher atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are warming the atmosphere and thereby disrupting the climate.

An assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that if we fail to begin substantially reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, the global average surface air temperature will rise by three to seven degrees Fahrenheit by the end of this century. As a result, sea levels will rise, snow cover will contract, and sea ice will recede. Heat waves will become more frequent. Hurricanes and typhoons will become more intense and precipitation will decrease in the subtropics.

Senator Lieberman became involved in the climate change issue when scientific uncertainty was the main topic of debate and helped to increase funding for climate change research. The current debate has shifted as scientific research has become more certain and climate change predictions have become observations. Congress must now act to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions to preserve the world for our children and grandchildren.

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Watch Senator Joe explain the Climate Change Bill

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