| Question | Quick Explanation | Learn more at |
|---|---|---|
| Why aren't we looking at more hydropower? |
Hydropower is already a major source of power globally—it’s the largest source of renewable electricity and one of the fastest growing—but there are limited places to build hydropower, and large dams carry a number of social and environmental concerns. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/why-arent-we-looking-more-hydropower |
| I know that if we stop burning fossil fuels, it will reduce carbon emissions. But are there other benefits as well? |
Reducing fossil fuel use is not just a long-term investment to slow climate change—it also protects human health and environmental ecosystems, saving lives almost immediately. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/i-know-if-we-stop-burning-fossil-fuels-it-will-r... |
| Why don't we just plant a lot of trees? |
Forests are a crucial line of defense against climate change. But trees can’t absorb enough CO2 to stop climate change on their own, no matter how many we plant. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/why-dont-we-just-plant-lot-trees |
| Why is the ocean so important for climate change? |
The ocean acts as a “buffer” that protects our atmosphere from seeing the full effects of climate change. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/why-ocean-so-important-climate-change |
| What does the COVD-19 pandemic mean for climate change? |
While the short-term effects of the Covid-19 shutdown have been to lower greenhouse gas emissions, we are on the verge of losing crucial investments in fighting climate change. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/what-does-covid-19-pandemic-mean-climate-change |
| Do we have the technology to go carbon neutral today? |
We still need new breakthroughs to decarbonize many parts of our modern economy, especially if we don’t want to drive up the price of energy and goods. But we can make real progress with today’s technology, and invest in good ideas for the next generation of low-carbon solutions. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/do-we-have-technology-go-carbon-neutral-today |
| How is climate change affecting the weather today? |
Our planet is not only getting warmer—it’s also getting wetter. That shows up in ways both subtle and alarming. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/how-climate-change-affecting-weather-today |
| How expensive is it to switch to lower-carbon energy in my own home? |
If you can afford to make some investments upfront, you may actually save money in the long run by using lower-carbon energy. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/how-expensive-it-switch-lower-carbon-energy-my-o... |
| How much is a ton of carbon dioxide? |
In 2019, humans emitted more than 35 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. It can be difficult to picture a “ton” of a gas like CO2, so let’s describe it in a few different ways. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/how-much-ton-carbon-dioxide |
| Should we be worried about Earth getting warmer if we cut coal power? |
Coal plants, despite some cooling effects from their complex mix of pollutants, are a major contributor to global warming. If we shut plants down, there might be some extra warming at first, but overall, temperatures will cool. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/should-we-be-worried-about-earth-getting-warmer-... |