| Question | Quick Explanation | Learn more at |
|---|---|---|
| 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-... |
| Has there been climate change before? |
The Earth’s climate is always changing, but human-caused climate change today is unlike any other period in our planet’s history
|
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/has-there-been-climate-change |
| Could Snowpiercer actually happen? |
Not accidentally—there would need to be deliberate efforts over many generations to get an ice-covered Earth. But geoengineering to reduce the risks of climate change does pose other risks that are much more probable than the ones shown in Snowpiercer
|
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/could-snowpiercer-actually-happen |
| 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... |
| How do greenhosue gases trap heat in the atmosphere? |
Greenhouse gas molecules in the atmosphere absorb light, preventing some of it from escaping the Earth. This heats up the atmosphere and raises the planet’s average temperature. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/how-do-greenhouse-gases-trap-heat-atmosphere |
| How efficient is carbon capture and storage? |
Most carbon capture technologies aim to stop at least 90% of the CO2 in smokestacks from reaching the atmosphere. But as the technology approaches 100% efficiency, it gets more expensive and takes more energy to capture additional CO2. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/how-efficient-carbon-capture-and-storage |
| 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 |
| How are countries held accountable under the Paris Agreement? |
The short answer is that there is no hard enforcement in the Paris Agreement. But all the members regularly meet, share progress, and renew their pledges of climate action, encouraging every country to step up its commitments. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/how-are-countries-held-accountable-under-paris-a... |
| Why have I heard that eating meat is bad for the climate? |
Meat directly produces greenhouse gas emissions and requires more land and other resources than plant-based foods. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/why-have-i-heard-eating-meat-bad-climate |
| What is "sustainability"? Is it the same thing as taking action on climate change? |
Climate action is just one form of sustainability—a concept that asks us to see the big picture of what we are taking from the Earth, and how our actions affect future generations. |
https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/what-sustainability-it-same-thing-taking-action-... |