Warnings from a Warming Planet

This program examines the scientific evidence that the burning of fossil fuels has had on our fragile planet. As the 20th Century entered its final decades, scientists began warning that the world's climate could shift as a result of 250 years of intense burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil. Burning fossil fuels release greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, which builds up in the lower atmosphere. We are now seeing the consequences: Dramatic shifts in the Arctic landscape and ocean temperatures, and massive death events in plant and animal life are among the factors that confirm these effects. There is now abundant evidence that we are experiencing a worldwide climate shift: The warmest years on record have been set consistently in the first years of this century with record-setting temperatures recorded globally