This is page is archived. Please visit the CorpWatch Homepage for the latest information. The Earth's climate is the result of complex interactions between the atmosphere, ocean, land masses and living organisms, all warmed by the sun. Greenhouse gases trap the heat of the sun, and the natural balance of those gases is what allows our climate to support life.
Climate change is the effect on the natural climate caused by human activities.
Industrial society is affecting the climate by releasing massive amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. As industrial activities have increased, the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases have also increased, upsetting the natural balance of gases. There has been intense debate over the science of global warming and whether human activities will really change the climate. Industry has used this debate skillfully to instill doubt in policy makers and the public eye in order to avoid changing business as usual. By far the majority of scientists, the United Nations, the U.S. government, and even most of the private sector now agree that climate change is real.