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Current Issues

Start exploring resources for various current issues.

Starting Points

Padlock icon: needs LSC library barcode to accessClimate change is now the recognized term for what used to be called padlock icon: needs LSC barcode to access"global warming," and it is the rise of average temperatures of the earth's surfaces, including the air and ocean. The increase is attributed to the experience known as the padlock icon: needs LSC barcode to access"greenhouse effect," caused by the build-up of carbon dioxide, methane, and other padlock icon: needs LSC barcode to accessgreenhouse gases (GHGs) and prevents infrared energy from escaping and traps heat at the earth surfaces.

In 1997 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) formed the padlock icon: needs LSC barcode to accessKyoto Protocol, which was signed in Kyoto, Japan. The protocol had 186 countries sign in commitment to reduce greenhouse gasses. Then in December 2015, the Paris Agreement was adopted in order to improve or replace the Kyoto Protocol. It was signed by 197 countries and ratified by 187 countries as of November 2019.

An article on climate change from CQResearcher.

From Global Social Issue: An Encylopedia.

A pro/con article from Issues & Controversies.

An image found on Gale in Context: Science.

Finding Resources

When using databases, it is useful to know related terms that might be used interchangeably but do not always mean the same thing, below are useful search terms:

  • Climate change, global warming, greenhouse effect
  • Impacts: sea-level rise, extreme weather, reduced biodiversity
  • Greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane
  • Energy production & consumption
    • emissions, fossil fuels, renewable energy
  • Regulations & Agreements
    • Kyoto Protocol 
    • Paris Agreement 

Be aware that just because an article is found within a library database does not mean it's a scholarly article!

Some databases contain a variety of resource types (like Academic Search Complete or Opposing Viewpoints) while a few others are exclusively scholarly (like JSTOR). Be aware of options to filter your results to scholarly articles as well as the criteria for recognizing a scholarly source.

Databases: 

Use the search terms from above to search the databases 

Jump into Your Research

Check out this sample search to get a feel for how to construct a limited search.

Get the News: 

Use these sample searches to begin your inquiry: 

More News! 

Use other databases to get news on climate change (and get around paywalls).

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