OCEAN CONSERVATION ISSUES

Global Warming

Polar Bear swimming It's melting! It's melting! Evidence of global warming includes rising sea levels, melting polar caps, changing ocean pH, changes in weather trends, precipitation levels, precipitation patterns, cloud cover, and severe weather, all of which we are seeing today. Why is this happening?

The earth is warmed by a method called the Greenhouse Effect. The earth traps heat from the sun with its atmospheric gases, also known as "greenhouse gases". Without the greenhouse effect, the earth would be too cold for plants and animals to survive. However, since the beginning of the industrial revolution, human activities have been adding to the natural levels of greenhouse gases. This addition of gases causes the earth to trap more heat than it naturally would, leading to an increase in the average global temperature.

Many of our zoo species suffer from the effects of global warming. One of these animals is the polar bear who are threatened to extinction by the shrinking of their habitat in the Artic.

Join the Oregon Zoo in its efforts to stop global warming by modifying your daily routine to minimize your impact on the global climate.

Create less waste by following the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
Be mindful of your energy consumption; switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs and unplug unused electronics
Composting your food and yard waste reduces the amount of garbage you send to the landfills and reduces your greenhouse emissions.
Give your car a break and use public transportations, walking, or biking whenever possible.
Buy organic food from local producers when possible, and be conscientious of your meat and dairy consumption; eliminating meat and dairy products one day a week can make a big difference.
Help offset your carbon emissions and promote clean air by planting trees in your local community; one tree can take in 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the air a year!

Friends of Trees

TriMet: Oregon Public Transportation

City of Portland: Waste Prevention and Recycling

Bicycle Rentals in Portland: City of Portland Office of Transportation