Planet Earth is beautiful and resilient. For several billion years, a combination of planetary forces and natural processes on Earth and in its atmosphere determined the makeup and interactions of the physical and biological components of our planet. There were major disruptions, but Earth always rebounded.


In the relatively short time humans have been on the scene, Earth has provided us with an abundance of resources while keeping things in balance by patiently adjusting to an increasing array of abuses.


Earth is also vulnerable. About two centuries ago, the burning of fossil fuels began increasing the amount of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere at a rate that nature could no longer control. Those excess gases are warming the air, land, and oceans. Our failure to reduce the amount of these fossil fuel emissions has brought about major disruptions to Earth's ecosystems that are putting all forms of life at risk.


In these pages the reader will learn about some of global warming's most profound effects on the natural world and the consequences for people. Some promising initiatives are described that can give Earth a chance to heal.