The term ‘Global Warming’ is spreading like wild fire, instigating each country and every individual to act fast. So when did it start? The fact is that ‘Global Warming’ began 18,000 years ago. Now the question, why are we all talking about it lately? It is because this is the first time in history that we are experiencing such a great chain of destruction (floods, tsunami, rising sea level etc) on account of rising temperatures. This brings us to the next question, ‘Why is there a rise in the temperature?’ The answer lies in the increase of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, due to deforestation and burning of fossil fuels by us.   Greenhouse gases (Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide and Fluorocarbons) naturally blanket our Earth and keep it about 91.4 degree F warmer than it would be without these gases in the atmosphere. This is called the Greenhouse Effect. Over the past century, the Earth’s temperature has increased by about 32.9 degree F and scientists believe this is because of an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases. This trend began about 240 years ago, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution. As more and more fossil fuels in the form of oil were mined and burned, gases as a by-product of that process began to be released in the atmosphere – gradually heating up the Earth.   This climate change is said to mark the beginning of Global Warming. It is feared that if people keep producing these gases at such alarming rates, it would result in severe floods and droughts, growing prevalence of insects, rising sea levels and redistribution of Earth’s precipitation.