The Industrial Revolution began back in 1750 and, since that time up to 2009, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have increased by 38% and methane levels by 148%. Under natural circumstances the greenhouse effect is a good thing because it actually keeps our planet warm and makes it both habitable and hospitable. The problem is that this natural effect has been enhanced by the introduction of excess amounts of mainly methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The increases in temperature began to be globally monitored in the 1880s and it would seem that prior to this time, the annual rises had existed but been proportionately small. The main problems started after the beginning of the 20th century and, despite attempts to control pollution, these have seen substantial increases. When we discuss global warming we are only actually talking about 1 degree Celsius over the centuries, but this is an average across the entire surface of the earth.

Since 1880, the temperature has actually increased by 0.8 Celsius (1.4 degrees Fahrenheit) but the majority of that warming has been since 1975 when the temperature rose at an annual rate between 0.15 and 0.20 degrees Celsius. Therefore the larger proportion of global warming has taken place during the last 5 decades.