Global warming--the rapid increase in atmospheric and ocean temperatures around the world--is happening now and will have a profound effect on national parks including Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Extreme heat waves, droughts, more wildland fires, coast flooding and erosion, and habitat destruction are among possible scenarios in the coming decades.
The National Park Service and Golden Gate National Recreation Area are taking action to reduce our greenhouse gas contributions, to educate staff and visitors about the problem and its solutions, and to develop new land management strategies in the face of coming changes.
You can learn more about the overall National Park Service response to climate change at the NPS Climate Change Response Program website.
Here at Golden Gate NRA, we have addressed these issues in a Climate Change Action Plan. This is a 20-year commitment. The plan has three concrete objectives:
1) Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
2) Educating the public (and ourselves)
3) Monitoring climate change and adapting to its effects
The Action Plan has a major component designed specifically for visitors who come to the Park in person or visit on-line. It's called DO YOUR PART! At the DO YOUR PART PARKS! web site you can join many other park visitors and stewards in confronting this world-wide threat by taking action to reduce your carbon footprint to protect your favorite parks.
Find out more about climate change and national parks
Learn about threats to Golden Gate
Explore the causes of global warming and climate change and find links to science resources
