What is Climate Change?
Climate change refers to a long-term shift in global or regional climate patterns, primarily characterized by significant changes in average temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events over decades or centuries. While Earth's climate has naturally varied throughout history, current climate change describes the rapid and unprecedented warming observed since the mid-20th century, largely attributed to human activities.
Key Causes and Drivers
The predominant driver of modern climate change is the enhanced greenhouse effect, caused by the accumulation of greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide) in the atmosphere. These gases, released mainly through human activities such as burning fossil fuels for energy, deforestation, industrial processes, and agriculture, trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space and thereby warming the planet.
Observed Impacts and Examples
The impacts of climate change are diverse and far-reaching. Examples include rising global temperatures leading to melting glaciers and ice caps, contributing to sea-level rise; increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, and wildfires; changes in agricultural yields; and disruptions to ecosystems and biodiversity worldwide.
Importance and Applications
Understanding climate change is crucial because its impacts threaten human societies, economies, and natural environments. Addressing it requires global cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to unavoidable changes, and develop sustainable practices to protect future generations and the planet's ecological balance, impacting policy, technology, and everyday life.