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What is climate change?
Quick answer
Climate change is a long-term shift in global temperatures and weather patterns. Today's warming is driven mainly by humans burning fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane let sunlight in but trap outgoing heat — the 'greenhouse effect.'.
Key things to understand
- Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane let sunlight in but trap outgoing heat — the 'greenhouse effect.'
- Burning coal, oil, and gas is the largest source of the extra CO₂ warming the planet.
- Effects include rising sea levels, more extreme weather, shifting seasons, and stress on ecosystems.
- It's distinct from weather: climate is the long-term average; weather is day-to-day.
People also ask
What's the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions; climate is the average of weather over decades. Climate change is a shift in those long-term averages.
What causes climate change?
Primarily human emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industry, which intensify the natural greenhouse effect.
What is the greenhouse effect?
Gases in the atmosphere trap heat that would otherwise escape to space, keeping Earth warm. Too many of them cause excess warming.