Climate change refers to long-term shifts and alterations in temperature, weather patterns, and atmospheric conditions on Earth. While climate change has occurred naturally throughout Earth's history, the term is now most commonly used to describe recent changes largely driven by human activities, especially since the industrial revolution.
Key drivers include:
Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) for energy releases carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, leading to a "greenhouse effect" that warms the planet.
Deforestation: Trees absorb CO2, so widespread deforestation reduces the Earth's capacity to remove this greenhouse gas from the atmosphere, further contributing to warming.
Industrial Activities: In addition to energy production, agriculture, cement production, and other industrial activities emit large amounts of greenhouse gases.