Climate change refers to significant and lasting changes in temperature, weather patterns, and other climate systems over extended periods of time. While climate naturally varies, human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), deforestation, and industrial activities, have significantly accelerated global warming, causing disruptions to natural ecosystems, weather events, and communities.

The primary cause of current climate change is the increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. These gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), trap heat from the sun, causing the Earth’s average temperature to rise. Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels for energy, deforestation, and agriculture, contribute the most to the release of these gases.

Climate change affects the environment in numerous ways, including:

• Rising sea levels: Melting polar ice caps and glaciers, along with the expansion of seawater due to higher temperatures, are causing global sea levels to rise, threatening coastal communities.
• Extreme weather events: More frequent and intense storms, heatwaves, droughts, and floods are becoming common in many regions, impacting agriculture, infrastructure, and human health.
• Loss of biodiversity: As ecosystems change, many species struggle to adapt to the new conditions, resulting in habitat loss and extinction threats for wildlife.
• Ocean acidification: Increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere also dissolves in the ocean, making the water more acidic and threatening marine life, especially coral reefs.