"In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to Earth's climate."
The gradual increase in global temperatures due to the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Global temperature rise: The gradual increase in the Earth's average surface temperature due to greenhouse gas emissions.
Greenhouse gases: A group of gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect. The main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Sea level rise: The gradual increase in the average sea level due to melting glaciers and thermal expansion of seawater.
Ocean acidification: The decrease in pH of the Earth's ocean due to the absorption of carbon dioxide.
Extreme weather events: Unusual weather patterns that occur due to climate change, such as hurricanes, droughts, and heat waves.
Renewable energy sources: Energy sources that do not rely on fossil fuels, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.
Carbon footprint: The amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by an individual, organization, or product.
Climate modeling: The use of computer models to simulate climate systems and predict future climate change scenarios.
Geoengineering: The deliberate manipulation of the Earth's climate system to counteract the effects of climate change, such as carbon capture and storage and solar radiation management.
Water scarcity: The shortage of freshwater resources due to climate change and human activities.
Agriculture and food security: The impact of climate change on crop yields, food production, and food security.
Carbon pricing: A policy mechanism that puts a price on carbon emissions in order to encourage more sustainable practices.
Adaptation and mitigation strategies: Various strategies and actions that can be taken to address climate change, ranging from reducing emissions to adapting to the impacts of climate change.
International climate agreements: The various agreements and treaties between countries aimed at addressing climate change, such as the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Climate finance: The financing needed to support climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, such as investments in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure.
Droughts: Prolonged periods with little or no rainfall lead to water scarcity and cause a severe shortage of water for human consumption and farming practices.
Flooding: Increased precipitation and extreme weather events lead to massive flooding, leading to displacement of people, erosion, and destruction of structures.
Extreme weather events: Changes in climate patterns lead to extreme heatwaves, storms or blizzards that occur more frequently than usual.
Rising sea levels: Melting glaciers and ice caps due to climate change cause sea levels to rise, leading to the displacement of coastal populations and destruction of marine environments.
Changes in river flow: Changes in rainfall and melting of snowpacks cause changes in river flows, leading to fluctuations in water supply and water quality.
Desertification: The prolonged droughts and desertification lead to a decrease in the fertile land available for agriculture, and the soil becomes less productive.
Ocean acidification: Increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere result in increased acidity in the oceans, leading to the destruction of marine ecosystems and food chains.
Melting permafrost: The melting of permafrost releases methane and carbon dioxide gases and leads to soil instability, causing damage to human settlements and infrastructure.
Landslides and mudflows: Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns lead to increased landslides and mudflows, causing damage to human life and infrastructure.
Glacier calving: Increased temperatures lead to the breaking of glaciers, causing flooding in the areas below the glaciers.
Erosion: Changes in rainfall and land use, along with increasing temperatures, can cause soil erosion, leading to loss of vegetation, reduced water quality, and damage to infrastructure.
Wetland loss: Changes in rainfall and temperature cause wetlands to dry up or become less productive, leading to a loss of important biodiversity and natural habitats.
Soil degradation: Changes in temperature or precipitation patterns and overuse can lead to soil degradation, reducing its capacity to support plant and animal life.
Saltwater intrusion: Rising sea levels increase the risk of saltwater intrusion into freshwater resources, leading to reduced water quality and a shortage of water for human consumption.
Changes in groundwater recharge: Changes in precipitation patterns and land use activities, such as deforestation or urbanization, can affect the amount of water that enters the groundwater system.
"The current rise in global average temperature is more rapid than previous changes, and is primarily caused by humans burning fossil fuels."
"Fossil fuel use, deforestation, and some agricultural and industrial practices increase greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide and methane."
"Greenhouse gases absorb some of the heat that the Earth radiates after it warms from sunlight. Larger amounts of these gases trap more heat in Earth's lower atmosphere, causing global warming."
"Deserts are expanding, while heat waves and wildfires are becoming more common. Amplified warming in the Arctic has contributed to melting permafrost, glacial retreat, and sea ice loss. Higher temperatures are also causing more intense storms, droughts, and other weather extremes."
"Rapid environmental change in mountains, coral reefs, and the Arctic is forcing many species to relocate or become extinct."
"Even if efforts to minimise future warming are successful, some effects will continue for centuries. These include ocean heating, ocean acidification, and sea level rise."
"Climate change threatens people with increased flooding, extreme heat, increased food and water scarcity, more disease, and economic loss. Human migration and conflict can also be a result."
"The World Health Organization (WHO) calls climate change the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century."
"Adapting to climate change through efforts like flood control measures or drought-resistant crops partially reduces climate change risks, although some limits to adaptation have already been reached."
"Poorer communities are responsible for a small share of global emissions, yet have the least ability to adapt and are most vulnerable to climate change."
"Many climate change impacts are already felt at the current 1.2 °C (2.2 °F) level of warming."
"Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, nations collectively agreed to keep warming 'well under 2 °C'."
"With pledges made under the Agreement, global warming would still reach about 2.7 °C (4.9 °F) by the end of the century."
"Limiting warming to 1.5 °C will require halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050."
"Reducing emissions requires generating electricity from low-carbon sources rather than burning fossil fuels."
"This change includes phasing out coal and natural gas-fired power plants, vastly increasing use of wind, solar, nuclear and other types of renewable energy."
"Carbon can also be removed from the atmosphere, for instance by increasing forest cover and farming with methods that capture carbon in soil."
"Electricity generated from non-carbon-emitting sources will need to replace fossil fuels for powering transportation, heating buildings, and operating industrial facilities."
"Carbon can also be removed from the atmosphere, for instance by increasing forest cover and farming with methods that capture carbon in soil."