"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 study of the causes and consequences of climate change and global warming, and the potential strategies to mitigate and adapt to them.
Greenhouse Effect: The process by which greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to an increase in global temperatures.
Carbon Footprint: The amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted by a person, organization, or product.
Renewable Energy: Energy sources that are naturally replenished, such as solar, wind, and hydro power, and produce lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels.
Climate Science: The study of the Earth's climate system, including changes in temperature, precipitation, and weather patterns over time.
Mitigation: The process of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in order to prevent or delay the worst effects of climate change.
Adaptation: The process of adjusting to the unavoidable impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise and increased temperatures.
Paris Agreement: An international treaty signed by nearly all countries in 2015, which aims to limit global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Carbon Pricing: The imposition of a fee on carbon emissions in order to encourage companies and individuals to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
Climate Justice: The principle that those who are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change should not bear the burden of addressing it, and that global efforts to combat climate change should be ethical and equitable.
Climate Refugees: Those who are forced to flee their homes or countries due to the effects of climate change, such as sea level rise, extreme weather, or drought.
Global Warming: A gradual rise in Earth's average temperature due to an increase in greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.
Ocean Acidification: The process by which the pH of the ocean is lowered due to increased carbon dioxide absorption, which can harm marine organisms.
Melting of Arctic Sea Ice: The melting of Arctic sea ice is primarily caused by rising temperatures and is leading to changes in ocean currents, sea levels, and weather patterns.
Extreme Weather: Climate change has been linked to more frequent and severe heatwaves, hurricanes, droughts, and floods.
Glacial Retreat: Glaciers are retreating worldwide due to rising temperatures, which can lead to sea-level rise, water scarcity, and other climate-related impacts.
Coral Bleaching: Coral reefs are threatened by warmer waters that cause coral polyps to expel the algae that live inside them, turning them white and causing them to starve.
Sea Level Rise: Sea levels are rising as a result of thermal expansion of seawater and melting ice caps and glaciers.
Desertification: Desertification occurs when land that was once fertile becomes barren due to overgrazing, deforestation, and other human activities.
Permafrost Thaw: Arctic permafrost contains large amounts of carbon, which can be released into the atmosphere as methane gas as permafrost thaws due to rising temperatures.
Changes in Ecosystems: Climate change is impacting many ecosystems around the world, altering plant and animal ranges, migration patterns, and other ecological processes.
"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."