"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 long-term shift in global weather patterns caused by human activity, including the release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.
Climate science: The study of Earth's climate and how it has changed over time. It covers topics such as the greenhouse effect, radiative forcing, and feedback loops.
Paleoclimatology: The study of past climates and how they have changed over time. It uses tools such as ice cores, sediment cores, and tree rings to reconstruct past climate conditions.
Climate modeling: The use of computer simulations to predict future climate conditions and assess the impacts of different policy interventions.
Environmental policy: The set of laws and regulations that govern how society interacts with the environment. This includes topics such as emissions regulations and conservation policies.
Renewable energy: The use of energy sources that are replenished naturally over time, such as solar, wind, and hydro power. It is an important part of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted as a result of human activities. It is a way to measure the impact of individual actions and policies.
Climate vulnerability: The degree to which different populations are at risk of experiencing negative impacts from climate change. This includes topics such as sea level rise, extreme weather events, and changes in agricultural productivity.
Climate adaptation: The process of adjusting to the impacts of climate change, such as by building sea walls, migrating to different areas, or developing drought-resistant crops.
Climate mitigation: The set of actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the rate of climate change. This can include measures such as increasing energy efficiency or transitioning to low-carbon energy sources.
Carbon pricing: The use of economic incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as by levying a tax on emissions or creating a cap-and-trade system.
Climate communication: The field of crafting messages and narratives around climate change in order to increase public awareness and motivate action.
Climate justice: The idea that the impacts of climate change disproportionately affect vulnerable and marginalized communities, and that climate policy should take into account issues of environmental racism and economic inequality.
Geoengineering: The use of large-scale interventions in the Earth's climate system, such as reflecting sunlight back into space or sequestering carbon dioxide, in order to mitigate the effects of climate change.
"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."