"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 alteration of the earth's climate system caused by emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, that result from human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
Greenhouse Gases: Understanding the types and sources of greenhouse gases and their impact on climate change.
Global Warming: Looking at the science behind global warming and how it results in rising temperatures and changing weather patterns.
Carbon Footprint: Understanding what a carbon footprint is, and how to reduce it by making sustainable lifestyle choices.
Renewable Energy: Examining the different types of renewable energy sources, such as solar power, wind power, and hydroelectric power, and their benefits.
Energy Efficiency: Understanding how to use energy more efficiently in everyday life, by using energy-efficient appliances, turning off lights etc.
Waste Reduction: Understanding how to reduce waste and recycle to minimize its impact on the environment.
Water Conservation: Learning about the importance of conserving water and reducing water usage, especially in water-scarce areas.
Climate Adaptation: Learning about how to adapt to the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
Sustainable Agriculture: Understanding how to practice sustainable agriculture, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and preserves natural habitats.
Climate Policy: Understanding the policies and laws related to climate change, including international agreements like the Paris Climate Agreement.
Environmental Justice: Looking at the disproportionate impact that climate change has on marginalized communities and discussing ways to address this issue.
Biodiversity: Understanding the importance of preserving biodiversity and how climate change threatens the planet's biodiversity.
Oceans and Marine Life: Examining the impact of climate change on oceans and marine life, and discussing ways to protect them.
Carbon Capture and Storage: Studying new technologies that capture carbon dioxide emissions from large polluters and store them underground.
Climate Education and Communication: Understanding how to communicate about climate change effectively, and how to engage communities in climate action.
Climate Finance: Understanding the financial mechanisms that support climate action, such as climate funds and green bonds.
Climate Resilience: Understanding how to build resilience against the impacts of climate change, especially in vulnerable regions and communities.
Climate Action Planning: Understanding how to develop a climate action plan that sets goals, identifies actions, and measures progress towards a low-carbon future.
Transportation and Mobility: Examining the impact of transportation on climate change and discussing ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation.
Wildlife Conservation: Understanding the importance of wildlife conservation and how climate change is posing a threat to wildlife.
Global warming: An increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans caused primarily by the buildup of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.
Sea level rise: The increase in sea level due to the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, as well as thermal expansion of seawater as it warms.
Ocean acidification: The increase in acidity of the world's oceans caused by the absorption of excess levels of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Extreme weather events: Weather events such as hurricanes, typhoons, droughts, heatwaves, and floods which have been predicted to increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change.
Changes in precipitation patterns: The altering of rainfall patterns leading to changes in ecosystems and the water cycle.
Species extinction: Climate change is leading to the extinction and endangerment of species of plants and animals worldwide.
Glacial retreat: The melting of glaciers and ice sheets caused by higher temperatures is leading to the loss of freshwater resources, sea-level raise and changes in hydrology which affects water management.
Desertification: The expansion of deserts due to overgrazing, deforestation, and climate change leading to the irreversible loss of precious land for agriculture.
Permafrost melting: The thawing of permafrost due to rising temperatures contribute to more emissions of methane which accentuate the greenhouse effects, creating a dangerous feedback loop.
Heatwaves: Extreme heatwaves, are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and are subsequently more dangerous to human health.
Ocean deoxygenation: Climate change exacerbates the process that leads to the depletion of oxygen in seawater, harming marine life and fisheries.
"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."