✓ Accepted Answer
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns. While Earth's climate has always varied naturally, since the Industrial Revolution human activities — primarily burning fossil fuels — have accelerated warming dramatically.
Burning coal, oil, and gas releases CO2 and other greenhouse gases. These gases trap heat from the sun within Earth's atmosphere — the greenhouse effect. Without any greenhouse gases, Earth would be a frozen wasteland. With too many, temperatures rise beyond what ecosystems and human society can adapt to quickly.
Since 1880, global average temperature has risen about 1.2°C. This may sound small but represents enormous energy added to the climate system. Effects include more frequent and intense extreme weather events, rising sea levels from melting ice sheets, disrupted ecosystems, and threats to agriculture and water supplies.
The scientific consensus is overwhelming — 97% of climate scientists agree on the human cause. The disagreement is political, not scientific. The question is how fast we transition to clean energy and whether we can limit warming to 1.5-2°C above pre-industrial levels.
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