Climate change refers to the long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily due to human activities, such as burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), deforestation, and industrial processes. These activities release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) into the atmosphere, trapping heat and causing the Earth’s temperature to rise.
Key aspects of climate change include:
- Global Warming: An overall increase in Earth’s average surface temperature, leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves, melting polar ice, and rising sea levels.
- Extreme Weather Events: More frequent and severe storms, floods, droughts, and wildfires are occurring as a result of changes in weather patterns.
- Ocean Acidification: As CO₂ levels rise, the oceans absorb some of this gas, causing their pH to decrease. This affects marine life, particularly coral reefs and shell-forming organisms.
- Loss of Biodiversity: Shifts in ecosystems force species to adapt, migrate, or face extinction. This biodiversity loss impacts food security and ecosystem stability.
- Health Impacts: Climate change increases health risks by worsening air quality, spreading infectious diseases, and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events.
Mitigation and Adaptation: Addressing climate change requires both mitigation (reducing or preventing greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation (adjusting to current and future impacts). This involves transitioning to renewable energy sources, conserving forests, improving energy efficiency, and adapting infrastructure to withstand climate-related impacts.
International efforts like the Paris Agreement aim to limit global warming to well below 2°C, ideally 1.5°C, above pre-industrial levels by reducing emissions and fostering resilience.