The climate of Earth has shifted from cool periods like we had in the past to warm ones over time. Scientists have determined that this change is mainly due to human activity, such as burning fossil fuels, which produces greenhouse gases and causes global warming.
Since the Industrial Revolution began in 1850, Earth’s average temperature has risen by about 1 degree Celsius or 2 degrees Fahrenheit. Scientists have also discovered that the rate of warming has accelerated in recent decades, with each decade being warmer than the previous one.
This climate change is being caused by an increase in greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (NO2). These gases trap heat and keep it from radiating back into space, but they can be released by plants and animals during certain activities. This process is called the greenhouse effect.
These greenhouse gases are accumulating in the atmosphere at levels that are beyond what would be expected by the laws of physics alone. This is because the climate system is complex; as one part of the system warms, it causes other effects that amplify or diminish the initial warming.
These changes include more extreme weather events, such as flooding and tornadoes. They also lead to plant and animal extinctions, habitat loss and sea level rise. In addition, CO2 emissions are causing oceans to become more acidic, which hurts marine life. Some countries are doing more than others to limit emissions, but even with these efforts, it will be hard to meet the goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.