Climate change refers to long-term
shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural,
such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human
activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to
burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Burning fossil fuels
generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around
the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.
Examples of greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change
include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for
driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example. Clearing land
and forests can also release carbon dioxide. Landfills for garbage are a
major source of methane emissions.
We face a huge challenge but already know many solutions.
Many climate change solutions can deliver economic benefits while
improving our lives and protecting the environment. We also have global
frameworks and agreements to guide progress, such as the Sustainable
Development Goals, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the
Paris Agreement.