# Climate change

*What is Climate change?*

By [Climate Change](https://paragraph.com/@test99) · 2023-07-08

climate, fossil fuels, environment, change, new energy

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Climate change refers to significant and long-term changes in global weather patterns, usually related to an increase in average global temperatures. The term is often used synonymously with global warming, but climate change encompasses a broader range of changes beyond just temperature. As of my knowledge cut-off in September 2021, the scientific consensus is that climate change is largely driven by human activities, especially the emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. These gases trap heat from the Sun in Earth's atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise—a phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect. The effects of climate change include more frequent and severe weather events (such as hurricanes, droughts, and heatwaves), rising sea levels due to the melting of polar ice, shifts in ecosystems affecting biodiversity, and impacts on human health and agriculture. Mitigating climate change requires globally coordinated efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This can be achieved through various means, such as transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, reforesting lands, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

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*Originally published on [Climate Change](https://paragraph.com/@test99/climate-change)*