Causes Of Climate Change

Climate change, also known as global warming, is one of the most important and profound environmental issues facing the planet. The topic of climate change refers to changes in climate across the entire planet—whether the changes are shifting patterns of precipitation, drought, desertification, sand storms, extreme weather events, shrinking glaciers or accelerated sea level rise.  According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an international body of over 1,300 scientists, ”most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely (over 90%) due to the observed increase in anthropogenic (human-caused) greenhouse gas concentrations.”
 
Climate change is caused by increasing levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in our atmosphere—the most abundant of which is carbon dioxide (CO₂). Carbon dioxide - CO₂– is constantly being released through respiration, plant decomposition and the burning of fossil fuels. So while with every breath you release CO₂ into the air, the main cause of GHG emissions and the main contributor to climate change is anthropogenic.

The past century has seen dramatic increases of CO₂ and other GHG emissions, particularly from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and to a lesser extent, natural gas.  Some of the primary causes of climate change are fossil fuel combustion, industrial processes, deforestation, transportation and even buildings.
 
On a day-to-day level, since much of the energy we consume or products we use require significant fossil fuel input, every time we turn on the lights, heat our homes, use a gas stove, travel by car or airplane, grow or consume food, and use a lot of paper or paper products, we contribute to climate change.