Climate change refers to long-term alterations in Earth’s climate, including changes in temperature, rainfall, wind patterns, and ocean currents. Unlike short-term weather, which varies daily, climate reflects patterns and averages observed over decades or centuries.
‍

Since the Industrial Revolution began in the late 1700s, humans have drastically altered the planet’s natural systems. Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas for energy has released vast amounts of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄), into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, leading to global warming. Other activities, such as deforestation and large-scale agriculture, have further contributed to this rapid warming.
‍

Global temperatures have now exceeded 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, surpassing the critical threshold set by the Paris Agreement. While that may sound small, this rise has already disrupted natural systems, contributing to rising sea levels, melting ice caps, and more frequent and severe extreme weather events.

Earth’s climate has always undergone natural changes over millions of years, driven by factors such as volcanic eruptions, solar activity, and orbital shifts. These processes influence Earth’s climate cycles, often causing gradual shifts in temperature and weather patterns. For instance:
‍

• Volcanic eruptions release gases and particles that can temporarily warm or cool the planet.
  ‍
• Solar activity fluctuates, causing minor variations in global temperatures.
  ‍
• Orbital shifts affect Earth’s distance from the Sun, triggering ice ages and warm periods over tens of thousands of years.
  ‍

These natural processes are slow, occurring over millennia. For example, after the last ice age, Earth’s temperature rose by 4–7°C over about 10,000 years.
‍

In stark contrast, human-made climate change is occurring at an unprecedented rate. Over the past 140 years - since the late 1800s - global temperatures have risen by 1.5°C, which is 10 times faster than the natural warming seen after the last ice age. This acceleration is directly linked to human activities such as industrialization, fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and large-scale agriculture.
‍

Unlike natural changes, which give ecosystems and species time to adapt, human-driven warming overwhelms natural systems, causing widespread disruption. This rapid pace is evident in rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and more frequent extreme weather events, all of which pose urgent challenges for both nature and humanity.

The impacts of climate change are no longer distant predictions - they’re happening now and affecting every aspect of life. Rising sea levels are threatening coastal communities, extreme weather events are damaging infrastructure, and biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate. Key impacts include:
‍

• Economic Costs: Natural disasters driven by climate change cause billions in damages globally, with $200 billion recorded in 2020 alone. Droughts, floods, and storms disrupt supply chains, reduce agricultural yields, and strain economies worldwide.
  ‍
• Human Health: Heatwaves have become more frequent, leading to a 68% rise in heat-related deaths since 2000. Warming climates also expand the range of diseases like malaria and dengue fever.
  ‍
• Environmental Damage: Arctic sea ice is shrinking by 13% per decade, while coral reefs, which support 25% of marine life, are dying due to warming and acidification.
  ‍

Understanding the distinction between natural and human-made climate change underscores why urgent action is needed. While natural processes influence Earth’s climate over millennia, the changes caused by human activity are swift, severe, and entirely within our power to mitigate.