Understanding Climate Change

Climate change refers to significant, long-term changes in global or regional climate patterns. It's primarily driven by human activities, notably the burning of fossil fuels, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions.

While climate has varied throughout Earth's history, the rapid warming seen now is unprecedented. Past changes occurred over millennia, but current shifts are noticeable over decades, indicating a different trajectory than natural cycles.

Greenhouse gases, like CO2 and methane, trap heat in the atmosphere. Natural processes can't absorb the excess fast enough, leading to a greenhouse effect that warms the planet more than usual.

Oceans absorb over 90% of trapped heat, altering marine ecosystems. This absorption leads to warmer waters, sea level rise, and ocean acidification, impacting biodiversity and coastal communities globally.

Deforestation contributes to climate change by reducing the planet's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide. Trees act as carbon sinks; when they're cut down, stored carbon is released, exacerbating the greenhouse effect.

Thawing permafrost releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. This feedback loop exacerbates warming and is a lesser-known but critical aspect of climate change, with the potential to significantly accelerate global temperature increases.

Mitigation strategies include transitioning to renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, reforestation, and developing carbon capture technologies. International agreements like the Paris Accord aim to unify global efforts in combating climate change.