The earth’s atmosphere absorbs some of the energy radiated from the sun. This energy is emitted back into the atmosphere as infrared heat, and greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide help trap some of that energy, warming the atmosphere and oceans. As the atmospheric concentrations of these gases have increased with industrialization, global temperature has risen over time.
Climate change is the overall pattern of changes in global or regional weather conditions over a long period, such as decades or centuries, including warming, and the impacts of those changes on people, plants, animals, and the built environment. The term “climate change” is often used interchangeably with the phrase “global warming,” but scientists use the terms differently. Global warming refers to an increase in the average surface air temperatures over the entire planet. Climate change is a more comprehensive term that includes global warming as well as other long-term trends such as sea level rise and alterations in the earth’s atmospheric composition, such as ozone depletion.
Scientists have determined that human activities are responsible for most of the recent global temperature increases, and that reducing emissions is essential to avoiding the worst consequences of climate change. A special report published in 2018 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that if global emissions continue at their current rate, it is virtually certain that the 1.5 degree Celsius target set in the Paris Agreement will be breached within three years.
Everyone can take steps to reduce their own emissions of heat-trapping gases. When buying appliances, look for those with the government’s Energy Star label, which require manufacturers to meet higher efficiency standards. When driving, choose vehicles that get good gas mileage. And when shopping for food, buy local or organic produce. The largest emitters of greenhouse gases are the developed countries, so they have a greater responsibility to act first.