What is Climate Change?

What is Climate Change and How is it Happening?

Climate change is a long-term shift in the Earth’s temperature and weather patterns. Human activity since the industrial revolution has rapidly increased global temperatures and as a result weather patterns are changing.

The burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas produce greenhouse gases that, when released into the atmosphere, trap the sun’s heat and raise global temperatures. This is known as the Greenhouse Effect.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the most common greenhouse gas that is released when burning fossil fuels. According to the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, CO2 levels in the atmosphere are now more than 50% higher than they were prior to the industrial revolution. These levels continue to rise year on year at a steep rate, further contributing to the worsening climate crisis.

How Does this Affect You?

You may be thinking that warmer weather would be a benefit, especially in rainy old England! Unfortunately, Climate Change goes far beyond temperature rise alone. Temperature rises affect weather patterns, meaning that as well as heatwaves we can expect more frequent and severe storms, droughts, and rising ocean levels.

Food Security

Changes in climate and more extreme weather events are already causing a global rise in hunger and poor nutrition. Everything from fisheries, to crops to livestock are at risk of being destroyed or becoming less productive. This will in turn make food even more expensive, meaning that the less fortunate among us will struggle to keep themselves well fed.

Health Risks

The United Nations cite climate change as the single biggest health threat facing humanity. The most obvious of these risks is air pollution, over 90% of people on Earth are breathing in unhealthy levels of pollution as a result of fossil fuel burning. Along with this, we are at increasing risk of disease. Rising global temperatures are allowing malaria-carrying mosquitos to spread in areas where the disease had not historically been an issue.

Poverty and Displacement

Many of the factors that put and keep people in poverty are made worse by climate change. Recurring floods and droughts put homes at risk and increase food scarcity in areas that are already struggling. As significant weather events become more frequent, more people are being displaced and being forced to start over again having lost everything. This can force migration within nations and abroad as refugees escape destruction or violence. Displacement can affect anyone in society, as seen in the Los Angeles fires in early 2025 which affected affluent areas of the city and forced thousands to evacuate.

This Has Happened Before, Why is Now Different?

Throughout Earth’s history there have been shifts in climate caused by changes in the sun’s activity or volcanic eruptions that have affected global temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts were natural but they had huge impacts and caused mass extinctions. Fortunately, the shifts of the past were often slower-paced than what we are seeing here in the 21st century and plants and wildlife were able to evolve and adapt to new challenges.

This shift in climate is different because it has been caused by human activity and that it is happening at such a rapid rate that nature is unable to adapt. The climate changes we are experiencing are widespread, rapid, and intensifying. The increase in CO2 levels in the atmosphere far exceeds any natural changes that have happened over the past 800,000 years.

The Future is in Our Hands

Humans have caused climate change but there is still time to reverse it. From small personal changes to campaigning for big businesses to improve their practices, we can still enact real change in our lifetimes. Go back to our Climate Action page to learn more.

Still have questions?

The information on this page was compiled using information from the United Nations, click here to view their extensive resources on Climate Change.