What are climate change and global warming?

Climate change refers broadly to variations in the Earth’s climate over time.

Because the Earth is currently warming—its average surface temperature increased by roughly 1.4°F over the last century—the term ‘climate change’ is often used interchangeably with the term ‘global warming.’

Both expressions are widely understood today to refer to the effect that human activities are having on the Earth’s climate and, more specifically, to the concern that rising levels of certain pollutants in the atmosphere will produce a dangerous increase in global average temperature—with potentially devastating impacts on human societies and the natural environment

What are the causes of climate change? Read more >>