The primary causes of climate change are human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, which release carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat and cause the planet to warm up. Other significant human causes include deforestation, which reduces the number of trees that absorb CO2, and agriculture, which emits methane and nitrous oxide—potent greenhouse gases. Additional contributors are cement production and changes in land use. Natural factors like volcanic eruptions and solar variations have much smaller or short-lived effects compared to the rapid, human-driven changes observed since the Industrial Revolution. Key causes in brief:
- Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) for energy, transport, and industry.
- Deforestation and forest degradation reducing carbon absorption.
- Agriculture producing methane from livestock and nitrous oxide from fertilizers.
- Cement production emitting CO2.
- Changes in land use altering Earth's surface reflectivity and carbon storage.
The overwhelming scientific consensus is that human activities are the dominant cause of recent climate change, with natural causes playing a minimal role in current warming trends.
