Weather is what you feel today: rain, sunshine, wind. Climate is the average pattern of weather over decades. When scientists talk about climate change, they mean those long-term patterns are shifting.
Earth’s average surface temperature has risen by about 1.1°C since the late 1800s. That sounds small, but the climate system is finely balanced. A global average rise changes rainfall, heatwaves, ice melt, and sea levels.
Most of the recent warming is driven by greenhouse gases — especially carbon dioxide and methane — released when we burn coal, oil, and gas, clear forests, and produce food and materials at scale. The scientific consensus on this point is strong and well documented.
Think of it like a blanket around the planet. A little greenhouse effect keeps Earth liveable. Extra gases thicken that blanket, trapping more heat. The result is not “new weather forever,” but more energy in the system — hotter extremes, shifting seasons, and stress on water, food, and nature.
Climate change is global, but its impacts are local and uneven. Some communities face more heat or floods first. Understanding the basics helps you read headlines more calmly and choose actions that actually help.
Quick check — 3 questions
Check your understanding — pick an answer, or reveal the correct ones when ready.
1. What is the difference between weather and climate?
2. What is the main human-driven cause of recent warming?
3. Why can a small global temperature rise still matter a lot?