what is climate change definition

Climate change refers to a significant variation of average weather conditions over several decades or more. It is a long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional, and global climates. Climate change can manifest itself in various ways, such as warmer temperatures, increased rainfall, or droughts. Climate change is different from natural weather variability because it is a longer-term trend. Climate change is caused by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s atmosphere, raising Earth’s average surface temperature. Climate data records provide evidence of climate change key indicators, such as global land and ocean temperature increases, rising sea levels, ice loss at Earth’s poles and in mountain glaciers, frequency and severity changes in extreme weather such as hurricanes, heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, floods, and precipitation. Climate change is a global issue that affects every living being, although not equally. The economically disadvantaged and people of color are the most likely to suffer from its worst impacts.