Climate change

Introduction
Earth’s climate system
What are climate change and global warming?
Natural causes of climate change
The human impact: Fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions
Feedback mechanisms
Effects of climate change
Climate change is accelerating
Climate change mitigation and adaptation
Pros & Cons: Climate change solutions
- 1. Electric vehicles (EVs)
  - Are electric vehicles an effective way of addressing climate change?
  - Discussion questions
- 2. Geothermal power
  - Is geothermal power an effective way of addressing climate change?
  - Discussion questions
- 3. GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms)
  - Are GMOs an effective way of addressing climate change?
  - Discussion questions
- 4. Nuclear power
  - Is nuclear power an effective way of addressing climate change?
  - Discussion questions
- 5. Single-use plastics bans
  - Are single-use plastics bans an effective way of addressing climate change?
  - Discussion questions
- 6. Space colonization
  - Is space colonization an effective way of addressing climate change?
  - Discussion questions
- 7. Vegetarianism and veganism
  - Are plant-based diets an effective way of addressing climate change?
  - Discussion questions
- 8. Wind power
  - Is wind power an effective way of addressing climate change?
  - Discussion questions
Sources

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images, Videos & Interactives

A polar bear stands on a small piece of ice floating in the water.

Diagram illustrating Earth's environmental spheres, with labeled sections showing the geosphere (land and crust), biosphere (living things), atmosphere (air), and hydrosphere (water), each extending vertically from the Earth's surface.

The greenhouse effect: When Earth's surface and lower atmosphere are warmed by the presence of greenhouse gases.

From 1880 to 2023 the global average sea level rose by roughly 23 cm (9 inches).

The eruption of the Fuego volcano during nighttime in Guatemala.

Three coal power plant smokestacks emit thick white plumes of pollution into the air, illustrating carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use.

Global greenhouse gas emissions by sector

What Is a Glacier?

As Climate Change Is Left Unchecked, Weather Becomes More Extreme

Infographic showing July temperature anomalies globally from early 1900's to today, with a shift from cooler (blue) to warmer (red) years, and a graph correlating El Nino ONI spikes with rising global temperatures.

Climate change: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

The Editors of ProCon
ProCon's editors write and verify new content and update existing content. ProCon presents the pro and con arguments to debatable issues in a straightforward, nonpartisan, freely accessible way.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type	Description	Contributor	Date
	Interactive “Global greenhouse gas emissions by sector” added	The Editors of ProCon	Oct 30, 2026
	Discussion questions standardized.	The Editors of ProCon	Jul 24, 2026
	Complete rewrite of article.	The Editors of ProCon	Jun 17, 2026
	Moved image to avoid splitting quote.	The Editors of ProCon	Jun 17, 2026
	Subhead shortened.	The Editors of ProCon	Mar 07, 2026
	Subhead shortened.	The Editors of ProCon	Mar 06, 2026
	Invalidated site: United Nations - Climate Action - What is Climate Change?	Emily Rodriguez	May 22, 2025
	Add new Web site: The Royal Society - The Basics of Climate Change.	Gloria Lotha	Mar 26, 2025
	Add new Web site: United Nations - Climate Action - What is Climate Change?	Gloria Lotha	Feb 15, 2025
	Copy edit.	The Editors of ProCon	Nov 25, 2024
	New article added.	The Editors of ProCon	Nov 21, 2024