“Climate change” means a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods
*United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), Article 1 Definitions
Causes of climate change
- Burning of Fossil Fuels
- Combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas for energy production, transportation, and industrial processes releases large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.
- Deforestation
- The clearing of forests for agriculture, urbanization, and other purposes reduces the number of trees available to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, contributing to higher levels of greenhouse gases.
- Industrial Processes
- Certain industrial activities, such as cement production and chemical manufacturing, emit greenhouse gases and other pollutants that contribute to climate change.
- Agriculture
- Agricultural practices, including livestock farming and rice cultivation, produce methane and nitrous oxide, both potent greenhouse gases.
- Land Use Changes
- Alterations in land use, such as urban expansion and conversion of natural ecosystems to agricultural land, can affect the Earth’s climate by changing the balance of greenhouse gas emissions and natural carbon sinks.
- Waste Management
- Improper waste management practices, such as landfill decomposition and waste incineration, release methane and CO2 into the atmosphere
