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Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature, weather patterns, and

environmental conditions, primarily caused by human activities, such as burning
fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. These activities release
greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane into the atmosphere,
trapping heat and leading to global warming.

Climate change encompasses more than just rising temperatures. It also includes
phenomena like sea-level rise, melting glaciers, changes in precipitation patterns
(increased droughts and floods), and extreme weather events. These changes
impact ecosystems, human health, agriculture, and infrastructure, altering life on
Earth.
Climate change impacts
We often think about human-induced climate change as something that will happen
in the future, but it is happening now.
Global temperatures rose about 1.98°Foffsite link (1.1°C) from 1901 to 2020, but
climate change refers to more than an increase in temperature. It also includes sea
level rise, changes in weather patterns like drought and flooding, and much more.
Things that we depend upon and value — water, energy, transportation, wildlife,
agriculture, ecosystems, and human health — are experiencing the effects of a
changing climate.

A complex issue
The impacts of climate change on different sectors of society are interrelated.
Drought can harm food production and human health. Flooding can lead to disease
spread and damages to ecosystems and infrastructure. Human health issues can
increase mortality, impact food availability, and limit worker productivity. Climate
change impacts are seen throughout every aspect of the world we live in. However,
climate change impacts are uneven across the country and the world — even within
a single community, climate change impacts can differ between neighborhoods or
individuals. Long-standing socioeconomic inequities can make underserved groups,
who often have the highest exposure to hazards and the fewest resources to
respond, more vulnerable.
The projections of a climate change-impacted future are not inevitable. Many of the
problems and solutionsoffsite link are known to us now, and ongoing research
continues to provide new ones. Experts believe there is still time to avoid the most
negative of outcomes by limiting warmingoffsite link and reducing emissions to zero
as quickly as possible. Reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases will require
investment in new technology and infrastructure, which will spur job growth.
Additionally, lowering emissions will lessen harmful impacts to human health,
saving countless lives and billions of dollars in health-related expenses.

Our changing climate

We see climate change affecting our planet from pole to pole. NOAA monitors global
climate data and here are some of the changes NOAA has recorded. You can explore
more at the Global Climate Dashboard.
 Global temperatures rose about 1.8°F (1°C) from 1901 to 2020.
 Sea level rise has accelerated from 1.7 mm/year throughout most of the
twentieth century to 3.2 mm/year since 1993.
 Glaciers are shrinking: average thickness of 30 well-studied glaciers has
decreased more than 60 feet since 1980.
 The area covered by sea ice in the Arctic at the end of summer has shrunk by
about 40% since 1979.
 The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen by 25% since
1958, and by about 40% since the Industrial Revolution.
 Snow is melting earlier compared to long-term averages.

Water
Changes to water resources can have a big impact on our world and our lives.
Flooding is an increasing issue as our climate is changing. Compared to the
beginning of the 20th century, there are both stronger and more frequent
abnormally heavy precipitation events across most of the United States.
Conversely, drought is also becoming more common, particularly in the western
United States. Humans are using more water, especially for agriculture. Much like
we sweat more when it is hot out, higher air temperatures cause plants to lose, or
transpire, more water, meaning farmers must give them more water. Both highlight
the need for more water in places where supplies are dwindling.
Snowpack is an important source of fresh water for many people. As the snow
melts, fresh water becomes available for use, especially in regions like the western
United States where there is not much precipitation in warmer months. But as
temperatures warm, there is less snow overall and snow begins to melt earlier in
the year, meaning snowpack may not be a reliable source of water for the entire
warm and dry seasons.

Food
Our food supply depends on climate and weather conditions. Although farmers and
researchers may be able to adapt some agricultural techniques and technologies or
develop new ones, some changes will be difficult to manage. Increased
temperatures, drought and water stress, diseases, and weather extremes create
challenges for the farmers and ranchers who put food on our tables.
Human farm workers can suffer from heat-related health issues, like exhaustion,
heatstroke, and heart attacks. Rising temperatures and heat stress can also harm
livestock.

Human health
Climate change is already impacting human health. Changes in weather and climate
patterns can put lives at risk. Heat is one of the deadliest weather phenomena. As
ocean temperatures rise, hurricanes are getting stronger and wetter, which can
cause direct and indirect deaths. Dry conditions lead to more wildfires, which bring
many health risks. Higher incidences of flooding can lead to the spread of
waterborne diseases, injuries, and chemical hazards. As geographic ranges of
mosquitoes and ticks expand, they can carry diseases to new locations.

The most vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, people with preexisting
health conditions, outdoor workers, people of color, and people with low income are
at an even higher risk because of the compounding factors from climate change.
But public health groups can work with local communities to help people
understand and build resilience to climate change health impacts.

The environment
Climate change will continue to have a significant impact on ecosystems and
organisms, though they are not impacted equally. The Arctic is one of the
ecosystems most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, as it is warming at
least twice the rate of the global average and melting land ice sheetsoffsite link and
glaciersoffsite link contribute dramatically to sea level rise around the globe.
Some living things are able to respond to climate change; some plants are blooming
earlier and some species may expand their geographic range. But these changes
are happening too fast for many other plants and animals as increasing
temperatures and changing precipitation patterns stress ecosystems. Some invasive
or nuisance species, like lionfish and ticks, may thrive in even more places because
of climate change.
Changes are also occurring in the ocean. The ocean absorbs about 30% of the
carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels.
As a result, the water is becoming more acidic, affecting marine life. Sea levels are
rising due to thermal expansion, in addition to melting ice sheets and glaciers,
putting coastal areas at greater risk of erosion and storm surge.
The compounding effects of climate change are leading to many changes in
ecosystems. Coral reefs are vulnerable to many effects of climate change: warming
waters can lead to coral bleaching, stronger hurricanes can destroy reefs, and sea
level rise can cause corals to be smothered by sediment. Coral reef ecosystems are
home to thousands of species, which rely on healthy coral reefs to survive.

Infrastructure
Physical infrastructure includes bridges, roads, ports, electrical grids, broadband
internet, and other parts of our transportation and communication systems. It is
often designed to be in use for years or decades, and many communities have
infrastructure that was designed without future climate in mind. But even newer
infrastructures can be vulnerable to climate change.
Extreme weather events that bring heavy rains, floods, wind, snow, or temperature
changes can stress existing structures and facilities. Increased temperatures require
more indoor cooling, which can put stress on an energy grid. Sudden heavy rainfall
can lead to flooding that shuts down highways and major business areas.
Nearly 40% of the United States population lives in coastal counties, meaning
millions of people will be impacted by sea level rise. Coastal infrastructure, such as
roads, bridges, water supplies, and much more, is at risk. Sea level rise can also
lead to coastal erosion and high-tide flooding. Some communities are projected to
possibly end up at or below sea level by 2100 and will face decisions around
managed retreat and climate adaptation.
Many communities are not yet prepared to face climate-related threats. Even within
a community, some groups are more vulnerable to these threats than others. Going
forward, it is important for communities to invest in resilient infrastructure that will
be able to withstand future climate risks. Researchers are studying current and
future impacts of climate change on communities and can offer recommendations
on best practices. Resilience education is vitally important for city planners,
emergency managers, educators, communicators, and all other community
members to prepare for climate change.

EDUCATION CONNECTION
Teaching about climate change can be a daunting challenge, but it is a critical field
for students to learn about, as it affects many parts of society. The Essential
Principles of Climate Literacy, developed by NOAA and other federal partners, are
standards that create a framework for teaching climate. The Toolbox for Teaching
Climate & Energy explores a learning process to help students engage in climate
action in their own communities or on a global scale. For more educator support,
NOAA offers professional development opportunities (including the Planet Stewards
Program) about climate and other topics.