Economics Climate Change Economics Questions Medium
The main causes of climate change can be attributed to both natural and human factors. Natural causes include volcanic eruptions, variations in solar radiation, and natural variations in greenhouse gas concentrations. However, the primary driver of climate change in recent decades is human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which release large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to the greenhouse effect and subsequent global warming. Other human activities that contribute to climate change include deforestation, industrial processes, and agricultural practices. It is important to note that the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is causing significant changes in the Earth's climate system, resulting in rising temperatures, melting ice caps, sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and other adverse impacts on ecosystems and human societies.