Climate Change 101: What it is, and Why it Matters
- Sami Hoeldtke
- Nov 11
- 5 min read
Climate anxiety is on the rise while climate education is at an all-time low. The misinformation surrounding the issue today is often presented through the lens of politics and media and can even be designed to increase your emotional response to it. If you are looking to sort through the noise and get the facts about climate change,or if you are somebody trying to learn more about the topic but are unsure where to start, this article is for you. This article covers the basics of climate change, what it is, and how it works, so you can have a better understanding of the issue and feel more confident when you see discourse about it in the future.
What is it?
First things first, what is climate change? Simply put, climate change refers to long-term shifts in average weather patterns and temperatures, aka a changing climate. The definition is simple enough. The controversy lies in what causes it and whether or not that should be implied in the definition. Based on the objective definition described that comes from both NASA and the UN, climate change could be used to describe a prehistoric ice age, not just the climate change we are experiencing today. That's where the term global warming comes in. This term was coined in 1975 by Wallace Broeker and is used to describe the explicit warming of the climate due to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from human activity.
What Causes it?
An increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere causes global warming (a type of climate change). For the remainder of the article, the terms will be used interchangeably. This can happen in a number of ways, the most recent and significant coming from human activity, mainly burning fossil fuels. There are also natural processes that contribute to changing levels of GHGs in the atmosphere, such as volcanic eruptions, the process of decomposition, and natural fires. The issue here lies in the fact that human activity accounts for roughly half of all GHG emissions, meaning human activity produces as much, if not more, GHGs than all natural processes combined (except if there were to be a landmark historical volcanic eruption). The Earth's natural systems are changing in response to this stark increase as well, which is why we are currently experiencing more extreme weather events and temperatures. The graph presented below is used frequently in climate discourse and is often referred to as the "hockey stick" due to its extreme exponential curve in recent years. The graph shows the change in temperature over time and was published in the paper "Northern hemisphere temperatures during the past millennium: Inferences, uncertainties, and limitations." The sharp increase aligns with many industrial and technological developments that revolve around the use of fossil fuels.
What Are Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)?
Greenhouse gases are the culprit of global warming and climate change, but what are they? Greenhouse gas is an umbrella term that refers to a number of gases found in the atmosphere that trap heat. These gases are necessary; without them, the Earth would be too cold to support life. They become a problem when they exist in excess, which is what we are observing now due to human activity.
There are seven of them in total, 4 are naturally occurring, and 3 are man-made. Of the naturally occurring gases, carbon dioxide is considered the main culprit of climate change as it is the gas most prominently released by burning fossil fuels and other human activities, as well as through natural processes. Methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor are the remaining naturally occurring gases. Hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulphur hexafluoride are all solely man-made. While their concentrations in the atmosphere are low, their capacity for holding heat is much stronger than that of carbon dioxide, making them very potent. Greenhouse gases function by absorbing radiation from the sun as heat and circulating it through the atmosphere, eventually being released into space. They act as a sort of insulating blanket for the Earth. This process is called the greenhouse effect and is how the gases have earned their nickname.
Why Does This Matter?
The planet being a few degrees warmer might not sound too bad at first, especially if you prefer the warmer weather. The effects of warmer average temperatures, though, are not nearly as pleasant and linear as they might sound. Earth has various natural systems that are in constant operation to bring us Earth as we know it, and those systems are being disrupted by climate change. While we can make very educated predictions, what the future will look like under the pretenses of climate change is uncertain. The one certainty we do have is that unless drastic change is made to combat the effects of climate change, life as we know it is under threat, and will continue to be negatively impacted. Life in that sentence refers to all life, not just humanity. According to predictions, severe weather, extreme weather events, food scarcity, resource scarcity, fresh water scarcity, and mass extinctions are all set to be on the rise, just to name a few.
How Can That Be?
As scary as that fate sounds, it is not as far-fetched as you might think. The effects of climate change and global warming snowball on top of each other, with every system breaking, adding to the problems. Looking at temperature, for example, an increase in global average temperature of 1 degree Farenheight would have drastic effects. (Most climate models are displayed in Celsius). Any areas with an average temperature of 32 (freezing) would now have an average temperature of 33 (above freezing). All of those areas would no longer to be able to maintain the level of ice and snow cover as before. Glaciers and sea ice would begin thawing (this is already happening in real life). Snow acts as a reflective surface and helps cool the Earth. Less snow and ice cover would allow the earth to warm even faster, contributing to further melting, and even faster warming, etc. The cycle continues. This over-simplified example does not even include the habitat loss, natural disasters, sea level rise, and GHG release that are also associated with melting sea ice and glaciers.
Every natural process the Earth functions by is susceptible to a similar snowball effect of consequences. Humanity is a part of the ecosystem and food chain, whether or not that is widely accepted or acknowledged. As such, we are not immune to the effects of failing Earth systems, especially since we are to blame in the first place.
What Can I Do About This?
In learning about this phenomenon we are experiencing, you have taken the first step. So, thank you. As scary as this reality is, educating on it is a pathway through which it can be addressed. This and other websites have a plethora of resources at your disposal about living a sustainable lifestyle and how you can make a difference. Lifestyle changes are key. If you would like to take it one step further, reach out to your government officials and urge them to take climate action.
Keep learning, and keep talking about it. Ignoring this issue will not make it go away.
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