What is climate change?

We've all heard the phrases 'climate change' and 'greenhouse gases'. We see images in the news of the polar ice caps melting and we hear words like 'Kyoto' and 'carbon trading'. So what does all this mean?

It's about change, more specifically change to the earth's climate (i.e. the long-term weather trends). This is very important because people have come to rely on weather cycles and day-to-day conditions for all sorts of reasons. Changes in the climate will bring big changes to the way we do things; for example, if cycles and conditions change, where will be the best places to live and to grow food?

The earth's climate has always varied over time, but the term 'climate change' refers to the slow and gradual increase in the earth's temperature as a result of increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The main greenhouse gases found naturally in the earth's atmosphere are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

Greenhouse gases act as an insulation layer ... find out more about greenhouse gases.

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