Most times we talk about climate change, we are talking about big long term trends in the EarthÕs temperature and weather systems. In the past hundred years, the Earth has warmed faster than can be explained by natural forces alone and scientists say human causes such as the burning of fossil fuels such as coal oil and natural gas have been the overwhelming cause. These fuel combustion activities emit greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane which trap the heat in the atmosphere.

There is already evidence of global warming with a significant increase in the average global temperatures and several of the hottest years on record occurring in the past decades with the shrinking of glaciers and ice sheets, the rise in sea levels posing threat to people living in the coastal regions, stronger storms in the warmer oceans and an increase in the frequency of both drought and heavy precipitation. These shifts have serious consequences for not only the natural world but also for human society such as the food we grow, the fresh water resources and our health.

Climate change is not affecting everybody in the same way or places in the same way; some regions and communities are more vulnerable due to geographic, economic or other circumstances, from threatened sea level rise in low-lying island nations to water scarcity in the worldÕs arid lands, while the countries that have contributed most to global warming tend to be able to adapt more readily, which leads us to questions of equity and global responsibility.

The problem can be addressed both through the mitigation of climate change which involves lowering the amount of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere through activities such as the adoption of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power and energy efficiency and conservation in addition to increasing our carbon sequestration through the conservation of land and reforestation and through the adaptation to climate change by increasing our ability to adapt to climate impacts through activities such as building stronger infrastructure to protect from rising sea levels or extreme weather, growing drought- or heat- resistant crop varieties or establishing better disaster preparedness.

This all can sound like a lot and an uphill battle to some, but the problem can be addressed and solutions are being developed, with clean and renewable technologies becoming more affordable and accessible every day, and each one of us in our governments, companies and as individuals can take actions to mitigate climate change through policy and decision making. Climate change is not a future or distant problem, but a current one that is impacting our environment, our economy and our communities today and understanding it and its causes and effects is a step toward making smart decisions for the future.