What Is Climate Change?

Learn more about the issue of Climate Change from these diverse government organizations…

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
European Union (EU)

According to the US EPA Climate Change refers to any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). Climate change may result from:

natural factors, such as changes in the sun’s intensity or slow changes in the Earth’s orbit around the sun;
natural processes within the climate system (e.g. changes in ocean circulation);
human activities that change the atmosphere’s composition (e.g. through burning fossil fuels) and the land surface (e.g. deforestation, reforestation, urbanization, desertification, etc.)

Click here to visit the EPA website for more information.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been established by World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to assess scientific, technical and socio- economic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. It is currently finalizing its Fourth Assessment Report “Climate Change 2007”, also referred to as AR4. The reports by the three Working Groups provide a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the current state of knowledge on climate change. The Synthesis Report integrates the information around six topic areas.

Click here to visit the IPCC website for more information.

European Union

EU has developed a top 10 Questions & Answers on Climate Change

According to the European Commission, climate change is one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet.

Click here to visit the EU website for more information.