What is climate change?

Climate change is what happens when greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide and methane) trap more heat in the earth's surface. The earth is naturally insulated by the gases in the atmosphere, which for tens of thousands of years have kept the earth's temperature relatively stable. Heat comes from the sun. Most of it is trapped by the gases in the atmosphere, while some is reflected back into space. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases trap more heat, causing the earth's temperature to increase.

When we burn fossil fuels and cut down forests, the result is that greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. This causes climate change.