Climate change and global warming

• When energy from the sun is reflected off the earth and back into space (mostly by clouds and ice), or when the earth's atmosphere releases energy, the planet cools
• When the earth absorbs the sun's energy, or when atmospheric gases prevent heat released by the earth from radiating into space (the greenhouse effect), the planet warms
• Forces that can contribute to climate change include the sun's intensity, volcanic eruptions, and changes in naturally occurring greenhouse gas concentrations
• Today's climatic warming, particularly since the mid-20th century, is happening at a much faster rate than ever before and can't be explained by natural causes alone
• Humans, specifically the greenhouse gas emissions generated by human activity, are the leading cause of the earth's rapidly changing climate today
• Three greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide
• Two forms of forest degradation are logging, clearcutting, fires, and other forms of forest degradation that release stored carbon into the air
• Three other human activities that generate air pollution are fertilizer use (a primary source of nitrous oxide emissions), livestock production (cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats are major methane emitters), and certain industrial processes that release fluorinated gases
• Climate change can be seen as a human rights issue because its most negative impacts are borne disproportionately by certain groups such as women, children, indigenous communities, and the economically less fortunate