Climate Change Quiz

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns, primarily caused by human activities since the Industrial Revolution. The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, causing the planet to warm. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), comprising thousands of scientists worldwide, has concluded with overwhelming consensus that human activities are the dominant cause of observed warming since the mid-20th century.

Effects and Solutions

Global average temperatures have risen approximately 1.1°C (2°F) above pre-industrial levels, and impacts are already visible: more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and hurricanes; rising sea levels threatening coastal communities; melting ice caps and glaciers; shifting ecosystems and mass species extinctions; and disruption to agricultural systems. The Paris Agreement (2015) set a goal of limiting warming to 1.5-2°C above pre-industrial levels. Achieving this requires rapid transition to renewable energy (solar, wind), electrification of transportation, sustainable land use, and carbon capture technologies. The annual UN Climate Change Conference (COP) brings nations together to negotiate climate commitments.

Learn more science with our Earth Science Quiz or our Biology Quiz.