The pollutants we pump into our atmosphere are changing its composition and preventing heat from escaping the earth’s surface. Today's atmosphere contains 32 per cent more carbon dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gases, than at the start of the industrial era.

The result is climate change: altered long-term weather patterns. Global warming, a rise in the average global temperature, is one measure of climate change. And it has already begun - global average temperature has risen by 0.6 degrees Celsius since 1900, and the northern hemisphere is substantially warmer than at any point during the past 1000 years.

Burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas is largely responsible for climate change. Deforestation and modern intensive farming methods also contribute to the problem.

	Greenhouse Gases: Learn about greenhouse gases and how they trap heat in the earth's atmosphere.
	Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: The world's most authoritative voice on the science of climate change.
	The Skeptics: The debate about whether or not climate change is real is over.
	Abrupt Climate Change: Learn about the earth's capacity for sudden climate change.
	Forests and Sinks: Learn about the role of forests and other carbon sinks, and how burning fossil fuels disrupts the carbon cycle.