Is Climate Change Caused Primarily By Human Activity

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 6, 2025, 9:07 PM

is climate change caused primarily by human activity

Natural processes are always influencing the earth’s climate and can explain climate changes prior to the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s. However, recent climate changes cannot be explained by natural causes alone. Changes in the earth’s orbit and its axis of rotation have had a big impact on climate in the past. For example, the amount of summer sunshine on the Northern Hemisphere, which is affected by changes in the planet’s orbit, appears to be the primary cause of past cycles of ice ages, in which... At the peak of the last interglacial period, however, the average global temperature was at most 2°F warmer than it is today.2 Changes in the sun’s energy output can affect the intensity of the sunlight that reaches the earth’s surface.

While these changes can influence the earth’s climate, solar variations have played little role in the climate changes observed in recent decades.3 Satellites have been measuring the amount of energy the earth receives from... These measurements show no net increase in the sun’s output, even as global surface temperatures have risen.4 The amount of sunlight that is absorbed or reflected by the planet depends on the earth’s surface and atmosphere. Dark objects and surfaces, like the ocean, forests, and soil, tend to absorb more sunlight. Light-colored objects and surfaces, like snow and clouds, tend to reflect sunlight. About 70 percent of the sunlight that reaches the earth is absorbed.5 Natural changes in the earth’s surface, like the melting of sea ice, have contributed to climate change in the past, often acting...

Volcanoes have played a noticeable role in climate, and volcanic eruptions released large quantities of carbon dioxide in the distant past. Some explosive volcano eruptions can throw particles (e.g., SO2) into the upper atmosphere, where they can reflect enough sunlight back to space to cool the surface of the planet for several years.6 These particles... Human activities are driving the global warming trend observed since the mid-20th century. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Scientists attribute the global warming trend observed since the mid-20th century to the human expansion of the "greenhouse effect"1 — warming that results when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space. Life on Earth depends on energy coming from the Sun.

About half the light energy reaching Earth's atmosphere passes through the air and clouds to the surface, where it is absorbed and radiated in the form of infrared heat. About 90% of this heat is then absorbed by greenhouse gases and re-radiated, slowing heat loss to space. A vital component of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide (CO2) is released through natural processes (like volcanic eruptions) and through human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. A Jan. 17 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) shows two distinctly different images of Earth. One, labeled "now," features blue oceans and green-toned continents.

The other, labeled "4.5 billion years ago," has what appears to be ice sheet-covered continents and red and yellow oceans. "The environment of Earth has been continually changing for 4.5 BILLION YEARS!" reads some text surrounding the image. "The idea that 'Climate Change' is new or is caused by Humans is nonsense." The post was shared more than 700 times in less than two weeks. More from the Fact-Check Team: How we pick and research claims | Email newsletter | Facebook page Earth's climate has changed throughout history for numerous reasons, but an abundance of evidence shows modern climate change is driven by human behavior.

There is no evidence the post's depiction of ancient Earth is accurate. Every aspect of modern life carries hidden environmental costs. Recognizing the human-driven causes of climate change can help build a more sustainable future. Gas and steam rise out of smokestacks at an oil refinery in Omsk, Russia on February 8, 2023. Have you ever wondered how your favorite products—like that cool jacket, new iPhone, or tasty snack—affect the environment? Even if it’s something you don’t think about often, like air conditioning or refrigeration, you'd likely miss it if it were gone.

Many products you use have hidden environmental costs, and some generate huge quantities of greenhouse gases. Every step in the life cycle of a product leaves a mark. Emissions can occur as raw materials are extracted and processed in factories, packaged, and then shipped. Even after you’ve bought something, its harm to the climate could continue through the electricity it uses to operate, the power needed to run it through the wash, or the waste it generates once... But what exactly are greenhouse gases, and why do they have such a profound effect on Earth’s climate? Understanding how greenhouse gases originate and how to measure their effects on the climate is crucial for tackling the biggest environmental challenge of our time.

In this resource, you’ll learn how everyday actions and choices can help or hurt our planet. The level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are at a higher level than in the past years, trapping heat and contributing to the greenhouse effect, leading to a warming of the planet Burning fossil fuels and deforestation are the primary causes of climate change, which presents a substantial threat to humans and animals now and in the future. The following are some of the biggest human causes of climate change: Greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere and are a significant contributor to human-induced climate change. Their largest source is the energy sector, accounting for roughly 76 per cent of total emissions.

When gases emitted from these sectors remain in the Earth's atmosphere for an extended period, they trap heat and warm the planet, thereby overwhelming the Earth's natural carbon cycle. These gases include: Carbon dioxide (CO2, or Carbon IV Oxide) is the main greenhouse gas produced through human activities that leads to adverse climate change. CO2 is produced naturally, for example, the respiration of living organisms and the decomposition of organic matter. Human activities, however, release a substantially higher amount of CO2, 87 per cent through burning fossil fuels for energy (coal, oil, and natural gas), cement production (4 per cent) and deforestation (9 per cent). Carbon stored in the form of fossil fuels is more stable and is only released when heated, as carbon reacts with oxygen during combustion, forming CO2.

Road transport, through the combustion of gasoline and diesel fuel, is the largest source of these emissions, accounting for approximately 28 per cent of total US greenhouse gas emissions. Yes, by increasing the abundance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, human activities are amplifying Earth’s natural greenhouse effect. Virtually all climate scientists agree that this increase in heat-trapping gases is the main reason for the 1.8°F (1.0°C) rise in global average temperature since the late nineteenth century. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and various chlorofluorocarbons are all human-emitted heat-trapping gases. Among these, carbon dioxide is of greatest concern to scientists because it exerts a larger overall warming influence than the other gases combined. Steam billows from the Intermountain Power Plant in Delta, Utah.

This coal-fired plant is operated by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Photo CC license by Matt Hintsa. At present, humans are putting an estimated 9.5 billion metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere each year by burning fossil fuels, and another 1.5 billion through deforestation and other land cover changes. Of this human-produced carbon, forests and other vegetation absorb around 3.2 billion metric tons per year, while the ocean absorbs about 2.5 billion metric tons per year. A net 5 billion metric tons of human-produced carbon remain in the atmosphere each year, raising the global average carbon dioxide concentrations by about 2.3 parts per million per year. Since 1750, humans have increased the abundance of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by nearly 50 percent.

Learn more. USGCRP (2017). Climate Science Special Report: Fourth National Climate Assessment, Volume 1 [Wuebbles, D.J., D.W. Fahey, K.A. Hibbard, D.J. Dokken, B.C.

Stewart, and T.K. Maycock (eds.)]. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, USA, 470 pp, doi: 10.7930/J0J964J6. Friedlingstein, P., Jones, M. W., O’Sullivan, M., Andrew, R.

M., Hauck, J., Peters, G. P., Peters, W., Pongratz, J., Sitch, S., Le Quéré, C., Bakker, D. C. E., Canadell, J. G., Ciais, P., Jackson, R. B., Anthoni, P., Barbero, L., Bastos, A., Bastrikov, V., Becker, M., … Zaehle, S.

(2019). Global carbon budget 2019. Earth System Science Data, 11(4), 1783–1838. https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000385668 Climate change is an undeniable reality, impacting ecosystems, weather patterns, and overall quality of life globally. Understanding its causes is crucial for addressing these challenges effectively.

This includes distinguishing between human activities and natural processes that contribute to climate change. While the Earth’s climate has always undergone changes due to natural phenomena, the extent and intensity of modern climate alterations seem unprecedented. This discrepancy has led scientists to explore both the natural and anthropogenic factors involved. In this article, we delve into these influences, examining how human actions compare to natural forces in driving climate changes. As we unpack these causes, we aim to clarify the complexities behind climate change, providing a clearer perspective on how each factor contributes to the challenges we face today. Human-induced causes often dominate contemporary discussions about climate change due to their prominent impact and potential for mitigation.

Activities such as fossil fuel combustion, industrial manufacturing, deforestation, and extensive agriculture increase greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, amplifying the greenhouse effect and resulting in global warming. Conversely, Earth’s climate is also shaped by natural forces like volcanic eruptions, solar radiation fluctuations, and oceanic circulations, which have been operating for eons. These processes can cause significant climatic shifts, albeit typically at a slower pace than current human-induced changes. By distinguishing between these different contributors, we gain insights to help guide policy, innovation, and personal behavior toward solutions. As you read this comprehensive analysis, consider how each factor plays its part and what this means for our global future. Human activities over the last century have significantly altered the Earth’s atmosphere.

Is Climate Change Caused Primarily By Human Activity

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