Climate change is the long-term alteration in Earth's climate and weather patterns. It has been a natural process for billions of years, but human activity has accelerated the rate of climate change in recent centuries.

The history of climate change science can be traced back to the early 19th century, when scientists first began to suspect that human emissions of greenhouse gases could change Earth's energy balance and climate. In 1824, Joseph Fourier first proposed the greenhouse effect, which is the process by which gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat from the sun. In 1896, Svante Arrhenius calculated that doubling the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would cause the planet to warm by about 5 degrees Celsius.

In the early 20th century, scientists began to gather more evidence that human activity was indeed causing climate change. In 1938, Guy Callendar showed that global temperatures had been rising since the late 19th century. In 1958, Charles Keeling began measuring carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, and he found that they were rising steadily.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the scientific consensus on climate change began to solidify. In 1979, the first major international assessment of climate change was published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC concluded that it was "extremely likely" that human activities were the main cause of climate change.

Since then, the scientific evidence for climate change has continued to grow. In 2013, the IPCC released its Fifth Assessment Report, which concluded that it was "extremely likely" that human activities had caused more than half of the observed increase in global mean surface temperature from 1951 to 2010.

The impacts of climate change are already being felt around the world. These impacts include rising sea levels, more extreme weather events, changes in agricultural yields, and loss of biodiversity. If we do not take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the impacts of climate change will become more severe in the future.

There is still time to act on climate change, but we need to act now. We need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and invest in clean energy sources. We also need to adapt to the impacts of climate change that are already happening.

Climate change is a serious problem, but it is not insurmountable. If we work together, we can solve this problem and build a more sustainable future for our planet.

What can you do to help?

There are many things you can do to help address climate change. Here are a few ideas:

• Reduce your energy consumption. This means turning off lights when you leave a room, unplugging appliances when you're not using them, and weatherizing your home.
• Switch to renewable energy sources. This could mean installing solar panels on your home, signing up for a green energy plan, or driving an electric car.
• Eat less meat. The production of meat is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Recycle and compost. This helps to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfills, which produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
• Get involved in your community. There are many organizations working to address climate change. You can volunteer your time, donate money, or simply spread the word about the importance of taking action.

Every little bit helps. By taking steps to reduce your carbon footprint, you can make a difference in the fight against climate change.