1. Why Climate Change Matters

For the past 10,000 years, Earth’s climate has remained remarkably stable. This stability allowed human civilizations to flourish—agriculture thrived, cities were built, and societies expanded. But this stability is now under threat. Rising greenhouse gas emissions, primarily from burning fossil fuels, are driving global temperatures upward at an unprecedented pace.

Why does this matter? Because climate change doesn’t just mean warmer summers—it means more frequent and severe storms, rising sea levels threatening coastal cities, disrupted food supplies, and biodiversity loss. These changes are not hypothetical; they are happening now. The average global temperature has already risen by over 1°C (about 2°F) since pre-industrial times, and we’re on track for much worse in the absence of adequate action.

Scientists warn that global temperatures could rise by 2–4°C (3.6–7.2°F) by 2100. At the higher end of this spectrum, we would face catastrophic consequences: flooded cities, agricultural collapses, and widespread societal disruptions and migration.