What is Climate Change?

We know that temperatures on Earth have fluctuated dramatically in the past, but we also know that by burning fossil fuels we are causing temperatures to rise faster than ever. 

In this episode of Crash Course Climate and Energy, we’ll introduce some core concepts that will help us throughout the series, like the difference between climate and weather, and take a look back through the Earth’s history at other periods of significant climate change. 

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.