Climate change refers to the long-term alterations in the Earth's climate, primarily driven by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. The release of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere is causing a warming effect known as the greenhouse effect, which is resulting in global warming.

Climate change is affecting various aspects of the environment, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events such as hurricanes and droughts, melting of glaciers and sea ice, changes in precipitation patterns, and shifts in the distribution of plant and animal species. It also has significant implications for human health, agriculture, water resources, and biodiversity.

The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, is a global agreement aimed at addressing climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting the increase in global temperatures to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels. The agreement requires countries to submit their own plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.