Climate change has both natural and human causes, though human activities are the primary driver of current climate change:

## Human Causes (Primary Driver)

**Greenhouse Gas Emissions:**
- **Carbon dioxide (CO₂)** from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) for electricity, heat, and transportation
- **Methane** from agriculture (livestock, rice cultivation) and landfills
- **Nitrous oxide** from fertilizers and industrial processes
- **Fluorinated gases** from refrigeration and industrial applications

**Land Use Changes:**
- Deforestation reducing CO₂-absorbing forests
- Urban development changing surface heat absorption
- Agricultural expansion altering natural ecosystems

## Natural Causes (Secondary Factors)

**Solar Variations:**
- Changes in the sun's energy output over long cycles
- Solar flares and sunspot activity

**Volcanic Activity:**
- Major eruptions can temporarily cool climate by blocking sunlight
- Release of greenhouse gases from volcanic sources

**Ocean Circulation Changes:**
- Natural shifts in ocean currents affecting heat distribution
- El Niño and La Niña cycles

**Other Natural Factors:**
- Changes in Earth's orbit and tilt over thousands of years
- Natural climate feedback loops

## The Current Situation

Scientific evidence shows that human activities, particularly since the Industrial Revolution, are responsible for the rapid warming observed since the mid-20th century. While natural factors continue to influence climate, they cannot account for the current rate and pattern of change.
