**Climate change** refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily caused by human activities. Here are the main reasons for climate change:

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### 1. **Increase in Greenhouse Gases**
The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) and deforestation release greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere, especially:
- **Carbon dioxide (CO₂)**
- **Methane (CH₄)**
- **Nitrous oxide (N₂O)**
- **Fluorinated gases** (industrial chemicals)

These gases trap heat from the sun, causing the Earth’s surface temperature to rise—this is known as the “greenhouse effect.”

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### 2. **Industrialization**
Since the Industrial Revolution, the massive increase in manufacturing, energy production, and transportation has dramatically increased GHG emissions.

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### 3. **Deforestation**
Trees absorb CO₂, so cutting them down reduces the Earth's capacity to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

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### 4. **Agriculture**
- Livestock (cows, sheep) produce methane as part of their digestion.
- Use of fertilizers releases nitrous oxide.
- Clearing land for farming increases CO₂.

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### 5. **Land Use Changes**
Urbanization, mining, draining wetlands, and land development all contribute to increased emissions and reduce the Earth's ability to absorb carbon.

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### 6. **Waste Management**
Decomposition of organic waste in landfills produces methane.

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### 7. **Natural Causes** (But minor compared to human activity today)
- Volcanic eruptions
- Variations in solar radiation
- Ocean current changes

These can affect climate, but studies show human activity is the dominant cause of recent, rapid climate change.

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## **In Short:**
**Human activities**—especially the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture, and industrial processes—are releasing greenhouse gases that trap heat and warm the planet, driving modern climate change. Natural factors play a role, but the overwhelming scientific consensus is that the recent, rapid shift in climate is due to human action.
