# Climate Change

Long-term shifts in climate patterns, including recent warming driven mainly by human activity.

Canonical page: https://givegigs.com/wiki/climate-change
Last updated: 2026-11-09T19:00:12.084Z
Parent topic: [health-and-living-earth](https://givegigs.com/wiki/health-and-living-earth)

## Contents
- [Overview](#wiki-section-overview-1)
- [Mitigation and adaptation](#wiki-section-responses-2)
- [Evidence, risk, and fairness](#wiki-section-evidence-and-equity-3)

<a id="wiki-section-overview-1"></a>
## Overview

Climate change is a long-term shift in average climate conditions and patterns of variability. Current global warming is primarily driven by human greenhouse-gas emissions. Climate impacts and risks differ by region and community because exposure, vulnerability, ecosystems, infrastructure, and capacity to adapt differ.

Explore related topics:
- [renewable-energy](https://givegigs.com/wiki/renewable-energy)
- [biodiversity](https://givegigs.com/wiki/biodiversity)
- [ecosystem](https://givegigs.com/wiki/ecosystem)
- [public-health](https://givegigs.com/wiki/public-health)

<a id="wiki-section-responses-2"></a>
## Mitigation and adaptation

Mitigation reduces the causes of future warming, for example by lowering emissions or strengthening carbon sinks. Adaptation reduces harm from climate impacts, for example through heat plans, flood preparation, resilient infrastructure, or ecosystem restoration. The two approaches complement each other; adaptation has limits, and reducing emissions changes the scale of future risks.

<a id="wiki-section-evidence-and-equity-3"></a>
## Evidence, risk, and fairness

Climate assessments combine observations, physical understanding, models, and multiple scenarios. Projections are conditional estimates, not exact local forecasts; communicate the scenario and time horizon when using them. Risks are unevenly distributed, so planning should include affected communities and account for historical responsibility, resources, health, and livelihoods.

## Sources

- [IPCC Sixth Assessment Report: Synthesis Report Summary for Policymakers](https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/summary-for-policymakers/)

---
This article is collaboratively maintained. Check the canonical page and cited sources for the latest context.