Climate change is driven by the **greenhouse effect**, where gases like **carbon dioxide (CO2)**, **methane**, and **nitrous oxide** trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere. These gases, released primarily by burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial activities, prevent heat from escaping, causing the planet to warm. **Global warming** leads to melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and extreme weather patterns. Scientific evidence shows a significant rise in global temperatures over the past century, largely due to human activities. Climate models predict that without action to reduce emissions, these effects will intensify, threatening ecosystems, biodiversity, and human life.