Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere creating conditions that are suitable for life on Earth. This natural phenomenon is called the greenhouse effect.
Concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are rising at a faster rate than ever before and scientists agree that human actions such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture and land clearing are causing these increases. This is called the enhanced greenhouse effect. It results in more heat being trapped in the atmosphere and contributes to a warming of the Earth’s surface.
There is worldwide scientific agreement that the enhanced greenhouse effect is already causing higher average air temperatures in the lower atmosphere, changed rainfall patterns and rising sea levels. The climatic changes caused by the enhanced greenhouse effect are often referred to as 'global climate change' or 'global warming'.
