10 Main Causes of Climate Change

The main causes of climate change — particularly the rapid global warming observed since the pre-industrial period — are almost entirely driven by human activities that increase greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, intensifying the natural greenhouse effect and trapping more heat.

Scientific consensus from organizations such as the IPCC, NASA, the EPA, and United Nations Climate confirms that current climate change is primarily caused by human activity, while natural factors, though dominant in the past, are not the leading contributor today.

Here are 10 major causes of ongoing warming:

Burning fossil fuels for energy, especially electricity and heat production — The single largest driver, accounting for the majority of CO₂ emissions and a significant share of total greenhouse gases. Combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas releases enormous amounts of carbon dioxide.

Transportation, including cars, trucks, planes, and ships — Heavily reliant on oil-based fuels, this sector contributes significantly to CO₂ and other emissions worldwide.

Deforestation and land-use changes — Clearing forests for agriculture, logging, or development reduces carbon sinks (trees that absorb CO₂) and releases stored carbon. Deforestation accounts for roughly a third of global emissions.

Agriculture and livestock farming — Produces large amounts of methane, particularly from cattle, sheep, and rice paddies, as well as nitrous oxide from fertilizers and manure, and CO₂ from machinery and land conversion.

Industrial processes — Includes cement production, which releases CO₂ through chemical reactions, along with chemical manufacturing and heavy industry that emit CO₂, methane, and fluorinated gases.

Methane emissions from fossil fuel extraction and distribution — Leaks during oil and gas production, processing, and transport release substantial amounts of methane, a potent short-term warming agent.

Waste management, including landfills and wastewater — Decomposition of organic waste in landfills generates methane, and poor waste handling contributes further to emissions.

Fluorinated gases, including CFCs and HFCs — Synthetic gases used in refrigeration, air conditioning, and various industrial applications carry extremely high warming potentials despite being emitted in smaller volumes.

Nitrous oxide from fertilizers and industrial sources — In addition to agricultural use, some industrial processes release N₂O, a long-lived gas with strong warming effects.

Changes in land reflectivity (albedo) and other human modifications — Urbanization, soil degradation, and the loss of snow and ice cover can amplify warming by causing Earth’s surface to absorb more solar energy.

Sources

The following well-regarded sources focus on the human-driven causes of climate change, including greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture, and industry. This list was compiled by Climate Crisis247 through a review of Google search and AI-generated results, with each source vetted by a staff member.

1. The Causes of Climate Change — NASA Science. https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/causes
2. Causes of Climate Change — US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). https://www.epa.gov/climatechange-science/causes-climate-change
3. Climate Change: Evidence and Causes — Royal Society. https://royalsociety.org/news-resources/projects/climate-change-evidence-causes/basics-of-climate-change
4. Scientific Consensus — NASA Science. https://science.nasa.gov/climate-change/scientific-consensus
5. What Is Causing Climate Change? — Environmental Law Institute. https://cjp.eli.org/curriculum/what-causing-climate-change
6. Climate Change 101 — USDA Climate Hubs. https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/climate-change-101
7. What Causes Climate Change? — Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/climate-change/what-causes-climate-change
8. Climate Change: Science and Impacts Factsheet — University of Michigan Center for Sustainable Systems. https://css.umich.edu/publications/factsheets/climate-change/climate-change-science-and-impacts-factsheet
9. Climate Change in Data: The Physical Science Basis — IPCC. https://www.ipcc.ch/climate-change-in-data
10. IPCC AR6 Working Group I Summary for Policymakers — IPCC. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_SPM.pdf
11. AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023 — IPCC. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr
12. 10 Big Findings from the 2023 IPCC Report on Climate Change — World Resources Institute (March 20, 2023). https://www.wri.org/insights/2023-ipcc-ar6-synthesis-report-climate-change-findings
13. Causes of Climate Change — European Commission Climate Action. https://climate.ec.europa.eu/climate-change/causes-climate-change_en
14. About Greenhouse Gases — ICOS (Integrated Carbon Observation System). https://www.icos-cp.eu/science-and-impact/climate-change/ghgs