Climate change is the observed and projected long-term change to global or regional weather patterns over time, primarily caused by the emission of greenhouse gases from human activities. It is a systemic, large-scale change in the Earth's climate, manifested in global temperature increases, more frequent and extreme weather events, sea-level rise and other meteorological shifts. It is a global phenomenon with pervasive and often-severe consequences that affect all aspects of society and nature, often overlapping with other environmental issues such as biodiversity loss, pollution and ocean acidification.

See also: dependent origination, scientific revolution, western enlightenment, conceptual framework