Climate Change—A Long-term Global Environmental Challenge

It is generally believed that human activities are the principal cause of climate change. Some regions of the world are experiencing heat waves, severe droughts, and wild fires while other regions are facing unusually strong monsoons, widespread flooding, and rain-induced landslides. Because of these extreme events, people around the world are facing some form of climate related crisis with increasing frequency. International efforts to advise countries on how to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and cope with climate change are ongoing. National strategies for sustainable development are being implemented by many countries as well as programs to monitor and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Winning the battle to slow down and cope with climate change will be a long term challenge which will likely require substantial changes in the behavioral patterns of society.