Climate change refers to long-term alterations in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other elements of the Earth's climate system. It occurs over decades to centuries. In contrast, weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions like rain, sunshine, storms, and temperature fluctuations, which can change hourly or daily.

Climate change is mainly driven by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial emissions, which increase the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) like CO₂ and CH₄. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, causing the planet to warm—a phenomenon known as global warming.

Unlike weather, which is localized and temporary, climate change has global consequences, including rising sea levels, melting glaciers, intense heat waves, droughts, shifting ecosystems, and more frequent extreme weather events.