The Climate Crisis: Causes, Effects and Solutions (2026)

The Climate Crisis in 2026: What Has Changed

What Is the Climate Crisis?

Earth’s temperature has risen by about 0.11°F every decade since 1850, or about 2°F in total, and the rate of warming since 1975 is more than three times as fast, at about 0.36°F per decade, according to NOAA. In 2025 the planet was about 1.3°C (2.3°F) warmer than preindustrial levels, leading to dramatic changes in the global climate. Global climate change poses a threat to the future of our planet. All life on Earth, including human society, is at risk due to the changes caused by increasing global temperatures. Extreme weather patterns, food and water scarcity, risks to human health, and the deterioration of ecosystems and biodiversity are some examples of our changing climate. You can read more in our guide to global warming.

While these changes are projected to have an impact on what Earth will look like in the future, the climate crisis is something we must think about today. We already see shifts around the world as a result of global warming:

• The Earth is about 2.3°F (1.3°C) warmer than preindustrial levels as of 2025, according to NOAA, and 2024 was the warmest year on record. As a result, we are currently seeing many rapid changes occur around the globe.
• Sea level rise has accelerated since the end of the 20th century and averaged about 3.8 millimeters per year between 1999 and 2025.
• Glaciers are shrinking, and the Arctic sea ice minimum each September has declined about 12% per decade since 1979. The 19 lowest summer minimums in the satellite record are the years 2007 to 2025. In 2026 the September minimum tied for the 10th lowest, and the March 2026 winter maximum tied the 2025 record low.

In addition, droughts now plague certain regions of the world and have resulted in limited access to clean drinking water. Plus, increased air temperatures have caused crops to require more water, placing an even greater strain on the limited water resources and presenting a threat to food resources as well.

Extreme weather patterns have become more common around the globe. We’ve already mentioned how heat and drought pose a threat to essential resources, and in other regions of the world, storms and flooding have started to occur with more frequency.

Increases in extreme weather have resulted in significant amounts of damage to homes and infrastructure, displacing people and placing a burden on the economy. Wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and flooding have resulted in weather events that cost over a billion dollars in damages. In 2025 the United States recorded 23 separate disasters costing at least $1 billion each, with total damages near $115 billion, and the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires alone caused about $61.2 billion in damage. The social cost of carbon is one way economists try to put a price on this kind of harm.

The climate crisis poses a real threat to the sustainability of our planet. The time to take action is now so we can limit further damaging changes from occurring.

What Are the Three Major Causes of the Climate Crisis?

The first step in fighting the climate crisis is understanding what has caused it. The three human activities that contribute most to climate change are fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and raising livestock. All three of these activities contribute to increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, resulting in a more significant greenhouse effect that quickly warms the atmosphere.

Fossil Fuel Combustion

Burning fossil fuels has many consequences and is the number one contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Energy use accounts for about 75.7% of global emissions, according to the World Resources Institute. Many sectors use fossil fuels as a source of energy. According to the EPA, the sectors that burn the most fossil fuels and release the most greenhouse gases in the United States are transportation and electricity generation.

The transportation sector released about 28% of US greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide is released when petroleum based fuels are burned in the vehicles we use for transporting humans and goods. Cars, semi trucks, boats, and planes all rely on fossil fuels to run.

Electricity is generated to power homes, commercial buildings, internet servers, and much more. This sector was responsible for about 24% of US greenhouse gas emissions. Around 58% of electricity production in the United States came from burning fossil fuels like coal and natural gas in 2025. For more on where US emissions come from, see our list of the top 10 contributors to CO2 pollution in the US.

Deforestation

Forests act as carbon sinks. Carbon sinks are environments that naturally absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store that carbon. When forests are cut down for agricultural purposes or urban developments, all the carbon stored in the trees’ leaves, branches, and trunks is released into the atmosphere as the fallen trees decay or are burnt.

Land use change released about 4.1 billion tonnes of CO2 in 2025, roughly 10% of human CO2 emissions, and permanent deforestation remains the largest source. The world also lost about 8.1 million hectares of forest in 2024.

Not only does cutting down trees directly release carbon into the atmosphere, but their absence also slows how much carbon is absorbed out of the atmosphere. A reduction in forestland around the globe means our planet cannot naturally sequester atmospheric carbon as efficiently. Protecting forests and planting trees are part of the answer, along with other forms of natural carbon removal.

Raising Livestock

The practice of raising livestock results in the release of 14.5% of global greenhouse gases, according to FAO estimates. One cow alone emits about 220 pounds of methane each year as part of its digestive process, making cows the number one emitter of greenhouse gases in the agricultural sector.

Livestock primarily emit methane gas. Methane does not last in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide, but it traps much more heat while it is there. Methane stays in the atmosphere for about 12 years, compared to CO2, which can last hundreds or thousands of years. However, per ton, methane traps roughly 27 to 30 times as much heat as CO2 over 100 years and about 80 times as much over 20 years. You can read more about what happens to gases in the atmosphere over time.

How Can We Help the Climate Crisis?

The scientific community agrees that the global climate is warming due to increases in greenhouse gas emissions. There are measures we can take to slow the warming process.

The foremost goal that the world must achieve is slowing the rate at which Earth’s temperature is warming. The best way to achieve this is through greenhouse gas mitigation. The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, is an international agreement that aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius (C), while pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees C, or 2.7 degrees F.

Where the Paris Goals Stand in 2026

The world has made some progress. UNEP’s 2025 Emissions Gap Report finds that projected warming this century has fallen from about 3 to 3.5°C when the Paris Agreement was adopted to about 2.8°C on current policies and 2.3 to 2.5°C if all national pledges are fully met. But that is still well above the goal. Emissions would need to fall about 55% below 2019 levels by 2035 to be on track for 1.5°C, and full implementation of current pledges would cut them only about 15%. UNEP concludes that exceeding 1.5°C is very likely within the next decade, and stresses that every fraction of a degree avoided means lower losses for people and ecosystems.

The politics have shifted as well. The United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, set in motion in January 2025, took effect on January 27, 2026. The administration has said the agreement wasted taxpayer money and held back economic growth, while critics, including the EU’s climate commissioner, have called the exit a lack of leadership. UNEP estimates the US exit cancels about 0.1°C of the improvement in its latest projections. Many other countries, businesses, and states continue to pursue their own climate targets.

Back in 2022, the IPCC found that we have the tools required to cut global emissions by about half by 2030, including a 43% cut below 2019 levels for the 1.5°C pathway. The world is not on that track, since emissions were still rising in 2025, but the same measures apply. To get there, every sector must take action to reduce its carbon footprint:

• The energy sector must switch to clean energy and renewable energy solutions like wind, solar, or hydropower. There is progress here: in 2025, renewables overtook coal in the global electricity mix for the first time in over a century. See our guide to sustainable energy sources and the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy.
• The transportation sector must transition from running on petroleum to electric or other low emission options.
• Agricultural practices should focus on reducing methane emissions associated with livestock and transition to more sustainable foods.

If all industries take action to reduce emissions, and each individual makes it a point to reduce their own emissions, we can move much closer to the required cuts. These reductions are only the start of addressing the climate crisis though. The ultimate goal is to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions to net zero, with any remaining emissions balanced by removals, so the Earth’s temperature can stop rising.

Is Climate Change a Global Issue?

The reason the whole world must get involved in the fight against climate change is that the rising global temperatures present a threat to everyone around the world. No nation will go unaffected by the drastic changes that will occur if climate change is allowed to continue unchecked. The social cost of carbon emissions and the changing climate creates issues for global public health and economic prosperity.

No matter where you live in the world, food and water are essential to human health. With climate change threatening clean water sources and food production, public health has become an increasing concern amidst global warming. Plus, increases in extreme weather patterns have exposed individuals to poor living conditions. For example, fires reduce air quality and can contribute to certain illnesses, as we explain in our post on air pollution and climate change.

Climate change presents a risk to economic stability around the world. Extreme weather causes expensive damage. A 2024 study in the journal Nature found that the world economy is already committed to an income reduction of about 19% by around 2050, with a likely range of 11% to 29%, even if emissions are cut sharply starting today. The researchers estimate those damages are about six times larger than the cost of cutting emissions enough to limit warming to 2°C, and the losses are largest in lower income regions that have contributed the least to emissions. Smaller economies mean less prosperity for individuals in every nation.

Is Global Warming Increasing or Decreasing?

Global warming is currently increasing. The past decade has been considerably warmer than previous decades. With this information, it is essential for us to take action as soon as possible in order to limit our planet’s rising temperatures.

Here is some information to keep in mind about global temperature trends:

• 2024 was the warmest year on record, according to NASA and NOAA. NOAA put it at 2.63°F (1.46°C) above the preindustrial average.
• 2025 was the third warmest year on record in most analyses, and NASA found it effectively tied with 2023.
• The 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 2015.
• In 2026, a strong El Niño emerged in June. Copernicus reports that August 2026 tied for the hottest month on record and that September 2026 was the second warmest September, at 1.63°C above preindustrial levels.
• Forecasters say 2026 will likely rank among the warmest years on record and could set a record, and that 2027 could be hotter still as heat stored in the Pacific is released.

Single months above 1.5°C are not the same as breaching the Paris Agreement goal, which is judged over long term averages. They do show how close the world is to that line.

How Can You Help Address the Climate Crisis Today?

If you would like to take climate action today, there are many ways you can make a difference, from spreading awareness of the threat at hand to participating in carbon offsetting.

The first thing you can do is educate yourself and spread awareness about the threats that climate change presents. Understanding how humans cause climate change and the effects we have on our environment is a great first step. Then, you can spread the information to your friends and family, so they understand what we are up against and how essential it is that everyone gets on board to effect change.

You can also change some of your daily habits to be more climate friendly. If you have the opportunity to walk or ride your bike instead of taking your car, that’s great. Also, you can become mindful of the products you buy and choose companies that report their emissions and reduction progress openly. You can also try to save water and energy in your home or business. A good place to start is the carbon footprint calculator, which shows where your emissions come from.

Another way to take action is to participate in carbon offsetting. A carbon offset is a credit you buy that funds a project reducing or removing greenhouse gases elsewhere. Each credit represents one metric ton of CO2 equivalent reduced or removed, verified under a recognized standard. Terrapass’s Global Portfolio includes reforestation, REDD+ forest conservation, landfill gas capture, orphan oil well closure, industrial emission reduction, and residential solar installation, with projects verified under standards such as the Verified Carbon Standard, American Carbon Registry, Climate Action Reserve, and Gold Standard. Offsets work alongside cutting your own emissions, not instead of it. You can learn the difference between a carbon offset and a carbon credit, how to find high quality offsets, or start with a monthly carbon offset subscription. Businesses can look at carbon offsets for business.

FAQ: The Climate Crisis

What is the climate crisis?

It is the set of serious and growing impacts caused by human driven global warming, including extreme weather, sea level rise, melting ice, threats to food and water, risks to human health, and damage to ecosystems and biodiversity.

What are the main causes of climate change?

The three human activities that contribute most are burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and raising livestock. Energy use accounts for about 75.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and carbon dioxide makes up about 74% of them.

How much has the Earth warmed?

About 2.3°F (1.3°C) above preindustrial levels as of 2025, according to NOAA. The planet has warmed about 0.11°F per decade since 1850 and about 0.36°F per decade since 1975.

Is global warming still increasing?

Yes. 2024 was the warmest year on record, the 10 warmest years have all occurred since 2015, and a strong El Niño in 2026 pushed August to a tie for the hottest month on record and September to the second warmest September.

Is the world on track to meet the Paris Agreement goals?

No. UNEP projects about 2.8°C of warming on current policies and 2.3 to 2.5°C if all national pledges are met, and says exceeding 1.5°C is very likely within the next decade.

Is the United States still part of the Paris Agreement?

No. The US withdrawal took effect on January 27, 2026.

How will climate change affect the economy?

A 2024 study in Nature found the world economy is already committed to an income reduction of about 19% by around 2050, with a likely range of 11% to 29%, even if emissions are cut sharply. The researchers estimate those damages are about six times the cost of limiting warming to 2°C.

How can I help address the climate crisis?

Learn where your emissions come from, cut what you can, and spread awareness. For emissions you cannot yet cut, carbon offsets fund verified reductions or removals through projects elsewhere, and they work alongside cutting your own emissions.

Slowing the Climate Crisis Is Necessary for Today and the Future

The climate crisis poses a real threat to the state of our planet. Human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and raising livestock contribute to changing weather patterns and threats to public health.

Climate change affects everyone worldwide, so it’s important that all industries around the world start reducing their emissions to slow global warming. While the trend of planet warming has continued, we can all take necessary actions in our own lives to contribute to the cause of limiting global climate change.

See how Terrapass carbon offsets fund verified emission reductions and removals, and keep learning on the Terrapass blog.

Sources for the 2026 data:
UNEP, Emissions Gap Report 2025
E&E News, US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement takes effect
Down To Earth, Copernicus September 2026 temperature report
Carbon Brief, state of the climate in 2026
NASA, global temperature indicator
NSIDC, 2025 Arctic sea ice minimum and NASA, 2026 Arctic sea ice minimum
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, economic commitment of climate change
CSIRO summary of the Global Carbon Budget 2025
Climate Central, 2025 U.S. billion dollar disasters

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