Climate change refers to the long-term changes in the Earth's climate, including temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other indicators. These changes are primarily caused by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and natural gas), deforestation, and agriculture. These activities release large amounts of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun, causing the Earth's temperature to rise, which in turn causes a variety of changes in the climate.