EARTH IS A UNIQUE PLANET. It is the only one in the Solar System that has both an atmosphere and oceans of water, and these have created ideal conditions for life to evolve and flourish. Currents in the atmosphere and oceans carry heat and moisture around the globe, so life can exist almost everywhere. These currents also create the weather. This changes daily, but in predictable patterns. The pattern of weather in a particular place is its climate. Climates vary slowly over time, forcing life to adapt to new conditions, but recently the rate of climate change has speeded up.

Earth's climate

The greenhouse effect

The carbon cycle

Checks and balances

Natural climate change

The human impact

Burning the forests

Fosil fuels

Our carbon culture

Adding to the problem

Heatwaves and droughts

Melting ice

Warming oceans

Oceanic research

Living with the heat

Plight of the polar bear

Predicting future climates

The next century

What scares the scientists?

Climate change and society

Adapting to climate change

Combating climate change

Cutting the carbon

Nuclear power

Renewable energy

Power for the people

Energy efficiency

Green transport

Your carbon footprint

Greenhouse gas producers

Timeline

Find out more

Glossary

Index