Using energy more efficiently, switching to fuels that produce less (or no) greenhouse gases, and capturing CO₂ and other greenhouse gas emissions before they enter the atmosphere are all steps toward lessening future climate change.

Lots of factors influence any single extreme weather event. As the climate warms, though, we’re seeing trends in many weather extremes–like more frequent heat waves, heavier rains in some areas, and more severe droughts and hurricanes.

The atmosphere and ocean are warming. Ice sheets and summer sea ice are shrinking. Sea level is rising. Heat waves are more frequent and intense. Cold snaps and extreme cold are less frequent. And those are just some of the changes.