In assessing climate change, it is important to clearly distinguish between past developments and future projections. Climatic variations before about 200 years ago were primarily driven by natural causes of geological or astronomical origins. These are evidenced by historical records or paleoclimatic data, such as tree ring analysis or other geological proxies, and are outside the scope of this section.
Here, we focus on two key time frames: changes observed over the past 100 years (‘current’ climatic change) and those projected for the future. As demonstrated by the extensive scientific research compiled by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), both recent and anticipated future changes are primarily driven by the continued and expanding release of greenhouse gases due to global industrialization, fossil fuel use, and land-use change.

More info on the scientific consensus on climate change

Current climatic change is observed through a variety of methods that combine direct measurements, remote sensing, and reanalysis techniques. Together, these methods provide a robust framework for monitoring ongoing climatic changes.

More info on Assessing current climate change

On the other hand, future changes must be assessed through projections made by climate models. These advanced models estimate impacts such as future temperature rises, sea-level changes, and extreme weather events. However, the accuracy of these predictions is limited by scenario-based assumptions about future greenhouse gas emissions and human activities.

More info on Assessing future climatic change

Worldwide, perceptions of climate change vary significantly across different groups of people, influenced by factors such as geographical location, socioeconomic status, access to reliable information, cultural or religious beliefs, and direct experiences with environmental changes. In general, urban populations, policymakers, and scientists tend to perceive climate change through the lens of the scientific consensus, focusing on its long-term effects and advocating for mitigation policies.
In contrast, rural communities and farmers tend to view climate change in relation to immediate impacts on their livelihoods, such as changing rainfall patterns, extreme weather, and shifting growing seasons.

More info on Farmer perceptions of climate change