Global warming occurs naturally but is now exacerbated by human activities like industrialization. The greenhouse effect involves gases in the atmosphere trapping heat from the sun, warming the planet. Increased greenhouse gases from human activities have raised the Earth's surface temperature to new highs and caused severe weather events. If emissions are not reduced, scientists warn of even greater temperature rises, more extreme storms, floods and droughts, and small island nations being submerged due to sea level rise from melting ice sheets and thermal expansion of oceans. International agreements like the Kyoto Protocol have aimed to reduce emissions but more action is still needed to prevent destructive climate change impacts.