Climate change is happening now as evidenced by rising global temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and melting glaciers and snow. Extreme weather events are expected to become more frequent and intense. Sea levels have risen 17 cm in the last century and are rising nearly twice as fast in the last decade. Global surface temperatures have warmed since 1880 according to temperature reconstructions. The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets and Arctic sea ice have declined rapidly in recent decades and glaciers are retreating worldwide. Climate change is transforming life on Earth and threatens to alter the planet's ability to support life if actions are not taken.

1. Is climate
change
happening?

2. Climate change is happening now:
• Temperatures are rising.
• Rainfall patterns are shifting.
• Glaciers and snow are melting.
• The global mean sea level is rising.

3.  We expect that these changes will continue,
and that extreme weather events resulting
in hazards such as floods and droughts will
become more frequent and intense. Impacts
and vulnerabilities for nature, the economy
and our health differ across regions,
territories and economic sectors.

4. EVIDENCE

5. Sea level rise
 Global sea level rose about 17 centimeters in
the last century. The rate in the last decade,
however, is nearly double that of the last
century.

6. Global temperature rise
 All three major global surface temperature
reconstructions show that Earth has warmed
since 1880.

7. Shrinking ice sheets
 The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have
decreased in mass.

8. Declining Arctic sea ice
 Both the extent and thickness of Arctic sea ice
has declined rapidly over the last several
decades.

9. Glacial retreat
 Glaciers are retreating almost everywhere
around the world (including in the Alps,
Himalayas, Andes, Rockies, Alaska and
Africa).

10. Climate change is already beginning to transform
life on Earth. Around the globe, seasons are
shifting, temperatures are climbing and sea
levels are rising. And meanwhile, our planet
must still supply us (and all living things) with
air, water, food and safe places to live. If we
don't act now, climate change will rapidly alter
the lands and waters we all depend upon for
survival, leaving our children and grandchildren
with a very different world.