Climate Change: Occupational Safety and Health

Climate change refers to significant and long-term alterations in the Earth's climate patterns, including temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other atmospheric conditions. These changes are primarily driven by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), deforestation, industrial processes, and agricultural practices, which release greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere. The primary greenhouse gases responsible for climate change include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases. These gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to a gradual increase in global temperatures, a phenomenon known as global warming.