Final answer:
Anthropogenic climate change is caused by human activities like fossil fuel combustion, while natural climate changes occur due to factors like solar activity. The rapid increase in global temperatures today is mainly due to anthropogenic factors, a view supported by the scientific consensus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anthropogenic climate change differs from naturally occurring changes to the climate in that it is driven by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, which significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, natural climate changes are attributable to factors like Earth's orbital patterns, solar activity, and volcanic eruptions. Unlike natural changes which have occurred over millions of years, the contemporary rapid increase in global temperatures and alteration of carbon cycles due to human activities convey the substantial impact of anthropogenic climate change.
Natural climate variations, like the Medieval Climate Anomaly and the Little Ice Age, occurred over longer timescales and can be explained by natural causes. In contrast, the present warming trend is primarily due to human influence and is reflected in severe weather patterns and extreme events such as the widespread wildfires. This critical understanding is supported by several scientific bodies and a consensus among climate scientists, who recognize human-induced contributions as the primary factor of current global warming and climate change.