Final answer:
Climate change encompasses long-term shifts in average weather conditions and is significantly driven by human activities, especially the combustion of fossil fuels. Natural events like volcanic eruptions and solar activity contribute to climate variability, but do not fully explain the recent rapid changes. These changes threaten ecosystems and can disproportionally affect disadvantaged communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Climate Change and Its Effects on Ecosystems
The consequences of climate change are diverse and significant, impacting storm patterns, water resources, and the survivability of flora and fauna. Naturally occurring events such as volcanic activity, changes in the sun's intensity, and processes within the climate system like ocean circulation are some of the factors contributing to climate fluctuations. However, these natural processes do not account for the rapid and dramatic increase in global temperatures and sustained rises in carbon dioxide levels that we have observed since the Industrial Revolution. Instead, it is widely accepted that human-induced processes, particularly the burning of fossil fuels and alteration of the carbon cycle, are the primary drivers of recent global climate change.
Short-term climate effects, like El Niño events, while impactful, do not equate to climate change, which is characterized by persistent changes that last several decades. In contrast, long-term shifts induced by human activity are altering the Earth's climate at a pace that outstrips the natural evolutionary capacity of many species, thereby threatening ecosystems and the interconnected web of life, including humans. Issues such as environmental racism can also arise, where disadvantaged communities disproportionately bear the brunt of climate change consequences.