Final answer:
Global warming is caused by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases, while climate change includes both global warming and large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Climate change can only be explained by human influences, particularly from the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. Scientists overwhelmingly agree that global warming is mainly caused by human activities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere due to elevated greenhouse gas concentrations, heightening the greenhouse effect. Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.
It's important to note that these natural causes of climate change cannot explain the magnitude of warming and climate change that we see happening today. Current climate change can only be explained by human influences, particularly from the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels.
Climate change, more than any other environmental concern, has dominated the attention of Americans in recent years. Although the idea that the planet's climate has been adversely affected by human activity is very controversial in the media, politics, and popular culture, it is almost universally accepted by scientists. According to NASA, at least 97% of climate scientists agree that global warming over the past couple of centuries is due to human activities, or anthropogenic.