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Climate change is the change in weather patterns observed over a period of time and is influenced by two factors: natural systems and human activity. The effects of climate change can be seen in the increasing frequency of volatile weather events such as hurricanes, flash floods, ice storms, droughts and heat waves. These changes, and the failure of our infrastructure to deal with these effects, have been linked to catastrophic events such as the floods in New Orleans and England and the crumbling of roads and bridges around the world.
Greenhouse gas emissions from human activity include a variety of gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, released from the burning of fossil fuels, the breakdown of waste, and other chemical processes. Some common sources of these greenhouse gases include energy production, mining, waste disposal, smelting, refining, and transportation. In addition to contributing to climate change, these gases can help create smog, damage human respiratory and cardiovascular health and threaten global soil, water, vegetation and wildlife ecosystems.
Throughout the world, organizations and governments are working to slow the progress of climate change and adapt to its impacts, and their initiatives have helped to highlight the economic impact of climate change.
Sources: Environment Canada: www.ec.gc.ca, Health Canada: www.hc-sc.gc.ca and Natural Resources Canada: www.nrcan.gc.ca.
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