The Greenhouse Effect is a natural process that occurs in the Earth’s atmosphere, whereby greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun and keep it within the Earth’s atmosphere, contributing to the stable and habitable climate that has sustained life on the planet for millions of years. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor occur naturally, and without them, the Earth’s surface temperature would be about -18℃ (0℉), rather than its current average of about 15℃ (59℉).

However, human activities have caused a rapid increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), deforestation, and other land-use changes. This increase in greenhouse gases has led to a warming of the planet known as global warming, which has resulted in a range of impacts, including rising sea levels, melting polar ice caps, more frequent and intense heatwaves and droughts, and more frequent extreme weather events like hurricanes and typhoons. Addressing the causes and impacts of the Greenhouse Effect is a pressing challenge of our time, requiring rapid and significant action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a rapidly changing climate.