Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our planet today - and it's something everyone should understand, including you.
But what exactly is climate change, what causes it and how does it affect people, animals and the places we live?
This guide explains climate change in a simple way, with facts, examples and ideas for how you can help protect the Earth.
Updated in January 2026
What is Climate Change?
Climate change means the Earth is getting warmer over a long period of time. The planet's temperature has been rising, especially over the last few decades. In fact, 2024 was the warmest year since records began in 1850, with temperatures 1.29°C warmer than the average from the 20th century.
Climate is different from weather. Weather changes day to day - it might be sunny today and rainy tomorrow. Climate is the pattern of weather over many years. When we talk about climate change, we mean the long-term changes happening to our planet's temperature, rainfall and wind patterns.
Think of it like this: if weather is your mood today, climate is your personality over your whole life.
Everything is connected. No one knows that better than Alison, a mother of six from Malaita in the Solomon Islands. Her country – made up of hundreds of islands in the South Pacific – is a microcosm for climate change.
Katherine, 15, walking through the water with her dog SB in a community affected by rising sea levels in Malaita Province, the Solomon Islands.
Climate Change Facts for Kids
Here are some important facts about climate change:
The Earth has warmed by about 1.3°C since the 1850s. That might not sound like much, but even small changes in temperature can have big effects on our planet. Since the 1980s, the UK has been warming at a rate of about 0.25°C every 10 years. The 10 warmest years ever recorded have all happened in the last decade.
Glaciers and ice caps are melting faster than ever before. Since 1975, over 9,000 billion tonnes of ice have melted from glaciers around the world. Sea levels are rising too - they've gone up nearly 20cm since 1900.
Extreme weather is becoming more common. This includes heatwaves, droughts (when there's not enough rain), floods and powerful storms. In 2024, climate change made many heatwave days four times more likely to happen compared to 20 years ago.
Children are especially affected by climate change. In 2024, extreme weather events disrupted schooling for 242 million students across 85 countries - that's one in seven students worldwide.
What Causes Climate Change?
Climate change happens mainly because of things humans do. Here are the biggest causes:
Burning Coal, Oil and Gas for Energy
When we burn fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) to make electricity, power cars or heat buildings, they release invisible gases called greenhouse gases into the air. The main greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide, or CO₂ for short. These gases trap heat in our atmosphere like a blanket, making the Earth warmer. That's why they're called greenhouse gases - they work a bit like the glass in a greenhouse, trapping heat inside.
Cutting Down Too Many Trees
Trees are brilliant because they breathe in CO₂ and breathe out oxygen. When forests are cut down, there are fewer trees to soak up CO₂ from the air. Plus, when trees are burned or left to rot, they release the CO₂ they've been storing back into the atmosphere. This makes climate change worse.
Farming and Factories
Large-scale farming produces greenhouse gases, especially from cattle and rice fields. Factories that make things like steel, cement and chemicals also release lots of CO₂. Even the things we throw away contribute - when rubbish breaks down in landfills, it produces another greenhouse gas called methane.
What Are the Effects of Climate Change?
Climate change affects every part of our planet:
For nature: Polar bears, penguins and other Arctic animals are losing their homes as ice melts. Coral reefs, home to thousands of sea creatures, are dying because oceans are getting too warm. Many animals are struggling to find food or are having to move to cooler places.
For people: Farmers in some parts of the world can't grow enough food because of droughts or floods. Families living near coasts face flooding as sea levels rise. Heatwaves can be dangerous, especially for very young children and older people.
For children: Extreme weather closes schools. Children have to leave their homes when floods or storms destroy communities. In hot countries, it's becoming harder to concentrate and learn when classrooms get too hot.
Here in the UK, we're seeing changes too. The winter of 2023-2024 was the wettest on record, causing floods in many places. Summers are getting hotter, with more heatwaves than before.
Every morning, 12-year-old Ratana sets off from her home on Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake by boat. She’s heading for a floating school supported by Save the Children – but she’s got a vital job to do before she gets there. As she rows she picks up friends along the way – and together they work to clear the rubbish that litters the lake. It is children like Ratana and her friends that are this fishing community’s best hope of saving their lake and livelihood. It is her generation that is leading the fightback against climate change across the world.
Junior, age 16, lives in the Solomon Islands with his four younger siblings. His community is one of the most vulnerable in the world to the effects of climate change. Rising sea levels, combined with increasingly ferocious storms, have flattened people’s homes and killed the crops that so many families rely on to survive. That’s why Save the Children is helping young people in the Solomon Islands adapt for challenging times ahead. The charity is running training sessions on climate-resilient farming, soil management, and educating communities about which crops will grow best in extreme weather.
How to Stop Climate Change
The good news is we can all do things to help slow down climate change:
Use less energy at home. Turn off lights when you leave a room. Unplug chargers when you're not using them. Wear a jumper instead of turning the heating up.
Walk, cycle or use public transport. Cars produce CO₂, so walking or cycling to school (if it's safe) or taking the bus helps reduce emissions.
Eat more plants. Producing meat, especially beef, creates lots of greenhouse gases. Eating more vegetables and less meat helps the planet.
Reduce, reuse, recycle. Before throwing something away, think: can I reuse it? Can it be recycled? Making new things uses energy, so using things longer helps.
Plant trees. Trees absorb CO₂ from the air. Even planting a single tree in your garden or community helps.
Talk about it. Share what you learn about climate change with family and friends. The more people understand the problem, the more people can help solve it.
Support organisations working to protect the planet. Groups like Save the Children work with communities around the world to help them prepare for and adapt to climate change.
Why Learning About Climate Change Matters
You might wonder: why should I care about climate change when I'm just a kid?
The answer is that young people have incredible power to make a difference. Children and teenagers around the world are already taking action. Some have planted thousands of trees. Others have organized climate marches that brought millions of people together. Young activists like those working with the UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change are speaking at important global meetings, making sure leaders listen to young people's voices.
When you understand climate change, you can make better choices. You can encourage your family and friends to make changes too. And when you're older, you'll be prepared to take even bigger actions to protect our planet.
For Parents and Teachers:
Talking to children about climate change can feel challenging. Our guide "How to Talk to Children About the Climate Crisis" offers practical tips for having age-appropriate, hopeful conversations that empower rather than frighten children.
Sara, 15, at the climate march she attended organised by the child-led group Respect Our Rights (ROR) in Prishtina, Kosovo
(L - R) Audrey, eight, Rosie,9, Diekololaoluwa, eight, Andres, seven, Lenny, nine, and Poppy, eight, taking part in a beach clean-up with their school, Margate Photo credit: Kate Stanworth / Save the children
Climate Change Quiz for Kids
Test what you've learned! Think about these questions:
What's the difference between weather and climate?
Name three things that cause climate change.
What can you do at home to help fight climate change?
Why are trees important for our climate?
How is climate change affecting children around the world?
(Answers are in the article above!)
Answering your questions
What's the Difference Between Climate Change and Global Warming?
Global warming specifically means the Earth's temperature is rising. Climate change is the bigger picture - it includes global warming plus all the other changes happening to our climate, like changing rainfall patterns, melting ice and more extreme weather.
How Do We Know the Climate Is Changing?
Scientists have been measuring temperature, rainfall and other weather patterns for over 150 years using weather stations all around the world. They can see clear patterns showing the Earth is warming. They also study ice cores (ancient ice with tiny air bubbles trapped inside), tree rings and ocean temperatures to understand how climate has changed over thousands of years.
What Are the Effects of Climate Change on Animals and Nature?
Climate change affects animals in many ways. Some animals are losing their habitats as ice melts or forests disappear. Others can't find enough food because the plants or animals they eat are affected by changing temperatures. Some species are moving to cooler places, but not all animals can move fast enough. Scientists worry that if climate change continues, many species could become extinct.
How Does Climate Change Affect People Around the World?
Climate change doesn't affect everyone equally. People in poorer countries often feel the worst effects, even though they've done the least to cause the problem. Island nations face flooding as sea levels rise. Farmers in Africa struggle with droughts that kill crops. Here in the UK, we're seeing more floods and heatwaves. Children everywhere are having their education disrupted by extreme weather.
Is Climate Change Happening in the UK Too?
Yes! The UK has warmed by 1°C since the 1950s. We're seeing more heatwaves in summer, wetter winters with more floods and less snow. In 2024, the UK experienced its warmest year on record with several storms causing widespread flooding. These changes are already affecting how we live, from what crops farmers can grow to how we heat our homes.
Can Kids Really Make a Difference in Fighting Climate Change?
Absolutely! Young people have already made a huge difference. Student climate strikes have brought millions of people together to demand action. Young activists have successfully pushed universities to stop investing in fossil fuels. Children have planted millions of trees worldwide. Every small action adds up, and when lots of people make changes together, we can create real change.
Why Is Planting Trees Good for the Planet?
Trees are like Earth's air purifiers. They breathe in CO₂ (one of the main greenhouse gases) and breathe out oxygen (which we need to survive). One tree can absorb about 10kg of CO₂ every year. Trees also provide homes for animals, prevent soil from washing away and help keep areas cool. That's why planting and protecting forests is such an important way to fight climate change.
What Will Happen If We Don't Stop Climate Change?
If we don't take action, the Earth will keep getting warmer. This means more extreme weather - stronger storms, longer droughts, worse floods and dangerous heatwaves. More animals could go extinct. Many places where people live now could become too hot or might flood. Food could become harder to grow. But here's the important thing: we still have time to make changes that will help. The actions we take now really matter.
Together We Can Protect the Planet and Children's Futures
At Save the Children, we work with children and communities worldwide who are already experiencing the effects of climate change. We help families prepare for extreme weather, support children whose schools have been damaged by floods or storms and work with communities to find ways to grow food even when the climate is changing.
We believe every child deserves to grow up in a safe, healthy world - no matter where they're born. That's why we're working to make sure children's voices are heard when important decisions about climate change are made. We support young climate activists and help communities build resilience so they can cope with climate challenges.
Climate change is a big problem, but together - with children, families, communities and supporters like you - we can make a difference. When we work together, we can create a future where every child can thrive on a healthier planet.
If you're a parent or teacher looking for guidance on discussing climate change with children, read our blog post on how to talk to children about the climate crisis.
