The first prediction that the planet would warm from heat-trapping gases such as carbon dioxide released by human activity was made in 1896. Since then, there’s been a 43 percent increase in these gases, with carbon dioxide accounting for about 80 percent of it.

Here are some answers to questions ranging on what’s happening, what could happen, and what to do, compiled by the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/climate/what-is-climate-change.html?referringSource=articleShare