FREE THINKING:
EXPLORE THE REALMS OF KNOWLEDGE

Earth’s climate has always shifted. From the Ice Ages that sculpted continents to the Little Ice Age (c. 1300–1850) when the River Thames froze over — hosting London’s famous frost fairs — nature has long been a sculptor of temperature. These colder centuries were shaped by solar lows like the Maunder Minimum (1645–1715), major volcanic eruptions, and disrupted ocean currents. But the speed and scale of today’s climate change tell a radically different story: one powered not by planetary rhythms, but by human intervention.

Since the Industrial Revolution, the combustion of fossil fuels — coal, oil, and gas — has loaded our atmosphere with greenhouse gases at unprecedented rates. The IPCC's 2021 Sixth Assessment Report warns that warming is now “unequivocally” driven by human activity, with average global temperatures rising 1.1°C since the late 19th century. Atmospheric CO₂ levels have surpassed 420 ppm — levels not seen for over 3 million years.

Climate extremes are no longer just freak incidents. Coral bleaching events, like those documented on the Great Barrier Reef by Professor Terry Hughes in 2017, are now recurring. Unusual species migrations and marine sightings near British coasts reflect a warming ocean. Hurricanes, wildfires, and heatwaves have surged in frequency and severity, consistent with IPCC projections.
Yet political responses have veered in unpredictable directions. The 2015 Paris Agreement symbolized global resolve to limit warming below 2°C.

However, in 2025, Donald Trump — newly returned to office — again withdrew the U.S., citing economic unfairness as the reason for this action. Climate economist Lord Nicholas Stern condemned the move as a “disastrous error,” arguing that inaction will cost trillions more than mitigation.

Elsewhere, China’s aggressive expansion of renewables has outpaced targets, framing green energy as both environmental and economic strategy. Meanwhile, calls for systemic reform — from transport electrification to reduced meat consumption — grow louder. Methane from livestock, a potent warming agent, remains a focal concern, especially as vegetarianism gains traction.

Natural cycles may continue to shape climate patterns, but human acceleration has pushed Earth’s systems to the brink. As Dr. Michael Mann asserts, “We are now outside the range of natural variability.” The climate crisis is not nature taking its course — it’s humanity shaping a new trajectory. Whether that path leads to resilience or regret remains a political choice.