human
What is the most important environmental issue of our time?
assistant
The most important environmental issue of our time is climate change. Climate change is caused by human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial agriculture, which release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These emissions trap heat and cause the Earth’s temperature to rise. This warming has already caused extreme weather events, sea level rise, melting glaciers, and changes in ocean circulation patterns. If we don’t act now, these changes could have devastating consequences for our planet.