Climate change: Past, Present and Future

Climate change has become one of the most urgent global issues of our time, increasingly highlighted by scientists, policymakers, and high-profile climate activists. With growing momentum to address human‑induced climate change, many people are now seeking reliable and accessible ways to understand what is happening to our planet. Yet the climate system, along with the science, evidence, and politics behind climate change, can still feel complex or confusing, and some continue to question its causes or impacts.

This online course on the study of climate change is designed to give you a clear and engaging introduction to the climate system and the forces shaping our planet’s past, present, and future. Whether you want to study climate change for personal interest, professional development, or academic growth, this climate change online course provides a strong foundation in the key concepts and scientific principles you need.

You will begin by exploring how the climate system works, including the greenhouse effect and the processes that regulate global temperatures. From there, we will examine climate change past, present and future, using both traditional climate measurements and modern satellite observations. You will learn how scientists gather and interpret climate data, why uncertainties exist, and how climate models help us understand future scenarios.