Climate change

The climate has shifted in the past, and species have usually adapted. This time, however, man has placed a huge amount of infrastructure in the way of the gradual migratory shifts that would be essential to such adaptation. Climate change was recently identified as the number two likely cause of future species declines (after habitat loss).

In recent usage, especially in the context of environmental policy, the term "climate change" often refers to changes in modern climate (Global Warming).