What is global climate change? What is climate? Objective Students will be able to: 1. Understand that gases in the Earth’s atmosphere affect climate. 2. Learn how an increase in temperature can affect humans and ecosystems. Background The Earth's climate is getting warmer, and the signs are everywhere. As global temperatures continue to rise, we'll see more changes in our climate and our environment. These changes will affect people, animals, and ecosystems in many ways. Less rain can mean less water for some places, while too much rain can cause terrible flooding. More hot days can dry up cr Duration: 60 Minutes.