Climate change refers to long-term alterations in temperatures and weather patterns. These alterations may be natural, such as through dissimilarities in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, predominantly due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Climate change could affect our society through impacts on a number of different social, cultural, and natural resources. For example, climate change could affect human health, infrastructure, and transportation systems, as well as energy, food, and water supplies. Climate change may especially impact people who live in areas that are vulnerable to coastal storms, drought, and sea level rise or people who live in poverty, older adults, and immigrant communities.