I. Introduction Thesis statement : Climate change and the devastating effects on the environment are a direct result of human behavior. II. Background A. Existing research finds that there is very strong evidence that the climate is changing that these changes are driven primarily by human activity . (Baum , Haqq - Misra , & Karmosky, 2012, p. 404 ) B. We are facing rapid changes in the global climate, and these changes are attributable to human behavior . Humans produce this global impact through our use of natural resources , multiplied by the vast increase in population seen in the past 50 to 100 years (Swim, Clayton, & Howard, 2011, p. 251 ) C. We must face the reality of climate change ("climate change is real ") and anthropogenic climate change ("climate change is caused by humans "). (Milfont , Milojev, Greaves, & Sibley, 2015, p. 17 ) III . Climate change is a global phenomenon A. The global climate is rapidly changing B. The effects of these changes are irreversible IIII . Human beings are responsible for climate change . A. Human activities have resulted in damning consequences for climate change B. Population growth and climate change 1. Human beings have contributed to climate change by their alarming consumption of natural resources 2. The Astronomically increasing rates of the population of human beings