French Phrase
Qu'est-ce qui cause le réchauffement climatique ?
Meaning
The sentence asks “What causes global warming?” It is a neutral, inquisitive way to request the scientific or social factors behind the rise in Earth’s average temperature.
When to use
Use this question in classroom debates, environmental presentations, news discussions, or casual conversations about climate change. It works both in formal written French and in spoken French among educated speakers.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Qu'est-cequicauseleréchauffementclimatique?
Qu'est‑ce
Contraction of *que* + *est* + *ce*; used to form “what” questions. It always appears at the beginning of a question.
qui
Relative pronoun meaning “who/that”. Here it links the interrogative phrase to the verb.
cause (verb)
Third‑person singular present of *causer* (to cause). In formal French *causer* is common, while *provoquer* is a frequent synonym.
le réchauffement climatique
Noun phrase meaning “global warming”. *Réchauffement* = warming, *climatique* = climatic; the article *le* makes it a specific phenomenon.
🗨In Conversation
Qu'est-ce qui cause le réchauffement climatique ?
What causes global warming?
Les émissions de CO₂, la déforestation et l'agriculture intensive sont les principales causes.
CO₂ emissions, deforestation and intensive agriculture are the main causes.
✕Common Mistakes
Qu'est‑ce qui cause le réchauffement du climat ?
Both *réchauffement climatique* and *réchauffement du climat* are correct, but the former is the standard term in scientific and media contexts.
Qu'est‑ce qui cause le réchauffement climatique
Never omit the final question mark in written French; it signals the interrogative form.
Qu'est‑ce qui cause le réchauffement climatiquees ?
The noun *réchauffement* is singular; adding an *-es* makes it plural and ungrammatical.
↔Alternatives
Qu'est‑ce qui provoque le réchauffement climatique ?
What provokes global warming?
Quelles sont les causes du réchauffement climatique ?
What are the causes of global warming?
Pourquoi le climat se réchauffe‑t‑il ?
Why is the climate warming?
Cultural Tip
In French media, *réchauffement climatique* is the standard term, while *changement climatique* (climate change) is used for broader discussions that include both warming and other shifts. When speaking to a general audience, *provoquer* sounds slightly less formal than *causer* and is often preferred in TV interviews.