climate change patterns from 10,000 BP to the present The Earth's climate has changed throughout history. Just in the last 650,000 years there have been seven cycles of glacial advance and retreat, with the abrupt end of the last ice age about 7,000 years ago marking the beginning of the modern climate era â and of human civilization. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations in Earth's orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives. evidence of global warming from around the world Sea level rise: Global sea level rose about 17 centimeters (6.7 inches) in the last century.