Once upon a time, in a peaceful Arctic village, there lived a curious young polar bear named Greta. Greta loved her snowy home, where she and her friends would slide down icy hills, build snow forts, and swim in the chilly waters.

But one day, Greta noticed something strange. The ice around her village was melting faster than ever before, and the once snowy landscape was turning into a slushy mess. Concerned, Greta decided to find out what was happening to her beloved home.

As Greta wandered through the melting ice, she met a wise old seal named Simon basking on a small iceberg.

"Simon, do you know why the ice is melting so quickly?" Greta asked.

Simon sighed and nodded. "Yes, Greta. The ice is melting because of something called global warming. This means the Earth's temperature is getting warmer, causing the ice to melt."

"But why is the Earth getting warmer?" Greta inquired. Simon explained, "People around the world are using a lot of energy from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. This releases gases called greenhouse gases into the air, which trap heat and make the Earth warmer. It's like wrapping the Earth in a warm blanket."