Climate change

Definition

Climate change refers to significant and lasting alterations in global temperatures and weather patterns over time, primarily driven by human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation. This phenomenon is closely linked to various environmental impacts, including biodiversity loss and pollution, as well as the broader implications for sustainable development, global governance, security, and international relations.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Climate change is largely attributed to human activities that increase concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to global warming.
2. The impacts of climate change can exacerbate existing issues such as food security, water scarcity, and displacement of populations due to extreme weather events.
3. International agreements like the Paris Agreement aim to limit global temperature rise and foster cooperation among nations to combat climate change.
4. Climate change is recognized as a significant threat to international security, potentially leading to conflicts over resources, migration crises, and destabilization of regions.
5. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address climate action directly, highlighting the need for efforts toward environmental sustainability and resilience.

Review Questions

• How does climate change influence environmental degradation and affect biodiversity?
  • Climate change leads to environmental degradation by causing shifts in ecosystems, altering habitats, and threatening species survival. Rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns can result in habitat loss and increased vulnerability for many species, pushing them toward extinction. Additionally, changes in climate can disrupt food chains and ecological relationships, further exacerbating biodiversity loss and negatively impacting ecosystems essential for human survival.
• Discuss the role of international governance in addressing climate change and how it relates to the Sustainable Development Goals.
  • International governance plays a crucial role in addressing climate change through frameworks like the Paris Agreement, which encourages nations to set emission reduction targets and cooperate on sustainability initiatives. This aligns closely with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 13, which calls for urgent action to combat climate change. Global governance mechanisms facilitate collaboration among countries, enabling them to share knowledge, resources, and technologies necessary for effective climate action and sustainable development.
• Evaluate the implications of climate change on international security and the responses from global institutions like NATO and the UN Security Council.
  • Climate change poses significant risks to international security by exacerbating resource scarcity, increasing natural disasters, and causing displacement. These challenges can lead to conflicts over water and food supplies or drive mass migrations that destabilize regions. Institutions like NATO have begun recognizing climate change as a security threat and are adapting strategies accordingly. The UN Security Council has also addressed climate-related security risks, emphasizing the need for comprehensive approaches that integrate environmental issues into peacekeeping and conflict resolution efforts.

Related terms

Greenhouse gases: Gases such as carbon dioxide and methane that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect and resulting in climate change.

Global warming: The long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human-made emissions of greenhouse gases.

Climate adaptation: The process of adjusting to current or expected climate change effects, aiming to minimize harm and exploit potential benefits.