Climate change

Definition

Climate change refers to significant and lasting changes in the Earth's climate, particularly due to human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. This phenomenon results in altered weather patterns, rising sea levels, and increased frequency of extreme weather events, impacting ecosystems and human societies alike.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Climate change is primarily driven by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
2. The average global temperature has increased by approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius since the late 19th century, leading to significant changes in weather patterns and ecosystems.
3. Climate change poses serious risks to biodiversity, leading to habitat loss and threatening species extinction as they struggle to adapt to rapidly changing environments.
4. The impact of climate change is felt unevenly around the world, with developing countries often facing the most severe consequences despite contributing the least to greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Efforts to mitigate climate change include transitioning to renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and implementing policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

Review Questions

• How do human activities contribute to climate change and what are some examples of these activities?
  • Human activities contribute significantly to climate change mainly through the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels for energy, transportation, and industry. Activities such as deforestation also play a role by reducing the number of trees that can absorb carbon dioxide. Additionally, agricultural practices, especially those involving livestock production, contribute methane emissions. Collectively, these actions have led to a rise in global temperatures and a shift in climatic patterns.
• Discuss the potential social and economic impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities worldwide.
  • Climate change can lead to severe social and economic impacts on vulnerable communities, particularly in developing nations. These communities often rely on agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods, making them more susceptible to changing weather patterns like droughts or floods. This can lead to food insecurity, displacement due to rising sea levels or extreme weather events, and strain on local economies. As resources become scarcer due to climate disruptions, conflicts over water and land use may also increase.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of current global strategies aimed at combating climate change and their implications for future policy-making.
  • Current global strategies like the Paris Agreement aim to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius. While these initiatives have fostered international cooperation and increased awareness about climate issues, their effectiveness varies across regions due to differing political will and economic capabilities. Evaluating these strategies reveals both successes in raising commitments towards renewable energy and challenges such as insufficient funding for developing countries. For future policy-making, it highlights the need for more robust frameworks that ensure equitable participation and support for all nations in addressing this global challenge.

Related terms

global warming: Global warming is the long-term heating of the Earth’s climate system due to human activities, primarily from greenhouse gas emissions.

carbon footprint: A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, that are directly and indirectly emitted by an individual, organization, event, or product.

sustainability: Sustainability is the practice of meeting current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, often involving environmental preservation and responsible resource use.