36 Questions
Which group of countries will be most negatively affected by climate change?
Poor countries
What is a potential response to decreased freshwater availability caused by climate change?
Implementing regulations promoting water conservation
Why might farmers need to change their farming practices in response to climate change?
To avoid bankruptcy
What is a role of governments in facilitating climate adaptation?
Providing accurate information about climate change
What is an example of a policy that can increase our vulnerability to climate change?
Setting the price of flood insurance too low
Why might individuals adapt to climate change without government direction?
Because they need to avoid financial losses
What can be a consequence of building higher levees to reduce flooding in a particular area?
Pushing flooding into other areas
What is a limitation of climate change adaptation efforts?
Varying abilities of societies to adapt to climate change
What is a potential consequence of intentionally altering the climate system to cancel the warming effects of greenhouse gases?
Unintended and unpredictable consequences
What is a key factor in determining a society's ability to adapt to climate change?
Economic stability
Why do richer countries have an advantage in adapting to climate change?
They have more resources to invest in adaptation efforts
What is the ultimate goal of climate adaptation efforts?
Stabilizing the climate despite continuing emissions
What is one potential consequence of a rapid disintegration of the West Antarctic or Greenland ice sheets?
A rise in sea level by several meters in a century or less
What is the primary challenge of adapting to abrupt climate change events?
The rapid rate of change, making it difficult for human and natural systems to adapt
What is a potential consequence of thawing permafrost and methane hydrates?
The release of huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, leading to additional warming
Why is leaving adaptation up to individual farmers a significant disadvantage?
Because some of the most effective adaptive responses require large-scale societal coordination
What is a potential impact of a shift in the timing and magnitude of the Indian monsoon?
A change in the timing and magnitude of seasonal rainfall that billions of people rely on
Why do climate models have difficulty predicting the occurrence of abrupt climate change events?
Because they do not reliably predict the occurrence of abrupt climate change
What is the consequence of a trajectory that reduces emissions more slowly over the next decade or two?
Quicker emissions reductions will be required later
What is the aspirational goal of the Paris Agreement in terms of warming above pre-industrial temperatures?
Limiting warming to 1.5°C
What is required to achieve the mitigation target of the Paris Agreement?
Emissions reductions to accelerate and reach net-zero in the second half of this century
What is a potential consequence of surpassing the 2°C or 1.5°C warming targets?
The climate system will experience a sudden transition into a new climate regime
What is the primary goal of geoengineering in response to climate change?
To engineer a more hospitable climate
What is the primary challenge of reducing emissions to achieve the mitigation target of the Paris Agreement?
Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy
What is the estimated amount of carbon dioxide humans add to the atmosphere every year?
40 billion tonnes
What is the primary goal of solar radiation management strategies?
To increase the Earth's albedo and reflect more sunlight
According to the Paris Agreement, what is the target temperature increase above pre-industrial levels?
Well below 2°C
What is the temperature threshold target for which the emissions budget is 580 billion tonnes?
1.5°C
What is the potential consequence of implementing large-scale solar radiation management strategies?
Changes in precipitation patterns, potentially leading to droughts or floods
Based on present-day emissions, when will we exceed our carbon budget for stabilizing below 2°C?
2050s
What is the process referred to as CCS?
Carbon Capture and Storage
What is the estimated percentage of net emissions reduction required to achieve the 1.5°C threshold?
50%
What is the mechanism by which volcanoes cool the planet?
Forming droplets that reflect sunlight back to space
What is the primary goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement?
Holding the increase in global average temperatures to 1.5°C
What is the current rate of emissions reduction required to stay below the 2°C threshold?
Immediate decline
What is the primary limitation of solar radiation management strategies?
Unintended side effects, such as changes in precipitation patterns
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