Climate Change and Global Warming Basics

Study Notes

Climate Change: Long-term alteration in the average weather patterns of a region, including temperature, precipitation, and other conditions.
Global Warming: Average increase in the Earth's surface temperature due to human activities, primarily caused by the increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse Gases:
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Methane (CH4)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O)
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Human Activities:
- Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas)
- Deforestation and land-use changes
- Agriculture (especially rice and cattle farming)
- Industrial processes and transportation

Rising Sea Levels: Melting of glaciers and ice sheets, leading to coastal erosion and flooding
Extreme Weather Events: Increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall
Changes in Precipitation Patterns: Altered patterns of rainfall and snowfall, leading to droughts and floods
Loss of Biodiversity: Changes in species distribution, extinction, and disruption of ecosystems

Food Security: Impacts on agricultural productivity, food availability, and food prices
Human Health: Increased risk of heat-related illnesses, respiratory problems, and waterborne diseases
Economic Impacts: Damage to infrastructure, increased costs for healthcare and emergency response, and loss of productivity

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): Global treaty aimed at stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations
Paris Agreement: Sets a goal to limit global warming to well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels
Kyoto Protocol: International agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): Comprehensive plan to mitigate and adapt to climate change
National Clean Energy and Environment Fund (NCEEF): Financing mechanism for clean energy and environmental projects
India's Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC): Pledge to reduce emissions intensity by 33-35% by 2030

Climate Change refers to long-term alterations in weather patterns, including temperature and precipitation.
Global Warming is the average rise in Earth's surface temperature primarily due to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

Rising Sea Levels result from the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, causing coastal erosion and flooding.
Extreme Weather Events exhibit increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves, droughts, and heavy rainfall occurrences.
Changes in Precipitation Patterns lead to altered rainfall and snowfall distributions, resulting in droughts and floods.
Loss of Biodiversity includes changes in species distribution, increased extinction rates, and ecosystem disruptions.

Food Security is threatened by impacts on agricultural productivity, food availability, and pricing fluctuations.
Human Health is at risk from heightened chances of heat-related illnesses, respiratory diseases, and waterborne diseases.
Economic Impacts involve damage to infrastructure, rising healthcare and emergency response costs, and decreased productivity.

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) aims to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that prevents dangerous interference with climate systems.
Paris Agreement strives to limit global warming to well below 2°C, with efforts directed towards limiting the increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions among nations.

National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) provides a comprehensive strategy to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
National Clean Energy and Environment Fund (NCEEF) serves as a financing mechanism for projects focused on clean energy and environmental improvements.
India's Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) aims to reduce emissions intensity by 33-35% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.