Human Activities and Climate Change

Human Activities and Climate Change

• Global warming is the increase in Earth's average temperature due to greenhouse gases trapping heat that would normally escape into space.
• The greenhouse effect is the warming effect caused by greenhouse gases absorbing and reflecting heat radiated by Earth, preventing it from escaping into space.
• Climate change is a broader term encompassing various changes in temperature, precipitation, and other environmental factors. Even a 1°C change can significantly impact climates. By the end of the century, the Earth may be as much as 4°C warmer.
• Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and nitrous oxide.
• Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) is a major source of carbon dioxide emissions, contributing significantly to the problem. Deforestation also adds to this problem since trees absorb carbon dioxide.
• Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas produced by various activities, including agriculture and waste management.
• Other human activities increasing greenhouse gas emissions include industrial processes, transportation, and waste disposal.

Annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector

• A breakdown (pie chart not provided with data) shows the annual greenhouse gas emissions by sector (e.g., power stations, transportation, agricultural byproducts, industrial processes,etc.)

Impacts of Climate Change

Globally

• Rising temperatures lead to more intense storms (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes).
• Increased flooding and droughts due to changing weather patterns.
• Food shortages and loss of biodiversity as weather patterns and oceans change.
• Worsening health risks because changing weather patterns affect the spread of diseases.

Locally

• Increased urban heat island effect from concrete absorbing heat.
• Decline in water supplies and agricultural production.
• Rising sea levels and localized flooding in coastal areas.
• Increased insurance costs and/or denial of insurance in high-risk regions.

Indigenous People

• Loss of access to traditional foods and land.
• Limited access to safe drinking water.
• Loss of cultural identity and traditional practices.
• Climate change effects are most severe in Arctic regions, leading to melting permafrost and difficulties for hunters

Global Warming

• Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) produces carbon dioxide (CO2).
• Last year, the world burned 97 million barrels of oil products per day
• This translates to 354 billion barrels consumed per year (3.54 billion).
• CO2 prevents the Sun's energy from reflecting back into space, warming the Earth.
• Global warming causes changes in weather patterns around the globe.
• Solutions to lower global CO2 emissions include burning less fossil fuels.

Global Initiatives to Combat Climate Change

• Putting a price on pollution, like carbon taxes.
• Implementing renewable energy (wind, solar, tidal, geothermal)
• Improving transportation efficiency
• Using energy-efficient appliances and buildings.
• Reducing, reusing, repairing, recycling, and refusing products.

Explore the impact of human activities on climate change in this quiz. Learn about global warming, greenhouse gases, and their effects on our environment. Understand how fossil fuels and deforestation contribute to the problem.