Understanding Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases

Climate Change

• Climate change refers to the alteration of the Earth's climate due to human activities, leading to rising temperatures and severe consequences.
• The Earth's temperature has increased by almost 1°C over the past 150 years.
• Climate change causes sea-level rise, droughts, floods, and extreme weather events.

Greenhouse Gases

• Greenhouse gases, such as CO2, trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming.
• Human activities, like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, release large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.
• The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased significantly since the Industrial Revolution.

Consequences of Climate Change

• Rising sea levels: a 19 cm rise in sea levels between 1901 and 2010.
• Loss of biodiversity: thousands of species may disappear due to climate change.
• Water scarcity: changing weather patterns lead to droughts and water shortages.
• Increased frequency of natural disasters: floods, heatwaves, and storms.

Sustainable Living

• Reduce energy consumption: turn off lights, use public transport, and insulate homes.
• Use renewable energy sources: solar, wind, and hydro power.
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: minimize waste, use reusable products, and recycle materials.
• Protect natural habitats: preserve forests, oceans, and wildlife.

Energy Sources

• Renewable energy sources:
  • Solar energy: generates electricity from sunlight.
  • Wind energy: generates electricity from wind.
  • Hydro energy: generates electricity from moving water.
  • Geothermal energy: generates electricity from heat within the Earth.
• Non-renewable energy sources:
  • Fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas.
  • Nuclear energy: generates electricity from nuclear reactions.

Individual Actions

• Reduce water waste: take shorter showers, fix leaks, and use water-efficient appliances.
• Reduce food waste: plan meals, use up leftovers, and compost food waste.
• Use eco-friendly products: choose products with minimal packaging and sustainable materials.
• Conserve energy: turn off appliances, use energy-efficient light bulbs, and insulate homes.

Climate Change

• Human activities alter the Earth's climate, resulting in rising temperatures and severe consequences.
• The Earth's temperature has risen by almost 1°C over the past 150 years.
• Climate change causes sea-level rise, droughts, floods, and extreme weather events.

Greenhouse Gases

• CO2 and other greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming.
• Human activities (burning fossil fuels, deforestation, industrial processes) release large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.
• The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased significantly since the Industrial Revolution.

Consequences of Climate Change

• Sea levels have risen by 19 cm between 1901 and 2010.
• Thousands of species may disappear due to climate change, leading to loss of biodiversity.
• Climate change causes water scarcity through changing weather patterns, leading to droughts and water shortages.
• Natural disasters (floods, heatwaves, storms) increase in frequency due to climate change.

Sustainable Living

• Reduce energy consumption: turn off lights, use public transport, and insulate homes.
• Use renewable energy sources: solar, wind, and hydro power.
• Implement reduce, reuse, recycle: minimize waste, use reusable products, and recycle materials.
• Protect natural habitats: preserve forests, oceans, and wildlife.

Energy Sources

• Renewable energy sources:
  • Solar energy generates electricity from sunlight.
  • Wind energy generates electricity from wind.
  • Hydro energy generates electricity from moving water.
  • Geothermal energy generates electricity from heat within the Earth.
• Non-renewable energy sources:
  • Fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas.
  • Nuclear energy generates electricity from nuclear reactions.

Individual Actions

• Reduce water waste: take shorter showers, fix leaks, and use water-efficient appliances.
• Reduce food waste: plan meals, use up leftovers, and compost food waste.
• Use eco-friendly products: choose products with minimal packaging and sustainable materials.
• Conserve energy: turn off appliances, use energy-efficient light bulbs, and insulate homes.