Facts About Climate Change PDF

**Our ticking time bomb called greenhouse gases ** Hey guys, Do you remember the winter holidays in 2010? Back then, there was a lot of snow everywhere, but what about now? It's just mud and slush. Even in the mountains, snow has become very rare. According to scientist, higher concentrations of gr...

**Our ticking time bomb called greenhouse gases ** Hey guys, Do you remember the winter holidays in 2010? Back then, there was a lot of snow everywhere, but what about now? It's just mud and slush. Even in the mountains, snow has become very rare. According to scientist, higher concentrations of greenhouse gases lead to rising temperatures, the key indicator for our stated problem.  However, why are we calling it a ticking time bomb? Aren\'t greenhouse gases essential for our planet? Anthropogenic climate change poses a threat to the greenhouse effect, because normally climate change is a natural process which enables us to live on earth. Without natural climate change, the temperatures would be near to minus 20 degrees Celsius, instead of fifteen degrees. How it works: Sunlight passes through the atmosphere and hits the Earth. A portion bounces back and the greenhouse gases trap some of the outgoing heat. If their concentration rises, the heat trapping rises, too. Temperatures rise, the climate change is reinforced. Since the beginning of industrial times in the 18th century, human activities have raised atmospheric CO2 by 50%, meaning the amount of CO2 is now 150% of its value in 1750. Today we call the complex shifts, driven by greenhouse gas concentrations that effecting our planets weather and climate systems, climate change. Nevertheless, the concentration of greenhouse gases are now out of balance, they threaten to change drastically and harm livings things on this planet.  Therefore, we read the articles "The Causes of Climate Change" by NASA and "Carbon dioxide levels are at a record high. Here 's what you need to know." by National Geographic Society.  **Understanding greenhouse gases and their impact on our planet ** The first concept of greenhouse effect was published by Joseph Fourier in 1824. He calculated that the Earth would be much colder without atmosphere and the famous Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius extended this concept in 1896, as he was the first to link a raise in carbon dioxide gas from burning fossil fuels, which causes a warming effect.  Finally, the American climate scientist James E. Hansen testified to the Congress in the 20th century: "The greenhouse effect has been detected and is changing our climate now.\"   As we stated before, greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, like carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, act much like the glass of a greenhouse. The effect is essential to life on Earth as it depends on the energy coming from the Sun, but human-made emissions are trapping and slowing heat loss to space. 82% of human-made emissions are emitted by humans' industry, transport and electrical use.   How do different gases affect the climate and what are the consequences of climate change? **Not all greenhouse gases are equal: The role of methane and nitrous oxide ** Those major gases are for example Carbon Dioxide (CO₂), which makes up to 75% of our emissions. Carbon Dioxide is released by burning fossil fuels, like coal, oil or natural gas. It is also released through natural processes like volcanic eruptions.  Another gas is Methane (CH₄), which is eighty-four times more noxious than CO₂ over two decades. It emits from agriculture (livestock), natural gas, and landfills.  A further greenhouse gas is Nitrous Oxide (N₂O, which is 264 times more noxious than CO₂ over 20 years and mainly emitted from agriculture (fertilizers) and the burning of fossil fuels.  Other gases are industrial gases like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which do not exist in the nature, but are produced by industries. They are used as refrigerants, solvents, and propellants for spray cans.  **The Sun is not to blame ** Current global warming cannot be explained by solar irradiance, so, the Sun has no impact on the global temperature warming trend over the past half century. An explanation from the scientists is that the amount of solar energy that our planet receives has followed the Sun's natural 11-year cycle of small ups and downs, there is no net increase since 1880.  More specifically, since 1750, the average amount of energy from the Sun is constant or decreased slightly. Furthermore, scientists are of the opinion, if the sun is the cause, they would expect warmer temperatures.  **The Consequences of Rising Greenhouse Gas Levels ** The increasing levels of greenhouse gases are leading to significant and far-reaching consequences across various sectors of life on Eart. In the Sixth Assessment Report is stated that human influence is the principal driver of many changes observed across the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere. The following we going to inform you about only a few of the many consequences. The polar ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are melting at alarming rates, causing sea levels to rise. As more ice turns to water, coastal regions around the globe face an increasing risk of flooding, which threatens homes, ecosystems, and human infrastructure. Furthermore, warmer global temperatures lead to more intense and frequent weather events. This includes stronger and more destructive storms, severe flooding, prolonged droughts and heatwaves and unpredictable and heavier snowfalls in winter.  Moreover, as temperatures rise and weather becomes more erratic, growing crops and raising animals is becoming more difficult. Changing climate conditions are shifting the regions where food can be grown, and water supplies are being diminished, threatening global food security.  Also, Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to air pollution and smog, exacerbated by trapped heat and pollutants. This creates unhealthy environments that can lead to respiratory diseases like asthma and increased rates of lung cancer.  If you ask us, the climate change is the defining problem of our lifetime and if we do not work together, our Earth will become too hot and the planet will become uninhabitable.  The rise in greenhouse gases is a clear and present danger. To save our planet from the effects of the greenhouse gases that are coming along with the anthrophonic climate change, we must reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  In the Paris Climate Agreement, countries acknowledged this reality and must take it serios now. If we manage to evolve away from fossil fuels and boosting energy efficiency, we can ramp down greenhouse gas emissions. While we have the tools to combat climate change, the window for action is closing fast.  But halting the trends in motion will require more than phasing out fossil fuels. Reducing emissions, transitioning to renewable energy, and removing CO₂ from the atmosphere are not just options---they are necessities. The future of our planet depends on the decisions we make today. Let\'s act before it\'s too late.  Blog entry - Deforestation Charlotte, Zoe, Emilia  Hey Guys, the last few weeks in school we talked about climate change. I have dealt a little more closely with the topic of forests and deforestation and think it is important that more people are informed about the topic. Forests are incredibly important for our planet. They cover about one-third of the land and play a key role in supporting life, keeping us healthy, and balancing the climate. Forests provide essential resources like food, fuel, and even jobs---about 86 million green jobs worldwide. They also help in the fight against climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Without forests, our planet would look very different and face even bigger climate challenges. But, forests are in danger. Deforestation and forest degradation are rapidly destroying these vital ecosystems. Since 1990, over 420 million hectares of forests have been lost worldwide. Just in 2022, over 16 million acres of forests were destroyed, with tropical rainforests like the Amazon being hit the hardest. The primary causes? Farming, logging, and infrastructure projects. In the Amazon, cattle ranching is one of the biggest drivers of forest loss. Even though organizations like WWF have been working for over 50 years to protect forests, the urgency of the issue continues to rise. Forests do a lot more than just provide us with resources. They help keep the planet livable. Trees act like natural "sponges" by absorbing CO2, which is a major cause of global warming. Tropical rainforests, in particular, store massive amounts of carbon, making them essential for keeping the climate stable. However, when trees are cut down, all the carbon they've stored is released back into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. To put things into perspective, forests store more carbon than all the world's fossil fuel reserves combined. Deforestation, especially in places like the Amazon, is responsible for about 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions. This makes it a major contributor to global warming, as cutting down trees releases stored carbon, much like burning fossil fuels. Shockingly, about 80% of deforestation is done to clear land for livestock farming. If deforestation were stopped, it could prevent up to half of all human-made greenhouse gas emissions. The situation is so severe that even California's intense wildfires, worsened by both climate change and deforestation, are releasing more CO2 than the state's environmental policies can offset. Deforestation doesn't have the same effects everywhere. For example, in Brazil, deforestation worsened significantly when Jair Bolsonaro became president in 2018. He encouraged deforestation in the Amazon to expand farming. As a result, this policy could release 13.2 gigatons of carbon---an amount similar to the annual emissions of the entire United States! Today, about 91% of the Amazon's deforestation is due to animal agriculture, mostly cattle farming. However, protecting our forests is one of the best ways to fight climate change, protect wildlife, and support people's livelihoods. Forests are home to countless species of plants and animals, and billions of people rely on them for food, water, and jobs. We need to reduce deforestation by supporting sustainable farming, backing conservation laws, and supporting organizations that work to save forests. By taking action now to stop deforestation, we can ensure that our planet remains healthy for future generations. This isn't just about saving trees---it's about protecting our climate, our health, and our future. Stopping deforestation means keeping our world livable and balanced. If you want to learn and read even more about this topic I can really recommend different articles and videos from the National Geographic.  Blog entry-The impact of animal agriculture The Meat We Eat: A Recipe for Climate Crisis Hey friends, have you ever thought about what's really on your plate? The other day, I saw someone posting a picture of a massive steak, captioned, \"What a feast!\" It got me thinking what if our idea of a feast is part of a much larger problem? Today, we're diving into the climate crisis, focusing specifically on how our meat consumption impacts the planet and what we can do about it. I recently read an article published in a leading environmental journal that shed light on the staggering statistics surrounding animal agriculture and its role in climate change. If you want to read it by your own, go to "National Geographic" or read "How changes in our diet can help mitigate climate change" by Deutsche Welle. Let's break it down. Animal agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for nearly 15% of global emissions. Among the culprits, bovine produce the most methane, a greenhouse gas that is over 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term. For context, just one cow can emit up to 25,000 liters of methane in a year. That\'s an astronomical number considering there are over 1.5 billion bovines in the world! In the U.S. alone, livestock farming contributes 42% of agricultural emissions. As our diets lean heavily on meat, we're not just making unhealthy choices; we're also making choices that harm the planet. By 2050, the world population is projected to rise to 10 billion, which will only exacerbate the demand for food and the resulting environmental damage. The effects of our meat-heavy diets are dire. 83% of farmland is dedicated to feeding livestock, and a staggering 27% of freshwater is consumed by animal agriculture. In fact, the global diet needs a significant shift towards a more sustainable model---reducing meat, dairy, and sugar consumption by 50% could have a profound impact. High environmental damage from food production leads to loss of biodiversity and contributes to t he greenhouse effect. While meat consumption is a major factor, it's essential to recognize that fossil fuels are the primary driver of climate change. Agriculture accounts for only 9% of the greenhouse effect, but the interplay between food production and climate is complex. Transitioning to a plant-based diet is one powerful way to reduce our carbon footprint. Studies have shown that adopting a diet rich in plant-based foods can significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions while also being beneficial for our health. In fact, a plant-based diet could save up to 1 trillion dollars in healthcare costs by 2050 by reducing diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. However, reducing meat and dairy consumption presents challenges. There are many jobs tied to the agricultural sector, and subsidies for traditional farming make meat products cheaper. This is where initiatives like the Great Food Transformation come into play, offering a strategy that benefits users, farms, and workers alike. Another crucial aspect of addressing the climate crisis is reducing food waste. In the U.S., about 30% of food is wasted. Strategies to combat this include better storage practices, educating companies on sustainability, and teaching consumers about mindful consumption. Kathryn Kellogg, author of a book on surviving on €250 a month, emphasizes the importance of sharing food guidelines to foster better habits. The goal is to convince international organizations, such as the United Nations, to prioritize these initiatives. To summarise, our preference for meat has a serious impact on our planet and contributes significantly to climate change and resource depletion. If you ask me, switching to a more plant-based diet is not just a personal choice, but a collective responsibility. The good news? By making small changes in our diets, reducing food waste, and advocating for systemic change, we can make a huge difference. So, how do you feel about this topic? Are you ready to take a step to wards a more sustainable future? Let me know in the comments below! Joona, Mads and Aaron from Potsdam, Germany **[Is the world going to drown? ]** Hey guys, did you know that if Greenland and Antarctica lost all their ice, sea levels would rise by 66 metres and eight of the world\'s ten largest cities would be under water? Rising sea levels around the world are a key indicator of climate change. Even a rise as small as 3.2 mm per year has major consequences for the environment and human populations.  Global sea levels have risen by about 24 cm since 1880. That is 3.3 millimetres per year. By the end of this century, sea levels could rise by between 0.3 and 1.8 metres as a result of rising water.  Our oceans absorb over 90% of the excess heat, so the volume of water increases with temperature due to thermal expansion. Warmer air and oceans cause ice sheets and glaciers to melt. Warmer oceans mean stronger and more frequent storms and disruptions in the food chain, such as for penguins and seals. The ocean absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere, which lowers its pH, resulting in higher acidity, lower concentrations of calcium carbonate and difficulty for corals to form shells or skeletons - all as a result of human-induced global warming.  In 2023, seawater rise will reach its highest annual average since 1993. Sea levels are also rising at an accelerating rate, and even the reduction of greenhouse gases will not stop the rise in the long term.  The problem with rising sea levels is that they put people at risk from flooding, coastal erosion and storms. This affects millions of people around the world who live close to the coast. In the United States, for example, 30% of the population lives near the coast, and eight of the ten largest cities are on the coast. The frequent flooding caused by high sea levels is not deadly, but it is very disruptive and, above all, expensive. But the risk of destruction from storm surges is also increasing. Higher sea levels mean that storm surges can reach further inland and cause more damage. Rising sea levels not only cause economic and social damage, but also environmental damage. Fresh water will be contaminated by salt water, animals will lose their habitats to storms, and nature will suffer from rising water levels. How much sea levels will rise in the coming years depends firstly on how much temperatures continue to rise, for example how much greenhouse gases are emitted, and secondly on whether large glaciers or ice sheets melt steadily or suddenly collapse and lose all their water. What is clear is that sea levels will rise faster in the US than in other parts of the world. Cities like New Orleans and Miami, for example, would be completely underwater with a rise of just five metres.  So many people in low-lying coastal areas will have to move to higher ground. To prevent this, coastal areas need to adapt to sea-level rise in the long term. They are planning to build sea walls, redesign roads, plant mangroves and other vegetation to absorb water, and hope to minimise the damage from flooding. All in all, the water is rising with global warming. The higher the sea level, the greater the economic and environmental damage. And we are also affected by the consequences, with floods and storms destroying our homes and infrastructure. That\'s why we should all try to reduce climate change by, for example, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing air travel and using bicycles instead of cars. The more we do about climate change, the slower the water will rise and the less of a problem we will have to deal with in the future. If you are interested in this topic and want to learn more about it, we recommend the articles on Climate.gov, where we get most of our information. We hope you will all help us save our plant from drowning. **\"The Arctic\'s SOS: Why Melting Ice Should Matter to You\" (Marie, Emma)** Hey guys, when I came across a video on social media of what is probably the most beautiful and untouched place in the world, I found out more about it and realized that I was wrong in my assumption about this "untouched" place. The Arctic, one of the most remote regions on earth, is a place of indescribable natural beauty and a crucial part of the global climate system. Here, at the northernmost point of our planet, a vast expanse of ice stretches across the Arctic Ocean like a white carpet. But this seemingly eternal carpet is disappearing - and at an alarming rate. So in case you haven\'t noticed yet, Climate change affects all of us. When we talk about the problems of climate change, we mainly talk about hot temperatures, extreme weather or forest fires. Because that\'s what threatens us most in Europe - at least, that\'s what many people think. But when we look to the north, we see far greater problems coming our way. We talk about the important climate indicator of melting ice.  But what actually happens in the places in the world where we don\'t look? In the last 50 years, average annual temperatures on the Arctic Peninsula have risen by 2.6 °C. The Antarctic, especially Spitsbergen, warmed even faster.  The huge glaciers are melting due to the high temperatures, to give an example, in 1910 there were around 150 glaciers, now we are talking about 30 remaining ones. The big problem is that these are also beginning to melt and shrink. Scientists, including Daniel Fagre, believe that the last glaciers will have completely disappeared in 30 years if we do nothing to stop climate change.   In February 2020, record temperatures of over 18 °C were measured at the northern tip of the Arctic Peninsula on Seymor Island. What is alarming here is the fact that the entire continent is warming by 0.12 °C per decade. This small number may seem like nothing to us humans, but the impact on the environment is massive.  In West Antarctica, losses of up to 200 gigatons of inland ice per year have even been documented. To put this into perspective, the average car weighs around 1.4 tons. One gigaton is equivalent to one billion tons. In our case, however, we would be dealing with 200 billion tons, and if we were to reduce the weight of a car to one ton for statistical purposes, we would arrive at a weight of around 200 billion cars. The fact that there are around 1.6 billion cars in the world (as of 2020) makes the high number of melting ice all the more frightening.  The consequences in the Arctic are: the distribution of ice, rising salinity and water levels, and rising ocean temperatures.  The effects on us humans are unimaginable, because coastal countries in particular are not designed for higher water levels. They will simply flood. Other dangers include the contamination of drinking water and the destruction of areas where food is grown or houses are built. In Louisiana (USA), this process is already well underway, with the coastline moving one meter closer to the mainland every century. Worldwide, over 100 million people live just one meter above sea level and are severely affected by rising water levels. Wildlife is also affected by the consequences of melting ice, such as krill and ice algae. Penguins, seals and whales, in turn, depend on krill stocks. Species that depend on stable sea ice, such as the emperor penguin, are also being driven to other regions by the melting sea ice, as they can no longer survive there. As native species retreat, non-native species are also settling in. Here I have summarized the most important effects of melting sea ice on the climate: The warmer the world gets, the faster the polar ice melts, which leads, for example, to a rise in sea level that threatens coastal regions. Many animal species native to these regions, such as the polar bear or the penguin, are also threatened with extinction if we do not stop emitting harmful gases such as CO2 and drilling for oil in the Arctic. Finally, I have a few aspects that you can consider yourself to help slow down the process of climate change:     - You can separate your rubbish.     - You can consume less fuel.     - You can consume less meat.     - You can ride your bike more often.     - Don\'t buy non-deposit bottles, because they produce much waste. How do you feel about this topic? Let us know in the comments. Emma and Marie from Potsdam.