Climate Change Explained PDF

What is the climate change What is climate change? Climate change is caused by accumulating greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, resulting in large-scale, long-term shifts in our planet’s weather patterns and an increase in the average temperature often referred to as 'global warming'. Climate and...

What is the climate change What is climate change? Climate change is caused by accumulating greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, resulting in large-scale, long-term shifts in our planet’s weather patterns and an increase in the average temperature often referred to as 'global warming'. Climate and weather are often confused. Weather refers to short-term changes in atmospheric conditions, while climate refers to changes over a much longer period. This is why we still experience cold, snowy days even though we are now facing a climate crisis. The impact of climate change can be seen everywhere, from melting glaciers resulting in a global rise in sea level, to heavier rainstorms, more intense droughts, more frequent heatwaves, and other extreme weather events, threatening lives and nature across our planet. The key points about climate change are summarized below: Climate change terms explained We know climate change can be a complicated topic with lots of buzzwords thrown around. So we have a compiled a list of words and phrases below to help demystify them. The Main Greenhouse Gasses Is there a scientific consensus on climate change? The major scientific agencies of the United States, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), all agree that climate change is occurring and that humans are contributing to it. In 2010, the National Research Council concluded that “Climate change is occurring, is very likely caused by human activities, and poses significant risks for a broad range of human and natural systems”. Many independent scientific organizations have released similar statements, both in the United States and abroad. This doesn’t necessarily mean that every scientist sees eye to eye on each component of the climate change problem, but broad agreement exists that climate change is happening and is primarily caused by excess greenhouse gases from human activities.  WHAT CAUSES CLIMATE CHANGE 1. BURNING FOSSIL FUEL Over the past 150 years, the world’s industrialised nations have changed the balance of the carbon cycle by burning huge amounts of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas. These fossil fuels release carbon dioxide when they burn. Excessive carbon dioxide and other greenhouses gases in the atmosphere is causing climate change. 2. FARMING AND LIVESTOCK BREEDING To sustain a meat-heavy and often wasteful diet, countries have intensified their agricultural activities, emitting huge amounts of greenhouse gases. Cattle ranching and rice cultivation produce methane, and intensive fertilization of farmland for food and animal feed produces nitrous oxide. Both methane and nitrous oxide are stronger greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide, making agriculture a significant contributor to climate change. 3. CUTTING DOWN FORESTS Countries are cutting down large amounts of forest, which naturally absorb carbon dioxide, to make way for farming and to collect wood for fuel, construction and manufacturing. This reduces carbon dioxide absorption, leaving more in the atmosphere The impact of climate change Since the Industrial Revolution, the planet has warmed by 1.2°C. We are already seeing the impacts of this warming in the news, with record breaking temperatures, heatwaves, floods, droughts and storms. Extreme weather events, once rare, are becoming increasingly common and are attributed to climate change caused by humans. These extreme weather events endanger people’s lives and livelihoods, wildlife and nature. They are also more difficult and expensive to protect against and recover from. The longer we wait to act, the worse and more expensive it will become. A lot of the impacts are irreversible and self- perpetuating, so once they’ve started, they can’t stop. While climate change is a global crisis, its effects are not felt evenly worldwide. The poorest, indigenous people (often important stewards of nature), and future generations – those least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions – are often the most affected by the climate crisis. Countries have signed the Paris Agreement, agreeing to limit global warming to well below two degrees, preferably 1.5°C, from pre-industrial levels to the year 2100, to limit the very worst impacts of climate change. However, even if all governments acted on their current climate promises, we would still reach around 2.7°C of warming, and we are far from meeting those promises.  The impact of going beyond a 1.5°C global temperature increase: Warming beyond 1.5°C would propel the Earth beyond critical tipping points, causing irreversible damage with catastrophic consequences:  Extreme ocean acidification would mean that most of the world’s coral reefs would be lost.  Widespread extinction and species loss.  More intense and extreme wildfires.  Extreme storms and cyclones.  Dying rainforests.  Unthinkable loss of ancient ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica, causing dramatic sea-level rises.  Risks to food security, as higher temperatures lead to crop failures.  Chronic water scarcity and more severe droughts.  More heat-related deaths.  Increased risk of pandemics.  Increased risk of war due to competition over scarce resources.  Mass displacement of people, known as climate refugees, as a result of homes being lost due to sea-level rise, food and water insecurity, or war.  Increased pressure and risks to people’s mental health, as a result of witnessing the impacts of climate change and living through repeated extreme weather events. Global solutions to climate change While challenging, it is still possible to close the gap, but this requires urgent and strong actions worldwide, with the window of opportunity rapidly closing. Preventing every fraction of temperature rise could save lives and protect nature, Climate change affects everyone Our lives are connected to the climate. Human societies have adapted to the relatively stable climate we have enjoyed since the last ice age which ended several thousand years ago. A warming climate will bring changes that can affect our water supplies, agriculture, power and transportation systems, the natural environment, and even our own health and safety. Carbon dioxide can stay in the atmosphere for nearly a century, so Earth will continue to warm in the coming decades. The warmer it gets, the greater the risk for more severe changes to the climate and Earth’s system. Although it’s difficult to predict the exact impacts of climate change, what’s clear is that the climate we are accustomed to is no longer a reliable guide for what to expect in the future. We can reduce the risks we will face from climate change. By making choices that reduce greenhouse gas pollution, and preparing for the changes that are already underway, we can reduce risks from climate change. Our decisions today will shape the world our children and grandchildren will live in. You Can Take Action You can take steps at home, on the road, and in your office to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the risks associated with climate change. Many of these steps can save you money. Some, such as walking or biking to work, can even improve your health! You can also get involved on a local or state level to support energy efficiency, clean energy programs, or other climate programs.