Climate Change and the Energy Crisis iACADEMY 2002 PDF

iACADEMY The premier school for tech and design Climate Change and the Energy Crisis Prepared by: Ms. Rugiemay C. Vargas Learning Outcomes A. Differentiate between natural and anthropogenic climate change B. Assess the various impacts of climate change on our society. What is climate ch...

iACADEMY The premier school for tech and design Climate Change and the Energy Crisis Prepared by: Ms. Rugiemay C. Vargas Learning Outcomes A. Differentiate between natural and anthropogenic climate change B. Assess the various impacts of climate change on our society. What is climate change? What causes climate change? What is climate change? According to UN, Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels (like coal, oil and gas), which produces heat-trapping gases. 6 7 Anthropogenic climate change is defined by the human impact on Earth's climate while natural climate change is the natural climate cycles that have been and continue to occur throughout Earth's history. 8 GREENHOUSE GASES ON THE RISE SINCE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION The Industrial Revolution marked the beginning of the massive release of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Higher volumes of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere trap more heat and prevent it from radiating back into space thereby heating up the planet. 9 What is Greenhouse Effect? It is a process that occurs when gases in Earth's atmosphere trap the Sun's heat. This process makes Earth much warmer than it would be without an atmosphere. The greenhouse effect is one of the things that makes Earth a comfortable place to live. 10 Greenhouse gases Atmospheric gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and water vapor (H2O) are known as greenhouse gases. They absorb and emit heat, leading to the warming of the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere. This mechanism is referred to as the greenhouse effect. Despite constituting a small portion of the atmosphere, even slight fluctuations in greenhouse gas levels can significantly impact the intensity of the greenhouse effect, influencing the Earth's average temperature and climate. 11 CARBON DIOXIDE IS NOT THE ONLY RELEVANT GREENHOUSE GAS Not all greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide and not all of them come from the burning of fossil fuels. Methane and water vapor are also very significant greenhouse gases. To a lesser extent, surface-level ozone, nitrous oxides, and fluorinated gases also trap infrared radiation. These come from various industries, with methane coming from agriculture and waste. 12 13  How are we solving these problem? By promoting SUSTAINABILITY. 15 20 minute health break Renewable energy is derived from sources that are abundant and do not deplete over time. These energy sources are natural, self-replenishing, and typically have minimal to zero carbon emissions. Some examples of renewable energy sources are wind power, solar power, bioenergy (organic materials used as fuel), and hydroelectric power, which includes tidal energy. 17 What are the benefits of renewable energy?  Renewable energy sources provide a multitude of advantages for the future. Governments globally are transitioning towards prioritizing renewable energy as the main energy source because of their plentiful supply in comparison to fossil fuels. The environmentally friendly aspect of renewables leads to minimal or zero harmful emissions, which is crucial in addressing global warming. 19 Group Activity  iACADEMY The premier school for tech and design