Climate change

Definition

Climate change refers to significant changes in global temperatures and weather patterns over time. While climate change is a natural phenomenon, human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, have accelerated this process, leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions that trap heat in the atmosphere. This alteration in the climate system affects ecosystems, weather events, and sea levels, creating urgent environmental challenges that require collective action.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports that global temperatures have risen by approximately 1.1 degrees Celsius since the late 19th century due to human activities.
2. Melting ice caps and glaciers contribute to rising sea levels, threatening coastal communities and ecosystems around the world.
3. Extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires, are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change.
4. The impact of climate change disproportionately affects marginalized communities who often lack resources to adapt and respond effectively to environmental changes.
5. Efforts to combat climate change include transitioning to renewable energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable land-use practices.

Review Questions

• How do human activities contribute to climate change and what are some major consequences of these actions?
  • Human activities such as burning fossil fuels for energy, deforestation for agriculture, and industrial processes release significant amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat and lead to global warming, which results in various consequences including rising sea levels, increased frequency of extreme weather events, and disruptions to ecosystems. The combined effect of these changes poses serious risks not only to the environment but also to human health and livelihoods.
• Discuss the relationship between climate change and sustainable development initiatives.
  • Climate change poses a significant challenge to sustainable development by threatening food security, water availability, and health outcomes globally. Sustainable development initiatives aim to address these challenges by promoting environmentally friendly practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes investing in renewable energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing resilience among vulnerable communities to adapt to climate impacts. Effective sustainable development strategies are crucial for mitigating climate change while ensuring economic growth and social equity.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of current international agreements aimed at combating climate change and propose potential improvements.
  • Current international agreements like the Paris Agreement aim to limit global warming by bringing countries together to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While these agreements have raised awareness and led to some progress, they often face challenges such as insufficient binding commitments from nations and a lack of enforcement mechanisms. Improvements could include establishing clearer accountability measures for countries' emissions targets, increasing financial support for developing nations to adopt green technologies, and promoting stronger collaborations among countries at all levels. Enhancing transparency and public participation can also help create more robust frameworks for addressing climate change effectively.

Related terms

Greenhouse gases: Gases in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat, including carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, contributing to the greenhouse effect.

Global warming: The long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human-made emissions of greenhouse gases.

Sustainable development: Development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, often emphasizing environmental protection and resource management.