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A CLIMATE-ORIENTED APPROACHFOR LEARNERS OF ALL AGES

limate

iteracy

The Essential Principlesof Climate Sciences

A Guide for Indiiduals and Communities

Second Version: March 2009

www.climatescience.go

CLIMATE CHANGES

Throughout its history, Earth’s climate has varied,reflecting the complex interactions and dependenciesof the solar, oceanic, terrestrial, atmospheric, andliving components that make up planet Earth’ssystems. For at least the last million years, ourworld has experienced cycles of warming and coolingthat take approximately 100,000 years to complete.Over the course of each cycle, global averagetemperatures have fallen and then risen again byabout 9°F (5°C), each time taking Earth into an iceage and then warming it again. This cycle is believedassociated with regular changes in Earth’s orbitthat alter the intensity of solar energy the planetreceives. Earth’s climate has also been influenced onvery long timescales by changes in ocean circulationthat result from plate tectonic movements. Earth’sclimate has changed abruptly at times, sometimesas a result of slower natural processes such asshifts in ocean circulation, sometimes due to suddenevents such as massive volcanic eruptions. Speciesand ecosystems have either adapted to these pastclimate variations or perished.While global climate has been relatively stableover the last 10,000 years—the span of humancivilization—regional variations in climate patternshave influenced human history in profound ways,playing an integral role in whether societies thrivedor failed. We now know that the opposite is alsotrue: human activities—burning fossil fuels anddeforesting large areas of land, for instance—havehad a profound influence on Earth’s climate. In its2007 Fourth Assessment, the IntergovernmentalPanel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that it had “very high confidence that the global average neteffect of human activities since 1750 has been oneof warming.” The IPCC attributes humanity’s globalwarming influence primarily to the increase inthree key heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere:carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. TheU.S. Climate Change Science Program publishedfindings in agreement with the IPCC report, statingthat “studies to detect climate change and attributeits causes using patterns of observed temperaturechange in space and time show clear evidenceof human influences on the climate system (dueto changes in greenhouse gases, aerosols, andstratospheric ozone).”

To protect fragile ecosystems and to buildsustainable communities that are resilient toclimate change—including extreme weather andclimate events—a climate-literate citizenry isessential. This climate science literacy guideidentifies the essential principles and fundamentalconcepts that individuals and communities shouldunderstand about Earth’s climate system. Suchunderstanding improves our ability to makedecisions about activities that increase vulnerabilityto the impacts of climate change and to takeprecautionary steps in our lives and livelihoods thatwould reduce those vulnerabilities.

Temperature Trends in the Lower Atmosphere: Steps for Understandingand Reconciling Differences

. Thomas R. Karl, Susan J. Hassol,Christopher D. Miller, and William L. Murray, editors, 2006. A Reportby the Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on GlobalChange Research, Washington, DC.

WHAT IS CLIMATE SCIENCELITERACY?

Climate Science Literacy is an understanding of yourinfluence on climate and climate’s influence on youand society.

A climate-literate person:

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understands the essential principles of Earth’sclimate system,

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knows how to assess scientifically credibleinformation about climate,

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communicates about climate and climate changein a meaningful way, and

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is able to make informed and responsibledecisions with regard to actions that mayaffect climate.

WHY DOES CLIMATE SCIENCELITERACY MATTER?

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During the 20th century, Earth’s globallyaveraged surface temperature rose byapproximately 1.08°F (0.6°C). Additionalwarming of more than 0.25°F (0.14°C) hasbeen measured since 2000. Though the totalincrease may seem small, it likely represents anextraordinarily rapid rate of change compared tochanges in the previous 10,000 years.

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Over the 21st century, climate scientists expectEarth’s temperature to continue increasing,very likely more than it did during the 20thcentury. Two anticipated results are risingglobal sea level and increasing frequency andintensity of heat waves, droughts, and floods.These changes will affect almost every aspect of human society, including economic prosperity,human and environmental health, andnational security.

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Scientific observations and climate model resultsindicate that human activities are now theprimary cause of most of the ongoing increase inEarth’s globally averaged surface temperature.

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Climate change will bring economic andenvironmental challenges as well asopportunities, and citizens who have anunderstanding of climate science will be betterprepared to respond to both.

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Society needs citizens who understand theclimate system and know how to applythat knowledge in their careers and intheir engagement as active members of their communities.

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Climate change will continue to be a significantelement of public discourse. Understandingthe essential principles of climate science willenable all people to assess news stories andcontribute to their everyday conversations asinformed citizens.

CLIMATE SCIENCE LITERACY IS APART OF SCIENCE LITERACY.

“Science, mathematics, and technology have a profound impact on our individual lives and our culture. They play a role in almost all humanendeavors, and they affect how we relate to oneanother and the world around us. . . . ScienceLiteracy enables us to make sense of real-world phenomena, informs our personal and social decisions, and serves as a foundation for a lifetimeof learning.”

From the American Association for the Advancementof Science, Atlas of Science Literacy, Volume 2,Project 2061.People who are climate science literate knowthat climate science can inform our decisionsthat improve quality of life. They have a basicunderstanding of the climate system, includingthe natural and human-caused factors that affectit. Climate science literate individuals understandhow climate observations and records as wellas computer modeling contribute to scientificknowledge about climate. They are aware of thefundamental relationship between climate andhuman life and the many ways in which climate hasalways played a role in human health. They have theability to assess the validity of scientific argumentsabout climate and to use that information to supporttheir decisions.