MAY.

2021

GLOBAL WARMING
Sustainability and Creativity

WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE

AND GLOBAL WARMING?
There are two contributing aspects to climate change, firstly, global
warming driven by human emission of greenhouse gases, and
secondly, the resulting shifts in weather patterns.

Global warming is the unusual rise in the earth’s average surface

temperature , which has been going on since the last century
primarily due to the increase of greenhouse gases released by
humans.

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HOW DO HUMANS "Global warming isn't a
CONTRIBUTE? prediction. It is
happening."
The largest contribution to global
warming is the emission of greenhouse JAMES HANSEN

gases. 90% of this greenhouse gas is a

combination of carbon dioxide, and
methane. The emission of greenhouse
gases is largely due to the burning of
fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and
natural gases. These processes are not
necessary; however, they are the
preferred ways of energy consumption
humans want. With the addition of
manufacturing factories, deforestation
and more, these emissions continue to
rise and damage our climate even
today.

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 IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

Human Health Environmental Change

Due to climate change and more specifically
global warming, human health can be very
vulnerable to difficulties and deficits. The
changing environment will be exerting more heat
stress, causing an increase in waterborne
diseases, poor air quality, and viruses
transferred by insects.
Currently, scientist already see many
environmental changes due to global warming.
Glaciers have melted and shrunk, ice on large
bodies of water is breaking up sooner than
expected, animals have shifted in range, and
plants are even flowering sooner.

Effects of Marine Life

The oceans have also been greatly affected by climate change. The ocean absorbs about 30% of the
carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels. As a result, the
ocean has been getting more acidic in the past years, which greatly affects marine life. For marine
animals that live only in a specific surrounding with a specific acidity level, this change may be
detrimental for their health. The ocean also absorbs a lot of the refracted heat energy coming from the
sun, and this sudden exponential change in temperature is also negatively affecting many species that
live in the open waters. For example, corals are known for their beautiful vibrant colours, however,
they need a very specific temperature in order to live out their life cycle fully. With raising
temperatures within the oceans, coral reefs are now turning white in colour, and even dying as a result.

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 Global warming is a global issue, and it will affect people
of all nations. The effects will also last for generations to
come, as reversing climate change is simply impossible.
So...

Use energy wisely

Use energy as long as it is necessary, but
remember to save where you can! Change out for some
renewable energy sources
ie. turn the lights off when leaving a room, turning
the heater off when going on a trip, etc.
Utilize cleaner power that is generated
with less cost of our environment!

HOW CAN WE HELP?

Eating Habits
Eat more meat friendly meals, be organic
as much as possible, and grow your own "Green" your commute!
food!
In Canada alone, transportation accounts for
24% of the total carbon emissions.

To reduce the amount of carbon dioxide

emissions, you can:
Ride share
Take public transit (trains/busses)
Bike or walk if it is a short destination

Sources
https://davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/top-10-ways-can-stop-climate-change/
https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/climate/climate-change-impacts
https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/

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