Fatima School Group BURKINA FASO

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Class: 2nd A4 Unit-Progress-Justice
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School Year : 2022-2023

English Oral

Theme : climate change.

Group members
 EBOREICHYE Abby Pascal
 NIKIEMA Lydia
 NIEBIE Rita
 KERE W. Raymond

Teacher: Mr. KOGO

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 Plan
Introduction

I- Definition

II- The causes of global warming

1. The greenhouse gas

2. Aerosols and clouds

3. man's action

4. solar and volcanic activity

III- The Consequences of Climate Change

1. On the environment

2. About Nature and Wildlife

3. human consequences

4. The economic consequences

IV- Solutions against climate change

Conclusion

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Introduction
Global warming , also known as " climate change ", is the increase in the average
temperature of the earth's surface taking place in 20TH and 21ST centuries and, more generally,
the resulting change in large-scale weather patterns .

I- Definition
Climate change refers to long- term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may
be natural , such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have
been the main driver of climate change , primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal , oil and
gas .

II- The causes of global warming

1. The greenhouse gas
The Earth absorbs solar energy , which heats it, and it emits this heat in the form of thermal
radiation , mainly infrared . Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and re-emit infrared
radiation, slowing the rate at which it can pass through the atmosphere and escape into space.
Human activity since the Industrial Revolution primarily the extraction and burning of fossil
fuels ( coal , petroleum , and natural gas ) has increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere, resulting in a radiative imbalance . CO2 emissions come mainly from the
combustion of fossil fuels to provide energy for transport, industry, heating of buildings and
as well as electricity production The rest of CO2 emissions come from deforestation and
industries , including CO2 released by chemical reactions for the manufacture of cement ,
steel , aluminum and fertilizers . Methane emissions come from livestock , manure , rice
cultivation , landfills , sewage , coal mining , as well as oil and natural gas extraction

2. Aerosols and clouds

Air pollution , in the form of aerosols , not only affects health , but also the climate on a large
scale. In addition to their direct effects (scattering and absorption of solar radiation ), aerosols
have indirect effects on the Earth's radiation budget . Sulfate aerosols act as condensation
nuclei for some clouds and thus lead to clouds with more and smaller droplets. These clouds
thus reflect solar radiation more effectively than normal. This effect also results in greater
uniformity in droplet size, which reduces raindrop growth and makes clouds more reflective
for incoming sunlight. Indirect aerosol effects are the greatest uncertainty in radiative forcing.

3. man's action
Humans are modifying the Earth's surface primarily to create more agricultural land . Today,
agriculture occupies 34% of the earth's surface, while 26% is forest and 30% is uninhabitable
( glaciers , deserts , etc. ) The amount of forested land continues to decline, largely due to
conversion to cropland in the tropics. This deforestation is the most significant aspect of land
surface modification that affects global warming. The main causes of deforestation are:
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permanent land use change from forest to agricultural land for cattle ranching and palm oil
production , logging for forest products, short-term shifting cultivation and forest fires . In
addition to influencing greenhouse gas concentrations, land use change affects global
warming through a variety of other chemical and physical mechanisms.

4. solar and volcanic activity

the Sun is Earth's main source of energy, changes in incoming sunlight directly affect the
climate system. Further evidence that greenhouse gases are driving recent climate change
comes from measurements showing warming of the lower atmosphere (the troposphere ),
associated with cooling of the upper atmosphere (the stratosphere ).
Explosive volcanic eruptions represent the greatest natural forcing of the industrial age. When
the eruption is strong enough ( sulphur dioxide reaching the stratosphere), sunlight can be
partially blocked for a few years, with a temperature signal lasting about twice as long.
During the industrial era, volcanic activity had negligible impacts on global temperature
trends 1 . Current volcanic CO 2 emissions are equivalent to less than 1% of current
anthropogenic CO 2 emissions .

III- The Consequences of Climate Change

1. On the environment
The environmental effects of climate change are broad and profound, affecting oceans, ice
and weather. Changes can happen gradually or quickly. Global sea levels are rising due to
melting glaciers , melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica , and thermal expansion.
Rising ocean temperatures are weakening and threatening to release glaciers in Antarctica,
which could lead to significant melting of the ice sheet and make possible a rise in sea level of
two meters by 2100 in case of high emissions. The long-term effects of climate change
include continued melting of ice, warming oceans, rising sea levels, and ocean acidification.

2. About Nature and Wildlife

Recent warming has pushed many terrestrial and freshwater species towards the poles and to
higher altitudes . Rising atmospheric CO 2 levels and longer growing seasons have led to a greening
of the planet, while heat waves and drought have reduced the productivity of ecosystems in
some regions. Global warming has contributed to the expansion of drier climatic zones, such
as the expansion of deserts in the subtropics . The magnitude and speed of global warming
make abrupt changes in ecosystems more likely. Globally, climate change is expected to lead
to the extinction of many species.
The oceans warmed more slowly than the land, but ocean plants and animals migrated to the
colder poles faster than terrestrial species. Just like on land, heat waves in the ocean are more
frequent due to climate change, with adverse effects on a wide range of organisms such as
corals, Laminariales and seabirds . Harmful algal blooms fostered by climate change and
eutrophication cause anoxia, disruption of food webs , and large-scale die-off of marine life.

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Coastal ecosystems are under particular stress, with nearly half of wetlands having
disappeared due to climate change and other human impacts.

3. human consequences
The effects of climate change on humans, primarily due to warming and changing
precipitation , have been detected worldwide. The regional impacts of climate change are now
observable on all continents and in all ocean regions, with less developed and low latitude
regions being the most exposed. Continued production of greenhouse gases will cause further
warming and lasting changes to the climate system, with potentially “severe, widespread and
irreversible” impacts for people and ecosystems. Risks from climate change are unequally
distributed, but are generally greater for poor people in developing and developed countries
Health effects include both direct effects of extreme weather, which lead to injury and loss of
life, and indirect effects, such as malnutrition caused by crop failure . Various infectious
diseases are more easily transmitted in a warmer climate, such as dengue fever , which affects
children most severely, and malaria . Climate change affects food security and has led to
reductions in average global corn, wheat and soybean yields between 1981 and 2010

4. The economic consequences

Economic damage from climate change has been underestimated and could be severe, with
the likelihood of disastrous events not negligible. Climate change has probably already
increased global economic inequality and is likely to continue to do so. Most severe impacts
are expected in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia , where existing poverty is already
very high. The World Bank estimates that climate change could push more than 120 million
people into poverty by 2030. It has been observed that current inequalities between men and
women, between rich and poor and between different ethnicities worsened due to climate
variability and change. Climate change can also increase vulnerabilities, leading to trapped
populations in some areas who are unable to move due to a lack of resources.

IV- Solutions against climate change

greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing the sinks that absorb greenhouse gases from the
atmosphere. To limit global warming to less than 1.5 °C with a high probability of success,
global greenhouse gas emissions must be zero by 2050, or by 2070 with a 2 °C target.
Solar radiation management methods were also explored as a possible complement to deep
emission reductions.
To achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, renewables should become the dominant form of
electricity generation, reaching 85% or more in some scenarios.
Limit investments in coal and eliminate use almost by 2050
In transport, consider a large increase in the market share of electric vehicles and the
replacement of low-carbon fuels by other modes of transport such as maritime transport.

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In the field of agriculture and forestry avoid greenhouse gas emissions, prevent the further
conversion of forests to agricultural land and meet the increase in global food demand

Conclusion
The countries most vulnerable to climate change are generally responsible for a small share of
global emissions, which raises questions of justice and equity. Climate change is strongly
linked to sustainable development . Limiting global warming makes it easier to achieve the
Sustainable Development Goals , such as eradicating poverty and reducing inequality.
Addressing climate change requires significant financial investment from governments and
businesses, but the price of climate inaction is infinitely higher.