Climate Change

Global Warming
WEEK 17

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
Learning Outcomes:

•Analyze the global impact of climate change.

•Generate innovative practices and solutions in reducing the
amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
•Reflect critically on the causes of climate change and see
how human activities affect the climate
•Use basic concepts in investigating the evidences of global
warming, and climate changes on Earth.

“Global warming threatens our health, our economy, our natural

resources, and our children’s future. It is clear we must act.”
– Eliot Spitzer
Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
 Overview
1. Introduction
2. What causes climate change?
3. Hazards and impacts

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

Introduction

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

 Weather Climate
• Weather refers to • Climate refers to average
conditions like rain, weather conditions over
temperature and wind a long period of time
(30+ years)
over hours to days
• THINK about what the
• LOOK out the window weather is normally
now. What is the like on your birthday? -
weather like? Is it normally dry or wet
/ hot or cold?

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
Global Climate Change
• Identifiable change in the climate of
Earth as a whole that lasts for an
extended period of time (decades or
longer)
– When due to natural processes, it
is usually referred to as global
climate variability
– Usually refers to changes forced
by human activities that change
the atmosphere

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

What causes climate
change?

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

What causes Earth’s climate to change?

▪ Changes in the atmosphere

▪ Natural processes
▪ Volcanoes
▪ Tectonic plate movement
▪ Changes in the sun
▪ Shifts in Earth’s orbit
▪ Human activities – any activity that releases “greenhouse
gases” into the atmosphere

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

 What Causes Climate Change?
Climate change can be caused gradually by natural processes or suddenly by large events, such as a
massive meteorite strike or volcanic activity. However, the rapid climate change we are experiencing
now is due to three main human activities:

➢ Burning fossil fuels for heating and cooking,

generating electricity and powering vehicles
releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
➢ Deforestation (destruction of forests)
releases carbon dioxide and reduces the
number of trees able to capture carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere.
➢ Reduction of biodiversity creates an
unstable ecosystem. Nature loss leads to
ecosystems that are less able to capture
carbon from the atmosphere and less resilient
to rising temperatures.

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

 The Greenhouse Effect
• Sunlight passes through the
atmosphere to earth
• At earth’s surface it’s
reflected back through the
atmosphere to space
• However! After it is
reflected, greenhouse gases
can trap heat in the
atmosphere
• We call this process the
greenhouse effect; as it is
similar to a greenhouse
• Greenhouse gases act like a
big blanket around the
earth, trapping heat

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

What are greenhouse gases?

• Any gases that cause the

“greenhouse effect!”

Imagine… a car on a cool but sunny day… Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
 Greenhouse Gases
• Carbon dioxide
• combustion of solid waste, fossil fuels (oil, natural
gas, and coal), and wood and wood products
• Methane :
• production and transport of coal, natural gas, and
oil. Methane emissions also result from the
decomposition of organic wastes in municipal solid
waste landfills, and the raising of livestock.
• Nitrous oxide
• agricultural and industrial activities, as well as
during combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels.
• hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),
perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur
hexafluoride (SF6),
• industrial processes.
Source: http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/emissions/index.html 17
Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
 What is black carbon and how does it
cause global warming?
• Black carbon (BC) is tiny particles
of carbon released as a result of
the incomplete combustion of
fossil fuels, biofuels and biomass.
• extremely small, ranging from 10
µm, the size of a single bacterium
to less than 2.5 µm, one thirtieth
the width of a human hair and
small enough to pass through the
walls of the human lung and into
the bloodstream.
• it absorbs the sun’s heat millions
of times more effectively than
CO2.
• When wind carries BC over snow,
glaciers or ice caps where it falls
out onto the white, normally
reflective surface, it is particularly
damaging because it contributes
directly to melting.
• considered the second biggest
contributor to global warming after
CO2.
Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
 Greenhouse gases

• Greenhouse gases trap heat from the

sun in the atmosphere, after it is
reflected from earth
• Greenhouse gases occur naturally in
the atmosphere
• Without them, the earth would be
very cold – about minus 18°C ! All
water on earth would freeze, the
oceans would turn to ice and life as
we know it would not exist

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

 Human activity

• Over the last 100 years, since the

industrial revolution, greenhouse
gases have rapidly increased in the
atmosphere
• This is due to human activities
which release greenhouse gases
• Electricity from coal or diesel
generators and industry or pollution
from factories contribute the most

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

 Global warming
• More greenhouse gases trap more heat
in the atmosphere, leading to global
warming
• Since 1880, global temp has increased by
almost 1°C
• How much this rises depends on how
much more greenhouse gas is released
• Temp could rise by almost 5°C by 2100.
However, countries around the world
agreed to keep this below 2°C
• Humans have added so much
greenhouse gas to the atmosphere, that
even if all emissions stopped today, the
planet would still continue to warm for
decades to come
Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
1°C or 2°C warmer sounds small?

• 1°C or 2°C - might not

sound like much, but think
about what happens when
your body temperature is
increased by 1 or 2 degrees?
• You would immediately fall
sick and get a fever

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
 Global warming & the water cycle
• Global warming intensifies the water cycle
• Higher temps increase evaporation of water
from sea, lakes, rivers
• Warmer air holds more water vapour, resulting in
more intense rainstorms. This can lead to
flooding
• More floods where water runs off into rivers and
streams, does little to dampen the soil. This and
increased temps can lead to drought
• Weather patterns across the world are effected
over time
• This results in CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

Who Causes Climate Change?
The 50 least developed countries are thought to
have contributed 1% of the greenhouse gases that
have caused global warming. The USA, the EU and
China alone have contributed around 60%.
South America
Africa Oceania
Who Does Climate Change Affect?
In the long term, everyone will feel the effects of
climate change. However, some people are currently
more affected than others.
In most cases, the wealth of prosperous countries has
come from activities which contribute to greenhouse
gas emissions. This wealth allows these countries to
protect themselves from the effects of climate change.

Poorer countries are less able to adapt to climate

North change and therefore suffer the most from its effects.
America They are also less able to develop because they need
Asia to focus on addressing the challenges caused by
climate change.

The countries who have contributed the least to

Europe the climate crisis are the ones who are affected
the most.
Is this fair?
Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
Why Is Climate Change a Problem?

Over millions of years, species

become adapted to survive in the
conditions in which they live. A
stable climate supports this
process and allows living things to
thrive. If the climate changes
quickly, organisms don’t have
enough time to adapt to new
conditions and may no longer be
able to survive.

Bushfire Aftermath On Kangaroo Island by © Brad Fleet / Newspix licensed under CC BY

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
 Why Is Climate Change a Problem?
Climate change disrupts weather patterns and causes extreme weather events to
become more common. These include hurricane activity, droughts and floods.
As the global temperature has increased, so has the number of reported natural
disasters.
Number of Reported Natural Disasters

600

Data source: EM-DAT International Disaster Database

500

400

300

200

100

0
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020
Year

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

 Why Is Climate Change a Problem?
Rising temperatures are causing 250

Sea Level Change (mm)

sea levels to increase. 200

150
The rising water can cover coastal

Data source: NASA (GISS)

100
areas, destroying habitats and
50
displacing whole populations from
0
low-lying areas. -50
1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020
Year

Rising sea levels are driven by two main processes:

1. Ice Melt: When the atmosphere and ocean get warmer, ice sheets and glaciers melt,
resulting in the addition of fresh water to the ocean.
2. Thermal Expansion: As ocean water gets warmer, it expands, causing
sea levels to rise.
Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
Why Is Climate Change a Problem?

The increase in global

temperatures is causing
a reduction in sea ice.
This causes problems for
animals that depend on
the ice to hunt, mate and
sleep.

Untitled by © Shutterstock / Ritesh Chaudhary / WWF licensed under CC BY

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
 Why Is Climate Change a Problem?
The bright surface of the ice reflects
80% of the sunlight that hits it back
into space. This keeps the polar
regions cool and moderates the
global climate.
When the area of sea ice is reduced,
less sunlight is reflected back into
space. This causes more ocean
warming and reduces the sea ice
even further.
This feedback drives faster climate
change. Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
 Why Is Climate Change a Problem?
No matter how fast we act, the global temperature is set to continue rising as a result of
greenhouse gases that are already in the atmosphere. The problems that we are already
experiencing are going to worsen.

Untitled by © Marcio James / WWF–Brazil Untitled by © Marcio James / WWF–Brazil

Melting ice, Antarctica by © Wim van Passel / WWF
licensed under CC BY licensed under CC BY
licensed under CC BY

Acting quickly to keep the temperature rise to minimum is extremely important for humans
and wildlife.

How much difference do you think a 0.5°C increase in global temperature can make?

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

 Why Is Climate Change a Problem?
Coral Bleaching Species Loss
99 % 20
100
18 2°C 1.5°C
90 18

Percentage Species Loss

Percentage Coral Loss
16 2°C
80 16
70 %
70 14
60 12
50 10
40 8 8
8
30 6
6
20 4
4
10
2
0
1.5 2 0
Temperature Rise (°C) insects plants vertebrates
Bleached coral, Maldives by Untitled by © Ola Jennersten
© naturepl.com / Peter Scoones / WWF licensed under CC BY / WWF-Sweden licensed under CC BY

Drought Rise in Sea Level

Million People Affected

420 410 49
50

Sea Level Rise (cm)

million 58 million
410 56 cm
56 49
400 54 48
390 52 46
47
380 50 million
48 cm 46
370 48
350 46 45
360
350
million 44 44
1.5 2 1.5 2
340 Temperature Rise (°C) Temperature Rise (°C)
330
320
1.5 2
Dried up fishing pans in Liuwa plain
Temperature Rise (°C)
National Park by © Jasper Doest / WWF licensed under CC BY Climate change adaption Wadden sea by © Claudi Nir /Climate
WWF licensed
Trainingunder CC BY Youth: Let’s LEARN
Kit. Module
Hazards and Impacts

Climate Change
Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
 Climate change, hazards &
impacts
• Climate Change is exacerbating a range of weather related
hazards around the world
• Climate change makes some hazards more frequent
• Climate change makes some hazards more intense
• These hazards impact people around the world

• The same hazard can have different impacts for different

people

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

• Temperature increase (0.3 – 4.8°C by 2100)
• Heat waves - more often and last longer
• Extreme precipitation events (rain, snow)
- more often and more intense
• Precipitation increases in wet regions
• Precipitation decreases in dry regions
• Increase in tropical cyclone wind speeds
• Decreased snow / ice extent
• Rising sea level
• Warming and acidification of oceans
Source: IPCC 2014, AR5
Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
 Here are some climate
& weather events impacted by
climate change

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

 Changing Seasons

HAZARDS

IMPACTS
CHANGINE SEASONS
Rainy season Crops may die
may be delayed Farmers may need
in some regions to change crops
Spring might Incomes are lost
come earlier in Transportation is
other regions interrupted
Financial losses
Seasons may
become more Water availability
intense

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

 Drier & longer droughts

IMPACTS
HAZARDS
Water shortage Less or no crops
DROUGHT

Wind erosion Animals may die

Desertification Less water
Increased risk of supply
wild fires Incomes are lost
Financial losses
People become
sick
Migration
Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
 Increased temperatures &
heat waves
HIGH TEMP & HEAT
WAVES

Heat stroke People get sick

HAZARDS

IMPACTS
Water shortage or die
Increased Animals get sick
malaria Crops may die
Dengue Water shortage
Sea level rise Food shortage
Damaged forests

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

MELTING GLACIERS & Melting glaciers & polar ice
POLAR ICE

IMPACTS
Flooding in low

HAZARDS
Sea level rise
lying coastal
Less ice to
areas
reflect sunlight,
leads to Coastal areas &
increased cities threatened
warming Loss of wildlife /
biodiversity

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

 Sea level rise

Sea level has Coastal erosion

IMPACTS
HAZARDS
SEA LEVEL RISE

risen 17 cm in the Higher risk of

last 100 years. storms leading to
In the last 10 coastal flooding
years, it has risen Salt water
twice as fast as in intrusion in
the previous 90 coastal areas –
years impacts drinking
water and health
risks such as
diarrhoea

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

 More intense rainfall &
increased likelihood of floods
Vector-borne
FLOODS

HAZARDS

IMPACTS
Flooding
diseases (esp.
Flash floods malaria and
dengue fever)
Landslide Water-borne
diseases (esp.
Erosion diarrhea)
Extreme floods
and population
displacement

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

 Extreme winds & stronger storms
STORMS
EXTREME WINDS &

IMPACTS
People die

HAZARDS
Severe wind
Storm surge Animals die
Flooding Loss of
income
Financial
losses

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

 What can we do?

Climate Change Mitigation: Action taken to stop climate change by

reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere

Climate Change Adaptation: Action taken to deal with climate change

impacts and reduce the effects on lives, livelihoods and ecosystems

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN

There’s no place like home…
…and there may never be
again.
DO YOUR PART.

Thank you and God Bless you all!

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN
 References
• IPCC (2014) AR5 Synthesis Report; https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-
report/ar5/syr/SYR_AR5_FINAL_full.pdf
• IPCC WGII (2014) Climate Change and the Ocean;
https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg2/docs/WGII-AR5_Oceans-Compendium.pdf
• Nasa Kids (2017)

Climate Training Kit. Module Youth: Let’s LEARN