Chapter 8 Managing Climate Change Flashcards
strategies for managing climate change, causes and impact on human populations and the environment
Climate Change
- Climate change refers to long-term changes in global temperature and weather patterns.
- The primary driver of current climate change is the increase in greenhouse gases (GHGs), notably carbon dioxide (CO2) from human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
** Evidence of Climate change**
- - Temperature records, ice core data, and historical climate data show that the Earth’s climate has been warming over the past century.
- Other evidence includes melting ice caps, rising sea levels, and increased frequency of extreme weather events.
Greenhouse gases
- Gases in the atmosphere that absorb infrared raditionGreenhouse gases (also known as GHGs) are gases in the earth’s atmosphere that trap heat from the sun, maintaining a stable temperature conducive to life.
- The main gases responsible for the greenhouse effect include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor.
- Enhanced greenhouse effect: Human activities have increased the concentration of GHGs, leading to more heat being trapped and causing global temperatures to rise.
Major sources of green house gas emission from human activities
- combustion of fossil fuels (carbon dioxide and water vapour)
- rice fields and livestock (methane)
- landfill sites (methane
How increase concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmospher case greenhouse effect leading to global warming
When concentration of greenhouse gases increases in the atmosphere, more heat is trapped near the Earth’s atmosphere leading to global warming.
Challenges monitoring and predicting climate change
- limited historical data used to reconstruct past climate conditions (ice cores, tree rings, historical
accounts) - future climate predictions are made using computer climate models which use different variables
- climate feedback mechanisms are not fully understood
- time delay between cause and effect.
- uncertainty over the use of some data in drawing conclusions has resulted in differences in
scientific and political opinion
Impact of climate change
Changes in
* temperature and precipitation
* sea level
* ocean and wind circulation
* melting of sea ice, ice sheets, glaciers and permafrost
* species distribution and biodiversity
Impact of climate change on human populations
- increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events leading to flooding and loss of land, drought and wild fires
- damage to property and loss of life during extreme weather events
- forced migration
- impacts on crop yields and increased pest outbreaks
- impacts on food, energy and water security.
. Anthropogenic Factors
- The burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) for energy production and transportation is a major source of CO2 emissions.
- Deforestation reduces the Earth’s capacity to absorb CO2.
- Industrial processes, agriculture, and land use changes contribute to GHG emissions.
Natural Factors
- Volcanic eruptions, solar radiation variability, and natural variations in ocean currents also influence climate but play a smaller role compared to human activities.
Environmental Impacts
- Rising temperatures lead to melting glaciers, sea-level rise, and more frequent and severe heatwaves.
- Altered precipitation patterns can cause droughts, floods, and disruptions in ecosystems.
Mitigation/Strategies: Reducing GHG Emissions
- Transitioning to renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro) to replace fossil fuels.
- Improving energy efficiency in industries, transportation, and buildings.
- Promoting afforestation and reforestation to enhance carbon sequestration.
- Reducing GHG emissions through renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency, and carbon capture and storage (CCS).- Reforestation and afforestation to sequester carbon.
- Promoting sustainable transportation and lifestyle changes.
Mitigation/Strategies
Adaptation: Building Resilience
- Developing infrastructure and policies to withstand climate-related challenges (e.g., seawalls to protect against rising sea levels).
- Enhancing water management and agricultural practices to cope with changing conditions.
Mitigation/Strategies
Education and Awareness
- Educating communities about climate risks and encouraging sustainable practices.
- Promoting research on climate adaptation strategies.
Strategies for managing climate change /reduction of GHG emissions
- switching to low-carbon fuels
- reduction of global and individual carbon footprint (fewer children per woman, eating a plant-based diet, adopt an energy-efficient lifestyle)
- reducing the use of fossil fuels
- using alternative forms of energy
- transport policies
- use of carbon capture and storage
- reducing deforestation, increasing reforestation and afforestation
- energy efficient buildings and infrastructure
- adaptation to climate change
- national and international agreements such as Kyoto Protocol 1992, Paris Agreement 2016.
Geoengineering strategy to counteract climate change
- Controversial approaches such as solar radiation management and carbon capture and storage aim to directly manipulate the climate system to mitigate climate change.
- Ethical and environmental concerns surround these methods.
- solar radiation management (SRM)
– albedo enhancement, space reflectors, stratospheric aerosols
