Climate Change Flashcards
CO2 emissions have been relatively stable over the last 10,000 years due to…
Nature’s carbon cycle
Over the last 40 years, global monthly mean CO2 has risen from 340 parts per million to…
~415 ppm
What is the required global monthly mean CO2 for a stable climate?
350 ppm
As CO2 increases, temperature…
Increases
At current emissions, the Earth will warm by 1 degrees celsius every ? years
10.5 years
How does increasing CO2 conc. affect the sea? (2)
- Sea becomes warmer which increases its volume, hence sea level rises
- Absorption of more CO2 forms carbonic acid which acidifies the sea - this will affect ocean life
What is meant by the units ‘CO2e’?
CO2e = carbon dioxide equivalent
Other greenhouse gases are converted into their equivalent effect on the climate compared to carbon dioxide
Which 2 greenhouse gases are more potent than CO2 and hence of the greatest concern?
Methane (25x) Nitrous oxide (300x)
What is meant by aiming for net zero carbon emissions?
Aiming to produce as much CO2 as nature can absorb
Should we aim for net zero carbon emissions?
No
We should aim for lower so that atmospheric CO2 is reduced, not balanced
What are the 4 greatest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions?
- Energy production e.g., transport, building, industry (73%)
- Agriculture and land use (18%)
- Industry (5%)
- Waste (3%)
List natural disasters which are becoming more common due to climate change
- Heat waves
- Wildfires
- Floods
- Air pollution
- Drought
- Infectious diseases
- Food insecurity
How do heat waves impact health?
- Death from CV, cerebrovascular and respiratory conditions
- Reduced ability to exercise outdoors
- Reduced ability to work (esp. agricultural, can lead to forced migration and mental health effects)
How do wildfires impact health?
- High morbidity and mortality e.g., burns
- Inhalation of fine particulate matter
- Post-traumatic mental health effects
Climate change and air pollution are closely linked. What are the two types of air pollution?
Fine particulate matter
Tropospheric ozone = ozone forming at ground level
How does air pollution impact health?
Fine particulate matter:
- Cardio-respiratory disease
- Neurodegenerative conditions
Tropospheric ozone:
- Exacerbations of respiratory disease
What is the most common natural disaster?
Floods
How do floods impact health?
- Drowning, trauma, hypothermia, electrocution
- Drinking water, sanitation, infectious diseases
- Mental health impacts, disruption to services, displacement from homes
How does drought impact health?
- Famine
- Infectious diseases e.g., cholera
- Poor sanitation
- Loss of livelihood (farming)
- Migration
- Mental health
What factors are causing decline in food yield e.g., rice, wheat, fruit, veg etc?
- Drought
- Extreme weather events
- Increased energy prices
- Loss of pollinators
- Increased ground level ozone
Name 4 infectious diseases which are increasing in prevalence due to change in climate factors
Dengue
Malaria
Cholera
Lyme disease
What is meant by ‘solastalgia’?
Distress caused by environmental change and degradation e.g. homesickness, powerlessness
Countries that contribute most to global warming suffer most from its effects. T/F
False
It is the countries that contribute the least e.g., Africa, India, which are suffering the most
What % of carbon emissions can be attributed to healthcare?
4-6%
