Climate Change

Question 1

CO2 emissions have been relatively stable over the last 10,000 years due to…

Answer 1

Nature’s carbon cycle

Question 2

Over the last 40 years, global monthly mean CO2 has risen from 340 parts per million to…

Answer 2

~415 ppm

Question 3

What is the required global monthly mean CO2 for a stable climate?

Answer 3

350 ppm

Question 4

As CO2 increases, temperature…

Answer 4

Increases

Question 5

At current emissions, the Earth will warm by 1 degrees celsius every ? years

Answer 5

10.5 years

Question 6

How does increasing CO2 conc. affect the sea? (2)

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

What is meant by the units ‘CO2e’?

Answer 7

CO2e = carbon dioxide equivalent

Other greenhouse gases are converted into their equivalent effect on the climate compared to carbon dioxide

Question 8

Which 2 greenhouse gases are more potent than CO2 and hence of the greatest concern?

Answer 8

Methane (25x)
Nitrous oxide (300x)

Question 9

What is meant by aiming for net zero carbon emissions?

Answer 9

Aiming to produce as much CO2 as nature can absorb

Question 10

Should we aim for net zero carbon emissions?

Answer 10

No

We should aim for lower so that atmospheric CO2 is reduced, not balanced

Question 11

What are the 4 greatest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions?

Answer 11

• Energy production e.g., transport, building, industry (73%)
• Agriculture and land use (18%)
• Industry (5%)
• Waste (3%)

Question 12

List natural disasters which are becoming more common due to climate change

Answer 12

• Heat waves
• Wildfires
• Floods
• Air pollution
• Drought
• Infectious diseases
• Food insecurity

Question 13

How do heat waves impact health?

Answer 13

• 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)

Question 14

How do wildfires impact health?

Answer 14

• High morbidity and mortality e.g., burns
• Inhalation of fine particulate matter
• Post-traumatic mental health effects

Question 15

Climate change and air pollution are closely linked. What are the two types of air pollution?

Answer 15

Fine particulate matter

Tropospheric ozone = ozone forming at ground level

Question 16

How does air pollution impact health?

Answer 16

Fine particulate matter:

• Cardio-respiratory disease
• Neurodegenerative conditions

Tropospheric ozone:
- Exacerbations of respiratory disease

Question 17

What is the most common natural disaster?

Answer 17

Floods

Question 18

How do floods impact health?

Answer 18

• Drowning, trauma, hypothermia, electrocution
• Drinking water, sanitation, infectious diseases
• Mental health impacts, disruption to services, displacement from homes

Question 19

How does drought impact health?

Answer 19

• Famine
• Infectious diseases e.g., cholera
• Poor sanitation
• Loss of livelihood (farming)
• Migration
• Mental health

Question 20

What factors are causing decline in food yield e.g., rice, wheat, fruit, veg etc?

Answer 20

• Drought
• Extreme weather events
• Increased energy prices
• Loss of pollinators
• Increased ground level ozone

Question 21

Name 4 infectious diseases which are increasing in prevalence due to change in climate factors

Answer 21

Dengue
Malaria
Cholera
Lyme disease

Question 22

What is meant by ‘solastalgia’?

Answer 22

Distress caused by environmental change and degradation e.g. homesickness, powerlessness

Question 23

Countries that contribute most to global warming suffer most from its effects. T/F

Answer 23

False

It is the countries that contribute the least e.g., Africa, India, which are suffering the most

Question 24

What % of carbon emissions can be attributed to healthcare?

Answer 24

4-6%

Question 25

Scotland have aimed to reach net zero emissions by…

Answer 25

2045

Question 26

Where does the majority of healthcare emissions come from?

Answer 26

Medicines, medical equipment and other supply chains

Question 27

State 3 effective ways to reduce carbon emissions in healthcare

Answer 27

• Prescribe dry powder inhalers rather than metered dose inhalers (27x less greenhouse gas emissions)
• Switch anaesthetic gas from Desflurane to Sevoflurane (68x less greenhouse gas emissions)
• Prevent illness before it is caused and start with lifestyle changes in treatment

Question 28

What is meant by fuel poverty?

Answer 28

Inability to afford fuel to heat the home adequately

Question 29

What is meant by fuel poverty?

Answer 29

Inability to afford fuel to heat the home adequately

Question 30

List 3 health effects of fuel poverty i.e., living in a cold home

Answer 30

• Increased CV mortality
• Increased incidence of respiratory infections
• Worse mental health (higher rates of anxiety and depression)

Question 31

How does fuel poverty increase CV mortality?

Answer 31

Lower temperatures cause…

• Increased BP
• Peripheral vasoconstriction
• Increased risk of heart attacks and strokes due to thrombogenic responses

Question 32

Outline the ideal healthy, sustainable diet

Answer 32

• 50% fruit and veg
• Wholegrains
• Plant based proteins
• Modest amounts of animal protein and dairy
• Shift away from red meat, sugars, starch, oils

Question 33

What are the health benefits of a sustainable diet?

Answer 33

• Reduced risk of cancer, CV disease, diabetes, premature death etc
• Better mental health (gut-brain axis)

Question 34

List benefits of active travel

Answer 34

• Reduces carbon footprint (travel is ~25% of UK carbon footprint)
• Exercise improves most health risks
• Mental health benefits from green and blue space