climate change

Question 1

what is the earth energy budget
Question: What is Earth’s energy budget and why is it significant?

Answer 1

Answer: Earth’s energy budget encompasses the major energy flows relevant to Earth’s climate, including internal flows within the climate system. It drives the global water cycle, atmospheric and ocean dynamics, and various surface processes, such as the distribution of heat between the atmosphere and oceans.

Question 2

physical Climate Change Evidence

Question: How do we know the climate is changing?

Answer 2

Answer: Evidence includes rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations from 280 ppm (pre-industrial levels) to over 410 ppm today, global temperature increases of approximately 1.1°C since pre-industrial times, significant reductions in Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, and observable shifts in global weather patterns, as detailed in IPCC AR6 WG1 report (2021).

Question 3

Human Influence in contributing to climate change

Question: What is the role of human activities in climate change?

Answer 3

Answer: Human activities, such as fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and industrial processes, have warmed the climate at an unprecedented rate over the last 2,000 years. Greenhouse gas emissions, particularly CO2 and methane, are the primary drivers, with aerosol cooling slightly offsetting the warming.

Question 4

IPCC Working Groups

Question: What are the three IPCC Working Groups and their focus areas?

Answer 4

Answer:

WG1: Examines the physical science underpinning past, present, and future climate change.

WG2: Investigates impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability to climate change.

WG3: Explores strategies for mitigating climate change, including reducing emissions and enhancing carbon sinks.

Question 5

Radiative Forcing

Question: What are the changes in radiative forcing caused by?

Answer 5

Answer: Changes in radiative forcing are caused by factors such as increased greenhouse gas concentrations (e.g., CO2, methane), volcanic activity, solar radiation variability, and human-produced aerosols

Radiative forcing (RF) is the difference between the amount of energy that enters the Earth’s atmosphere and the amount that leaves it. It’s a measure of how much a change in the Earth’s energy balance will affect the climate:
Positive forcing: When incoming energy is greater than outgoing energy, the planet warms.
Negative forcing: When outgoing energy is greater than incoming energy, the planet cools.

Question 6

Emission Pathways

Question: What do IPCC emission pathways tell us?

Answer 6

Answer: They structure our understanding of the relationship between emissions, atmospheric concentrations, and warming levels. Scenarios show that without significant emission reductions, warming will likely exceed 1.5°C by mid-century, increasing the risks of severe climate impacts.

Question 7

Regional Climate Impacts

Question: How does global warming affect regional climates?

Answer 7

Answer: With each degree of warming, regions experience greater changes, including hotter summers, altered precipitation patterns, increased drought frequency, and changes in soil moisture levels. For instance, the Arctic is warming at approximately twice the global average.

Question 8

Climate Extremes

Question: What types of climate extremes are influenced by climate change?

Answer 8

Answer: Climate change intensifies heatwaves, increases the frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events, and exacerbates droughts. For example, extreme heat events that were once rare are now becoming commonplace due to global warming.

Question 9

Sea Level Projections

Question: What are the projected changes in sea levels?

Answer 9

Answer: Sea levels are projected to rise by 0.3 to 1.0 meters by 2100, depending on emission scenarios, driven by thermal expansion of oceans and melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica.

Question 10

Historical Context of Warming

Question: How is current global warming different from past climate changes?

Answer 10

Answer: While past climate changes occurred due to natural factors over thousands to millions of years, the current warming is rapid and primarily driven by human activities, with a pace and magnitude unprecedented in millennia.

Question 11

Climate Change Impacts

Flashcard 1: Reminder - Climate Change is Happening

Question: What is the causal chain of global warming?

Answer 11

Answer: Human activities, particularly greenhouse gas emissions, cause global warming. This leads to widespread and pronounced regional changes in mean climate and climate extremes with every increment of warming.

Question 12

Effects of Climate Change

Question: What are the main drivers, changes, and impacts of climate change?

Answer 12

Answer:

Drivers: Greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, industrial activities.

Changes: Alterations to the climate system, including temperature rise, extreme weather, and hydrological shifts.

Impacts: Effects on ecosystems, food security, water availability, and human health.

Question 13

Observed Ecosystem Impacts

Question: How has climate change affected ecosystems?

Answer 13

Answer: Climate change has led to biodiversity loss, habitat shifts, and changes in species distribution. Many species are now exposed to dangerous climate conditions, threatening their survival.

Question 14

Human Systems Impacts

Question: How does climate change affect human systems?

Answer 14

Answer: Impacts include reduced food security due to water scarcity, increased vulnerability to extreme weather, and health challenges such as heat-related illnesses and spread of communicable diseases.

Question 15

Reasons for Concern (RFC)

Question: What is the RFC framework and why is it important?

Answer 15

Answer: The RFC framework assesses risks of climate change, emphasizing irreversibility and adaptation limits. It highlights how risks escalate with increasing temperatures, including thresholds and tipping points.

Question 16

Water Scarcity and Soil Moisture

Question: How does climate change impact water and soil moisture

Answer 16

Answer: Global warming leads to decreased ice cover in lakes and rivers, changes in water temperature, and significant soil moisture loss, particularly in regions already experiencing water scarcity.

Question 17

Food Security

Question: How does climate change threaten food security?

Answer 17

Answer: Climate change disrupts water availability and agricultural productivity, causing regional food shortages and increased vulnerability for low-income and food-dependent populations.

Question 18

Climate and Human Health

Question: What are the health impacts of climate change?

Answer 18

Answer:

Heat-related illnesses due to extreme temperatures.

Spread of communicable diseases such as malaria and dengue.

Increased mortality rates projected for 2030 and 2050 under different adaptation scenarios.

Question 19

Urban Heat Risks

Question: Why are cities particularly vulnerable to climate change?

Answer 19

Answer: Cities face higher temperatures due to the urban heat island effect. Vulnerable groups, including low-income communities and outdoor workers, are disproportionately affected by rising heat extremes.

Question 20

Cascading Risks of Climate Change

Question: What are cascading risks?

Answer 20

Answer: Cascading risks involve compound and transboundary impacts, where multiple climate hazards interact with vulnerabilities, spreading across sectors and regions. Examples include food shortages triggering economic and political instability.

Question 21

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Flashcard 1
Q: What is one hard truth about climate change?

Answer 21

A: Despite knowledge about climate change and its causes, global net anthropogenic emissions continue to rise across all major greenhouse gases. (IPCC AR6 SPM WGIII, 2021)

Answer: Despite our knowledge of climate change and its causes, global net anthropogenic emissions have continued to rise across all major greenhouse gases. For example, emissions rose by over 50% from 1990 to 2020 (IPCC AR6 SPM WGIII, 2021).

Question 22

Q: How will adverse impacts from human-caused climate change evolve?
Question: How will human-caused climate change affect future generations?

Answer 22

Answer: Adverse impacts will intensify, and the extent of these impacts will depend on the choices made now and in the near-term to limit global warming.

Answer: Adverse impacts will intensify, with more severe and frequent climate risks. Decisions made now and in the near-term will determine if warming can be limited to 1.5°C or exceeds 2°C, significantly impacting the livability of the planet (IPCC AR6, 2021).

Question 23

Cascading Climate Risks

Question: What are cascading climate risks?

Answer 23

Answer: Cascading risks are the compound effects of climate events that interact with vulnerabilities, leading to widespread impacts across regions and sectors. Examples include food shortages triggering economic instability.

Question: What are cascading climate risks?
Answer: Cascading risks are the compound effects of climate events that interact with vulnerabilities, leading to widespread impacts across regions and sectors. For example, climate extremes can disrupt food and water supplies, causing economic instability and migration (IPCC AR6, 2021).

Question 24

Mitigation vs. Adaptation

Question: What are mitigation and adaptation in the context of climate change?

Answer 24

Answer:

Mitigation: Actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as renewable energy adoption, carbon capture, and afforestation. For instance, direct air capture technologies can remove CO2 at rates of 1,000 tons/year per facility.

Adaptation: Measures to manage impacts, including drought-resistant crops, mangrove restoration, and improved flood defenses (IPCC AR6 WGIII, 2021).

Question 25

Importance of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Question: Why are the SDGs crucial for a climate-resilient world

Answer 25

Answer: Integrating SDGs with climate action fosters equitable development. For example, Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and Goal 13 (Climate Action) are critical to limiting warming and enhancing resilience (IPCC AR6 WGIII, 2021).

Question 26

Technological Transitions

Question: How do technological transitions support climate action?
Answer

Answer 26

Answer: Innovations grow exponentially during diffusion phases. Renewable energy technologies like solar PV and wind saw costs drop by 85% and 55%, respectively, over the past decade, enabling their widespread adoption (IPCC AR6 WGIII, 2021).

Question 27

Renewable Energy Costs

Question: What is a significant trend in renewable energy?

Answer 27

Answer: Unit costs of renewables have significantly declined. Solar PV costs fell by 85%, and wind turbine prices by 55%, making them the most cost-competitive energy sources globally (IPCC AR6 WGIII, 2021).

Question 28

Sea Level Mitigation

Question: Can mitigation efforts impact future sea level rise?

Answer 28

Answer: While 0.3 to 1.0 meters of sea level rise by 2100 is already locked in, mitigation can reduce long-term impacts by limiting temperature increases, thereby slowing ice sheet melting (IPCC AR6 WGIII, 2021).

Question 29

Maladaptation

Question: What is maladaptation, and why is it a concern?

Answer 29

Answer: Maladaptation occurs when climate responses unintentionally increase vulnerabilities, such as building seawalls that damage ecosystems or displacing communities without proper planning (IPCC AR6 WGII, 2021).

Question 30

Climate Resilient Development

Question: What is the window of opportunity for climate-resilient development?

Answer 30

Answer: The window is rapidly narrowing. Immediate transformative actions are required to meet the 1.5°C target and build resilience, such as integrating adaptive infrastructure with urban planning (IPCC AR6 WGII, 2021).

Question 31

Scaling Up Climate Action

Question: What opportunities exist for scaling up climate action?

Answer 31

Answer: Opportunities include scaling renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency, and leveraging international climate finance to achieve mitigation and adaptation goals (IPCC AR6 WGIII, 2021).

Question 32

Q: What is the definition of iconic images in the context of climate change?

Answer 32

A: Icons are “widely known and distributed images that represent historically significant events, activate strong emotional identification or response, and are reproduced across a range of media, genres, or topics” (Bleiker, 2018: 8).

Question 33

Flashcard 2
Q: How are “climate icons” defined?

Answer 33

A: They are “tangible entities which will be impacted by climate change, which the viewer considers worthy of respect, and to which the viewer can relate and feel empathy for” (O’Neill and Nicholson-Cole, 2009: 367).

Question 34

Q: What examples are used to depict animals affected by climate change?

Answer 34

A:

Polar bears moving into an abandoned Arctic weather station (The Guardian).
Images from the UNESCO Digital Library showcasing how schools are integrating climate change education.
Wildlife photography highlighting the impact on species (Natural History Museum).

Question 35

Q: What visual themes are associated with people in climate change imagery?

Answer 35

A: Representations of activism, protests, and the role of humans in responding to climate challenges.

Question 36

Q: How are polar regions and glaciers represented in climate change visuals?

Answer 36

A:

Polar regions symbolize vulnerability to climate change.
A growing trend in polar tourism reflects how these areas are changing rapidly.

Question 37

Q: What examples are used to depict global impacts of climate change?
A:

Answer 37

A:

Maps and atlases from sources like Climate Hot Map showing vulnerable regions and future scenarios.
Depictions of global warming effects, such as London as Venice (2010).

Question 38

Q: What do images of climate change aim to signify?

Answer 38

A:

Vulnerability: Iconic symbols like melting ice and affected wildlife.
Engagement and activism: Encouraging protests and global awareness.
Warnings: Danger signs such as drought and flooding (The Guardian).
Future scenarios: Movies like The Day After Tomorrow dramatizing potential outcomes

Question 39

Q: What is the critique of fear-inducing climate change imagery?

Answer 39

A:

Fear stems from recognizing threats, such as the severity of natural disasters (The Guardian).
The emotion can reduce perceptions of efficacy and action due to a sense of detachment from the issue

Question 40

Q: What is the final perspective on the effectiveness of climate change images?

Answer 40

A:
“Climate change images can evoke powerful feelings of issue salience, but these do not necessarily make participants feel able to do anything about it; in fact, they may do the reverse” (O’Neill and Nicholson-Cole, 2009: 373)

Question 41

Q: What is the role of mass media in shaping public understanding of climate change?

Answer 41

A:

Mass media remains the primary channel that bridges the gap between science and the general public.
“Most people, including decision-makers, acquire their information about science mainly, or even exclusively, from the mass media” (Schafer, 2012: 651).
“Most people’s knowledge of climate change to a considerable degree comes from news media” (Schafer and Painter, 2021: 2)

Question 42

Q: What are the different types of media coverage for climate change

Answer 42

A:

News reports/events: Focused coverage of new scientific findings or extreme weather events.
Commentary/op-ed pieces: Expert opinions and public debate.
Cartoons and letters to the editor: Simplified or personal perspectives on climate issues.
Documentaries and films: Stories to engage and educate, e.g., Before the Flood.
Campaigns and public activism: Coverage of movements like youth climate groups.
Policy analysis: Articles explaining climate conventions and legislation.

Question 43

Q: What are the main types of media platforms used to communicate climate change?

Answer 43

A:

Print media: Newspapers, magazines, and even comics or novels.
Broadcast media: TV and radio programs dedicated to scientific findings and climate debates.
Multimedia platforms: Online audiovisual content, e.g., The Story Group.
Social media: Mobilization and opinion sharing on platforms like TikTok using hashtags like #climatechange.

Question 44

Q: How is climate change framed in media coverage? (in different medias eg meterology)

Answer 44

A:

Ecology and meteorology:
Focus on extreme weather, such as the UK experiencing more hot and wet days (BBC News).
Political economy and geopolitics:
Analysis of international conventions like COP28 (The Guardian).
Discussion on carbon markets and agreements such as the Paris Agreement (The Indian Express).
Popular culture:
Celebrity campaigns, climate-focused books, and films.
Climate science and skepticism:
Balanced vs. accurate reporting of climate denial (The Guardian).

Question 45

Q: What tones and narratives are used in climate change media coverage?

Answer 45

A:

Alarmist tones: Headlines emphasizing danger and catastrophe, e.g., “Catastrophe is coming.”
Predictive narratives: Future-oriented scenarios, such as the melting Arctic.
Opportunity-focused stories: Positive outcomes of mitigation efforts.
Geographies of impact: Highlighting where climate change occurs and which populations are most affected.

Question 46

Q: What are ‘authorized speakers’ in the media’s climate change narrative?

Answer 46

A:

Political representation: Coverage by government-owned vs. independent newspapers.
Scientific voices: Coverage of climatology and debates between scientists and skeptics.
Balance vs. accuracy: Challenges in presenting both sides without undermining scientific consensus, e.g., John Oliver’s debate on climate denial (Vox)

Question 47

Q: What is the ‘celebritization’ of climate change?

Answer 47

A:

The intersection of media, politics, and science highlighted by celebrities advocating for climate action.
Example: Leonardo DiCaprio’s activism and Greta Thunberg’s influence as a young leader.
“Media coverage of celebrities and climate change illustrates the growing connection between media, politics, and science” (Boykoff and Goodman, 2009: 395)

Question 48

Q: What are some examples of celebrity climate champions?

Answer 48

Actors: Leonardo DiCaprio’s environmental advocacy.
Politician-activists: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s work as California’s governor.
Entrepreneurs: Richard Branson’s climate ventures.
Musicians: Billie Eilish’s promotion of sustainable living.
Young activists: Greta Thunberg’s global impact.
Scientists: Bill Nye’s public outreach

Question 49

Q: What are the challenges of celebrity involvement in climate narratives?

Answer 49

A:

While celebrities amplify attention to climate change, their influence can be polarizing.
“The privileged voices of celebrity actors have gained greater influence…but these arenas are highly contested, characterized by uncertain facts and politicized alternatives” (Boykoff and Goodman, 2009: 404-405)