Climate change impact on Earth and human responses.

Question 1

How is climate change affecting life on earth?

Answer 1

Precipitation patterns changing - wetter areas more rain, drier areas less - could cause wars over water scarcity.
- More frequent extreme weather events.
- Agriculture will fall in areas - poverty.
- Sea level rise.
- Some new species will form, some will go extinct.
- Plankton numbers will decline, effecting the marine food chain.

Question 2

How are humans trying to combat climate change?

Answer 2

Humans have increased the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere by 40% by 1750, to combat the issues associated with this, the UN IPCC has been created who have stated countries need to reduce their CO2 outputs to prevent climate change leading to a range of individual, regional, national and global mitigation efforts.

Question 3

Highlight some individual efforts.

Answer 3

• People use cars less or switch to electric.
• Eat less meat as beef especially is a huge contributor to methane in the atmosphere.
• Make homes more energy efficient e.g. more natural light or better insulation.

Question 4

Highlight regional and national efforts.

Answer 4

Governments can reduce reliance on fossil fuels by investing in more renewable energy sources like wind turbines or tidal power.
- Countries can focus on afforestation (Ireland.)
Improving public transport provision and availability.
More green spaces.
Invest in CCS - carbon capture and storage where co2 from burning fossil fuels is captured and stored underground.
- UK ULEZ scheme.

Question 5

Highlight global efforts.