Global Warming Flashcards
What is the definition of ‘carbon footprint’?
The amount of CO2 released into atmosphere as a result of activities by: — an individual, — a community, — an organisation, — a country, — an event (e.g. a TV programme).
What happens during the greenhouse effect?
Sun’s energy enters atmosphere.
Energy heats up Earth’s land and seas.
Heat is released back into atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases trap heat to keep us warm — natural but humans have released too many into atmosphere — Earth warms up consequently.
Some energy will nevertheless still escape into space.
What are some examples of greenhouse gases?
Methane, CO2, N2O, O3, Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Illustrate the greenhouse effect using a diagram.
Refer to physical flashcard.
What are some causes of climate change?
Reliance on private vehicles — billions release GHGs.
Food miles — lots of cargo — may have harmful refrigerants — boats, aeroplanes + lorries release GHGs.
Agriculture — methane is produced in excess — cattle + vehicles — plant farming can also contribute (vehicles).
Energy production — most is non-renewable (fossil fuels + nuclear) + unsustainable (fossil fuels).
Energy consumption — gigantic quantities every hour.
Aeroplanes — extraordinarily inefficient + huge amounts of GHGs.
Manufacturing — 20%+ of GHG emissions — lots of CO2 — governments have even introduced monetary incentives for lowering emissions.
Deforestation — carried out for one of above reasons/timber — trees are ‘Earth’s lungs’ — methods used are often simply atrocious (e.g. trad. slash + burn).
Oil spills — oil is a non-renewable fossil fuel.
(Volcanic activity can actually cool the Earth slightly.)
What are some effects of climate change?
Air/sea temp. increases.
Unpredictable (+ often heavy) rainfall.
Increased risk of extinction.
How do increased air/sea temps affect the climate?
Ice caps melt — sea levels rise — extreme flooding — destruction/damage to habitats (esp. coastal settlements) — loss of life/homes/businesses/farms — climate refugees — overpopulation — further migration.
Ice caps melt — (sea levels rise —) destruction of habitats (e.g. Arctic/coasts).
‘’ — climate refugees — miss out on education.
Animal migrate — habitats change — mass extinction.
Fish die — major food source decreases in size — mass extinction.
How does unpredictable rainfall affect the climate?
Farmers cannot grow crops for substitence/commercial enterprise — less money — absolute poverty — starvation/famine.
‘’ … enterprise — crop prices go up — cannot afford food — absolute poverty — starvation/famine.
How does an increased risk of extreme weather affect the climate?
Earthquakes/tsunamis.
Heatwaves.
Drought — dehydration.
Drought — soil becomes dry/infertile — farmers cannot grow crops for substitence/commercial enterprise — less money — absolute poverty — starvation/famine.
‘’ … enterprise — crop prices go up — cannot afford food — absolute poverty — starvation/famine.
Floods — crop destruction — crop prices go up ‘’
Floods — destruction of infrastructure — death/relocation — climate refugees — overpopulation — further migration.
Floods — destruction of infrastructure — poor economy — lower HDI + overall development.
Give some context for the Tuvaluan climate change case study.
Fourth-smallest country in world — 26km^2 — 9 coral islands/atolls — Funafuti capital.
Very little industry: fishing + seasonal work on NZ.
Consequentially burns little petroleum + less pollution than American small town — small contribution to climate change but could be one of first to go.
Average atoll height is <2m above sea level — highest point is 4.6m.
Evidence of climate change — increasingly intense tropical weather.
What are two effects of climate change in Tuvalu?
There are far-reaching, consequential social, environmental, economic and political effects.
Environmental: damage to coral reefs — bleach + die — islands will sink — fish supply will decrease — food sticks cannot be well-grown pq intense weather — more food imports — unsustainable — bad for environment — more diet-related health problems.
Social: Tuvalu chief negotiator stalled 2009 UN Climate Change Conference talks in Copenhagen — feared that other countries were not fully committed to binding CO2 reduction agreement — reliant of rest of world to reverse climate change + use renewable energy — ‘Tuvalu is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change, and our future rests on the outcome of this meeting.’
