Unit 8 Climate Change

Question 1

Fossil fuels:

Answer 1

A non-renewable energy source formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals that have undergone millions of years of heat and pressure, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

Question 2

Methane:

Answer 2

A potent greenhouse gas that is produced through natural processes such as wetlands, as well as human activities like livestock farming, coal mining, and natural gas production.

Question 3

Carbon emission:

Answer 3

The release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, primarily from human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

Question 4

Carbon sinks:

Answer 4

Natural or artificial reservoirs that absorb more carbon than they release, helping to mitigate the impacts of carbon emissions on the climate.

Question 5

Mitigation:

Answer 5

Actions taken to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases to lessen the severity of climate change.

Question 6

Adaptation:

Answer 6

Strategies developed to adjust and cope with the impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise, drought, and extreme weather events.

Question 7

Paris Agreement:

Answer 7

A global treaty adopted by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2015, which aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Question 8

COP26:

Answer 8

The 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, scheduled to be held in Glasgow, UK in 2021, and postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Question 9

Renewable energy:

Answer 9

Energy generated from sources that are replenished naturally and do not deplete finite resources, such as solar, wind, and hydropower.

Question 10

Carbon footprint:

Answer 10

The total amount of greenhouse gas emissions that are caused by an individual, organization, or product, expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents.

Question 11

What is climate change?

Answer 11

Climate change refers to a long-term change in the Earth’s climate, specifically, a change in global or regional climate patterns, which include increased average temperatures, changes in precipitation, sea-level rise, and more frequent and severe weather events.

Question 12

What evidence is there that climate change is a reality?

Answer 12

The evidence for climate change is overwhelming, and comes from a wide range of sources including ice cores, tree rings, and direct measurements. The most compelling evidence comes from the increasing global temperatures, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and ice caps, and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, floods, and wildfires.

Question 13

What are carbon sinks? Why are they important?

Answer 13

Carbon sinks are natural or artificial reservoirs that absorb and store carbon from the atmosphere, such as forests, oceans, and soil. They are important because they help regulate the Earth’s carbon cycle and mitigate the impacts of climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Question 14

Human causes of climate change

Answer 14

The primary human activities that contribute to climate change include burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes that emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These activities have resulted in a significant increase in atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases, which trap heat in the atmosphere and lead to global warming.

Question 15

Physical/natural causes of climate change

Answer 15

Climate change can also be caused by natural factors such as changes in solar radiation, volcanic activity, and changes in the Earth’s orbit. However, these natural factors alone cannot account for the rapid and significant climate change that is currently occurring

Question 16

Impacts of climate change on at least 3 locations

Answer 16

Climate change has had significant impacts on various regions around the world. Examples include:

The Arctic: The Arctic is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world, resulting in melting sea ice, loss of habitat for wildlife, and changes to local ecosystems.
Africa: Climate change has contributed to droughts, desertification, and food insecurity in many African countries, particularly in the Sahel region.
Small island nations: Rising sea levels and more frequent and severe storms have increased the risk of flooding and erosion in small island nations, and threaten the viability of their coastal communities.

Question 17

Examples of mitigation strategies undertaken by governments in these locations.

Answer 17

Governments around the world have implemented various mitigation strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the pace of climate change. Examples include:

Arctic: Countries have committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement and have taken steps to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
Africa: Some African countries are investing in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and increase energy access.
Small island nations: Many small island nations are investing in coastal infrastructure, such as sea walls, to protect their communities from the impacts of rising sea levels.