Climate Change Vocab

Emissions

gases released into the atmosphere that trap heat, causing the planet to warm

Delegates

focusing on solutions, adaptation, and mitigation strategies.

Earth summit

a 1992 United Nations conference that helped address climate change by establishing the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

an international treaty adopted in 1992 to address climate change by stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere

Greenhouse gases

gases in the atmosphere that trap heat, carbon dioxide, methane,

Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)

independent groups advocating for environmental protection through policy lobbying, public awareness campaigns, and grassroots action. Work on mitigation and adaption

Fossil fuels

(coal, oil, and natural gas) burning them releases greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, that trap heat in the atmosphere and cause global warming

Global warming

the long-term heating of Earth's surface, primarily caused by human-generated greenhouse gases.

Hurricane

a storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone in the Caribbean.

Deforestation

the permanent removal of forests for other land uses

Industrialization

long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns in result to increase gases in the atmosphere

Climate model

a computer simulation of Earth's climate system used to understand past climate patterns and predict future climate change

Consensus

the overwhelming agreement among climate scientists that the Earth's climate is warming at an unprecedented rate, and that human activities are the principal cause

Ecosystems

habitat for animals, leading to changes in habitats, species distribution, and overall ecosystem health.

Smog

a type of air pollution, a mix of smoke and fog,can create sickness and health conditions

Climate change refugees

a person forced to leave their home due to the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, severe storms, or desertification.

Acidic

ocean acidification, where the ocean absorbs excess atmospheric carbon dioxide

Species migration

the movement of animals and plants in response to changing temperature, weather patterns, and habitat conditions driven by global warming

U.S public transport

U.S falls behind other countries when they develop medium technology, more cars cause higher gas emmisions, 

In many other places high speed trains are normal transportation, In U.S, cities are too far apart for high speed trains

Affects of climate change

High temps aren’t safe for people, causes wildfires and causes deaths,

high temps caused by fossil fuels, deforestation, and increase greenhouse gases. 

plastic pollution

more plastic waste, causes landfills, animals facing threat,

90% of plastic made by fossil fuels because its cheap and convenient, 40% of plastic is only used once

Impact on Boston

risk of flooding and sinking, ranks 10th of storm risk, 9th of flood risk

Sea levels will rise for the next 15 years, higher temps will cause more storms

Wild fires in california

strong wildfires caused by higher temps, death and property damage, wildfire season starts months earlier

climate change, droughts, rekindling fire (fire comes back once out)

progress in climate change

greenhouse gases has risen over the 11% in atmosphere, forests can’t soak up as much carbon from atmosphere

deforestation, increase in burning fossil fuels, government aren’t making changes 

climate affects indigenous people

severe droughts and heavy rain, species migration, tribes are vulnerable

native species die out, sacred sites that require stuff are threatened, leading innovations

Observations

more countries flood because of their geographical location, Rising temps and sea levels cause an increase in health conditions causing more deaths

Which option would work best

Past emitters must pay, most countries aren’t wealthy enough to pay bit they shouldn’t be struggling because of other countries .

China

High temperatures and limited healthcare strain communities, while dense coastal populations face rising sea levels and heat-driven ground cracking. China tries to use solar panels and reduce the use of fossil fuels. China emits the most greenhouse gases of any country, accounting for about 28% of the world’s CO2 emissions. china would choose option 2 and have every country contribute because otherwise they would have to pay so much because they emit the most CO2.