Climate Change

define ‘climate change mitigation‘

action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from climate change

define ‘climate change adaptation‘

action taken to adjust to natural events like climate change to reduce potential damage, limit the impacts, take advantages of opportunities or, cope with the consequences

list 4 mitigation strategies

• alternative energy production

• carbon capture

• planting trees

• international agreements

list 3 adaptation strategies

• changes in agricultural systems

• managing water supply

• reducing the risk of rising sea levels

what is the mitigation strategy of alternative energy production?

developing renewable energy solutions like wind, solar, tidal energy which reduce reliance on fossil fuels - reducing CO2 emissions released into the atmosphere

what is the mitigation strategy of carbon capture?

• reducing CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning stations

• CO2 is removed from waste gases

• once captured CO2 is converted into dense liquid and stored in safe locations

what is the mitigation strategy of planting trees?

helps reduce amount of CO2 in atmosphere as trees absorb it during photosynthesis

what is the mitigation strategy of international agreements?

• encourages countries to take responsibility for reducing CO2 emissions 

• targets are more likely to be met if legally binding e.g. Paris 2015

• financial support may be provided to LICs

what is the adaptation strategy of changes in agricultural systems?

• farmers adapt their farming practices like changing the type of crops they grow to those better suited to a warm climate e.g. grapes

• areas at risk of desertification need to change approach to farming 

• low technology solutions include the use of stone lines 

what is the adaptation strategy of managing water supply?

• great need for developing water transfer schemes

• involves moving water from areas of surplus (more water than used) to areas of water deficit (not enough water)

• achieved by building water transfer pipelines e.g. Kielder water transfer scheme in north-east England 

what is the adaptation strategy of reducing the risk of rising sea levels?

• developing coastal defences to protect areas at risk of coastal flooding 

• aim to reduce the risk of further land being eroded away 

• estimated that sea levels will rise 28-43cm by 2100, putting settlements + agricultural land at risk

list 3 human causes of climate change

• burning fossil fuels

• agriculture

• deforestation

explain burning fossil fuels as a human cause of climate change 

when coal, oil, and gas are burned, CO2 is released into the atmosphere 

explain agriculture as a human cause of climate change 

increased pastoral (animal) farming leads to more methane being released into the atmosphere

explain deforestation as a human cause of climate change 

trees absorb CO2 during photosynthesis, when trees are cut down, less CO2 is absorbed leading to increased concentrations in the atmosphere

how to human activities in general contribute to climate change?

they release extra greenhouse gases which strengthens the greenhouse effect by trapping more infrared heat, this raises global average temperatures and leads to climate change

list 3 natural causes of climate change 

• orbital changes

• volcanic activity 

• solar output 

explain orbital changes as a natural cause of climate change 

Milankovitch cycles are variations in the tilt/orbit of the earth around the sun, causing natural warming and cooling periods

explain volcanic activity as a natural cause of climate change 

CO2 is released into the atmosphere during eruptions

explain solar output as a natural cause of climate change 

the amount of radiation emitted by the Sun fluctuates, high levels of radiation lead to an increase in Earth’s temperatures

list 3 evidences of climate change

• weather records 

• tree rings 

• ice cores 

explain how weather records is evidence of climate change 

thermometers have been used to measure temperatures since the 1850s, it provides reliable short-term data on climate change 

explain how tree rings is evidence of climate change 

• each year a tree grows, it forms a new ring

• the width of the ring indicates the climatic conditions for the year 

• the thicker the ring the warmer and wetter the climate for that year

• giving indications of climatic conditions overtime

explain how ice cores is evidence of climate change 

taken from ice caps by drilling into the ice, it can go back over 800,000 years, trapped air bubbles tell use the temperature it was in each year 

how does climate change affect disease risk (social effect)?

it increases the risk of diseases such as skin cancer

how are crop yields affected by climate change (social effect)?

crop yields decrease - for example, maize may decrease by up to 12% in South America

how does climate change impact food and water supplies (social effect)?

drought reduces food and water supplies, including water scarcity in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of the UK

how does climate change influence flood risk (social effect)?

flood risk increases - 70% of Asia faces increased risk shown by events like 2022 Pakistan floods 

how does climate change affect extreme weather (social effect)?

extreme weather events become more intense like tropical storms 

how does climate change affect drought and wildfires (environmental effect)?

it increases drought frequency and raises the risk of forest fires 

what happens to sea levels due to climate change (environmental effect)?

sea levels rise, causing flooding and erosion 

how are ecosystems affected by climate change (environmental effect)?

changes in climate alter ecosystems

how does climate change affect coral reefs and biodiversity (environmental effect)?

coral bleaching increases, leading to a decrease in biodiversity