Climate change intro

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• mavo
• Leerjaar 4

what is climate change?

Why is climate change happening

Climate change is happening because of human activities. When we burn fossil fuels (oil, natural gas and coal) for energy in our homes, to power our cars and factories, we release carbon dioxide, a type of greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. We also release a lot of carbon dioxide from our farming practises, making cement and by cutting down forests which would naturally suck up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. These greenhouse gases absorb heat from sun and radiate it back down to Earth. The higher concentrations of greenhouse gases we have, the warmer our planet gets, changing the Earth’s climate and affecting every part of our world.

video

1. watch the video 
2. answer the questions 
3. think of 2 discussion questions

https://edpuzzle.com/assignments/618914ef6106fa415e65d1f0/students

**What do you see?**

What is happening in these images?

Where in the world do you think this might have happened?

Why do you think this might have happened?

How could this affect people?

How could this affect wildlife?

The word climate means the long-term weather patterns for a particular area.

On Earth we have different climates depending on where you are. 

The equator is an imaginary line around the middle of the Earth, a bit like a belt. The areas closest to this belt have very hot climates. Areas nearest to either of the poles have very cold climates.

Climate change (sometimes called global warming) is the process of our planet heating up. 

 

Our planet has warmed by an average of 1°C in the last 100 years and if things don’t change, it could increase by a lot more than that. 1°C might sound small but this is already having a big impact, making weather around the world more extreme and less predictable, causing our sea levels to rise and causing our ice to melt.

The Earth’s climate is getting warmer because of human activity. 

 

In the Earth’s atmosphere we have gases called greenhouse gases. These gases keep our planet warm, a bit like how a greenhouse helps to keep plants warm. 

However, humans are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases we have in our atmosphere. We do this by burning fossils fuels like oil, coal and natural gases to generate electricity, to power our cars and to use for heating and cooking. We also produce a lot of greenhouse gases by making cement and by cutting down forests across our planet.

 

All of this extra greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is warming up our planet very quickly. It’s changing the Earth’s climate and affecting every part of our world.

Image - © Sam Hobson / WWF-UK

When we burn fossil fuels for energy and heat we release more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. When we cut down trees they can no longer absorb greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide) from the atmopshere.

Greenhouse gases keep our planet warm, a bit like how a greenhouse helps to keep plants warm, or a bit like a blanket. Carbon dioxide is a type of greenhouse gas.

All of the extra greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from burning fossils fuels and cutting down trees is warming up our planet very quickly. It’s changing the Earth’s climate and affecting every part of our world.

Image - © Jiri Rezac / WWF-UK

Climate change is damaging natural environments across our planet.

 

It’s causing more extreme weather events. Forest fires, floods, heatwaves and droughts are becoming more common which can be extremely dangerous and results in millions of people having to leave their homes, towns and villages every year.

Warmer temperatures mean that the sea ice is melting. Polar bears need sea ice to hunt and to have cubs. It’s also home to algae – an important food source for marine life. Melting ice also causes rising sea levels which causes areas of land to flood damaging animal habitats and destroying human homes.

 

Warming sea water damages and even kills off coral reefs. These are hugely important habitats in the ocean providing food and shelter for around one quarter of all marine species.

 

Scientists estimate that 1 in 6 species are at risk of becoming extinct due to climate change.

carbon footprint

1. What was your character’s carbon footprint?

What area made up the largest part of your character’s carbon footprint: food, travel, home or stuff?

2. What is one thing your character could start doing to try and reduce their carbon footprint further?

3. Which character has the highest/lowest carbon footprint? Why do you think this might be?

footprint

https://footprint.wwf.org.uk

https://footprint.wwf.org.uk

What’s one thing you could do as a class / person to help reduce your school’s carbon footprint?

In November 2021 there will be an international meeting on climate change held in the city of Glasgow in Scotland. Global leaders will debate how we can reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions each country is producing and move to renewable energy sources such as wind, wave and solar power.

But there are things we can do as well around our homes and schools

- Reduce the amount of electricity and heat you use at school and at home.

- Try to walk, cycle or scoot on short journeys like on the way to school

 See if you can find out what your schools energy supplier is and try to convince your school to make sure its energy comes from renewable sources rather than fossil fuels.

- Start growing food at school or at home – you don’t even need much space at all! Can one of your teachers start a gardening club?

 Encourage your school to have meat-free days and make sure plant-based meals are always available for people to choose

- Plant a tree or trees in your school, garden or local community

- Write to your local MP/MSP to tell them how your community could be more green!

- Make sure to use the ‘three Rs’ - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

 Start an eco group at school to take on recycling, rewilding and reducing waste!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3A2hxfF-sM

not a discussion questions 

discussion questions 

All schools should have uniforms

Should schools give homework?

Does Greta Thunberg believe in climate change

Are bananas yellow?