Environment - Climate Change

1. Climate change is one of the most important issues facing the planet.

2. Everyone can help reduce the impact of climate change by recycling and reducing emissions.

3. The term climate change refers to shifts in the Earth’s temperature over the last hundred years.

4. The average temperature has increased and sea levels have risen.

5. More extreme weather events like flooding and drought are expected.

6. Water temperature has increased and, as the water heats up, the molecules move further apart and the volume of the sea increases.

7. It is made worse because glaciers and ice caps are melting due to the increased temperature.

8. A rise in sea level would swamp some small, low-lying islands and put millions of people in low-lying areas at risk of flooding.

9. The amount of winter rainfall in England and Wales has risen and has become heavier.

10. There is more flooding and the cost of repairing flood damage is increasing.

11. Climate change also effects plant and animal species and some will be threatened with extinction.

12. The Earth is surrounded by a layer of gases which act like glass in a greenhouse.

13. The gases let the sun’s rays enter, but stop much of the heat from leaving.

14. These greenhouse gases keep the planet warm enough for animals and plants.

15. As more of these gases are created, more heat is trapped and the Earth’s climate begins to change.

16. The actions of humans are changing the climate due to emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane.

17. In Britain, energy used in the home, driving and air travel are responsible for many of the greenhouse gases produced.

18. Trees have been cut down and, as trees absorb carbon dioxide, fewer trees mean more carbon dioxide.

19. Burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas releases greenhouse gases.

20. As a result, billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere each year.

21. The population of the world is growing rapidly, leading to an increased demand for food, livestock and energy.

22. This leads to increased emissions of greenhouse gases.

23. A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact of human activities on the environment, in particular climate change.

24. It is divided into two parts; the primary footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide we produce ourselves, for example, at home.

25. The secondary footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide used on our behalf, to produce things we use.

26. Once a person’s carbon footprint has been calculated, it can be offset by, for example, buying trees for planting.

27. Each tree planted breathes in about one tonne of carbon dioxide emissions in its lifetime.

28. The average person needs to offset ten tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, so planting ten trees a year could achieve this.

29. A carbon footprint can be reduced by turning things off when not in use and turning the heating down a few degrees.

30. Putting full loads into the washing machine and tumble dryer and just as much water as is needed into the kettle also helps.

31. Walking or cycling rather than travelling in a car will also make an impact.