How is climate change affecting the world?

This unit of learning is all about climate change and how it is affecting the world. Climate

change is when there is a big difference in normal climate patterns over a long amount

of time. The Earth's climate appears to be changing very fast, something that has not

happened since the end of the last ice age, 10,000 years ago. A global change in

climate is due to human expansion of the “greenhouse effect”, warming up the entire

Earth. However, greenhouse gas molecules absorb this outgoing heat and re-emit in all

directions, warming the surface of the Earth.

Look at the resource Activity One below the grid. Identify which of the following statements are facts, and which are opinions. How can you find out this information? Use your research skills on using the internet safely that you have developed in your computing lessons at schools. Draw or print out the table and stick it in your scrapbooks and fill out the information under the headings.

Watch the two videos on the curriculum page titled Global Warming and What is Climate Change. Make notes when watching the videos. Create a mind-map about Global warming and Climate change in your scrapbooks from the information you have collated from the two videos.

Have a look at the Climate Change Crisis poster titled Activity Two underneath the grid. Read the different parts of the poster that explains how climate change is affecting the world. Create a poster on one or more of those features to encourage people to look after our planet. This can be done on the computer and stuck into your scrapbooks or you can draw it straight into your scrapbooks.

What positive effects has the lockdown period during the COVID-19 pandemic had on the atmosphere around the world? How has this affected nature? Click on the link below and read the article. Create a bullet point list in your scrapbooks. https://www.standard.co.uk/ news/world/positive-impact-environment- coronavirus-lockdown-a4404751.html

How is climate change affecting the

world?

Read the article on Climate Change underneath this grid for Activity Three resource called Climate Change- Is it too late? Answer the questions underneath the grid for Activity Three based on the above article. Write your answers in your scrapbooks.

Use the data below on how much different countries energy production comes from Renewable sources to

Scientists divide the world into large natural areas called biomes.

Renewable energy is a source that is not depleted when used- it will not run out.

complete a line graph using the data. Your x-axis would list the countries, and your y-axis would detail the percentage of how much of their energy comes from a renewable source. Remember, to add a title. This can be done on the computer and stuck into your scrapbooks or you can draw it straight into your scrapbooks.

Country Percentage of Energy

from Renewable

Sources

UK 22%

USA 14%

China 24%

Norway 98%

Brazil 84%

Ethiopia 99%

Belarus 10%

Each biome is known for certain kinds of plants and animals. However, what is really at the heart of a biome is its climate. Climate is important because it determines the types of plants and animals—the ecosystem—that can survive in a biome. For example, can a polar bear survive in the Sahara desert? Why not? Look at the map below. Choose three different biomes from across the world. Research each biome’s ecosystem and create a fact-file that includes information about the plants, animals and climate within that ecosystem. Include information about where these biomes are located in the world, what is its climate, what plants and animals inhabit there and why are they suited to living in this environment. You can complete it on the computer and stick it in your scrapbook or write it straight into your scrapbook. You can also accompany your fact-files with any pictures.

Read the information below on the different types of Renewable Energy below the grid underneath Activity Four resource. Some countries /cities in the world are already using 100% renewable energy resources such as Paraguay. Imagine you are the ruler of a brand new country and you have decided to move towards more renewable energy resources.

1. Draw a map of your country in your scrapbook- is it an island, is it surrounded by other countries, and is it mountainous? (Think about these features, as this will influence what type of renewable energy you can supply in your country).

2. Decide which renewable resources you will use and where they will be - label your map.

3. Write a speech to convince investors to give you the money you need for all of this underneath the map of your country.

Activity One Resource

Climate Change: Facts or Opinions?

Identify which of the following statements are facts, and which are opinions. How can you find out this information?

Statement Fact or

Opinion? Why?

Burning fossil fuels creates Carbon

Dioxide.

I think Sunspots are a bigger cause of

Global Warming than humans are.

In 50 years’ time, Scotland could be

as hot as Africa.

Trees and plants absorb Carbon Dioxide

and produce Oxygen.

There are more weather related natural

disasters now than there were 50 years

ago.

The USA produces more CO2 per person

than any other country on Earth.

Climate Change could be a positive thing

for holiday companies around the world.

Loss of habitat caused by Climate Change

is endangering Polar Bears.

Renewable energy doesn’t produce CO2.

In 100 years, most of England could be

underwater.

We all need to change our lifestyles now

or it will be too late to save the planet.

Activity Two Resource

Activity Three Resource

Climate Change – Is it too late?

Population Explosion

The world’s population is about to hit 8 billion people and serious questions are being asked about whether Planet Earth can sustain them all. James Gray, from Leicester University Climate Change Research Team, says ‘All these extra people means a dramatic

increase in carbon dioxide (CO2

). They will all be driving cars, using electricity and needing space to live.’ Most of our power still comes from coal-fired power stations that produce nearly 40% of the world’s

CO2

. Car exhaust accounts for another 20%. In addition to the scandalous deforestation of the world’s rain forests, to accommodate the growing population, means less

CO2

is been absorbed and levels continue to rise at an unprecedented rate.

41%

22%

18%

11%8%

Coal Power Stations

Car exhaust

Business

Domestic

Other

Threat from Lack of Awareness

Pierre LaFrange, from the Paris Institute of Climate Change, is still amazed at the number of people who don’t take the threat of Climate Change seriously. ‘People don’t seem to be able to relate their daily activities to the effect they are having on the environment’ he said. ‘Every time you switch on the TV or drive your car you are creating carbon dioxide which is adding to the dangerous build-up of Greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.’

Can’t Go On Like This

Leading naturalist, Charles Ferre, says ‘we cannot go on living our lives with our heads buried in the sand. The effects of Climate Change are all around us for anyone to see.’ He cites numerous examples of recent effects of Climate Change caused by the increase of Greenhouse gas. ‘You just have to look at the flooding in Pakistan as an example. These floods are becoming increasingly common as are a range of other natural disasters.

As well as the increase in worldwide natural disasters there are effects seen at both poles with the melting of the ice caps, which is having a huge effect on wildlife, and the levels of the oceans. At the other end of the scale, Africa is experiencing some of the worst droughts on record leading to failing crops and severe famines in many countries.

Global Temperature Warning

One of the effects of the build-up of CO2

in the atmosphere is the Greenhouse Effect. The radiated heat from the sun can no longer escape from our atmosphere, trapped by the thick layer of gas. Marc James, from the MET office, says that the long-term effect of the build-up of Greenhouse gas is a gradual rise in the Earth’s surface temperature. ‘The average yearly temperature of the Earth has risen 1.8°C in the last 100 years but the rate that it is rising at is accelerating rapidly. We predict that a 6°C rise is possible in the next 100 years, which would be catastrophic. It would totally change the face of our planet.

Activity Three Resource

The following questions all have one-word answers – find the key

word, scan the article and write the answer in your scrapbooks.

1. What is the world’s population about to reach?

2. How much of our power comes from Coal-fired power stations?

3. What gas is adding to the build-up of Greenhouse Gasses?

4. Which University does James Gray come from?

5. Which city does Pierre LaFrange work in?

6. Which country has recently had severe floods?

7. Which continent is experiencing ‘some of the worst droughts on

record?’

8. Who does Marc James work for?

9. How much has the Earth’s temperature risen in the last 100 years?

10. What percentage of CO2 production does car use account for?

Read the article very carefully and answer the following questions

giving as much detail as you can.

11. Why is James Gray so concerned about the rise in the World’s

population?

12. Pierre LaFrange thinks that people still don’t take Climate

Change seriously. Why does he think this?

13. What evidence does Charles Ferre give to support the effects

of Climate Change?

14. Why does Marc James think that the increase of CO2 in our

atmosphere is such a problem?

Climate Change – Is it too late?

Questions on the Article

Activity Four Resource- Types of Renewable Energy

Solar- Energy from sunlight is captured in solar panels and converted into electricity.

Wind- Wind turns turbines and a generator generates electricity.

Tidal- Movement of the tides drives turbines.

Wave- Movement of seawater in and out of a cavity on the shore compresses trapped air, driving a turbine.

Geothermal- Cold water is pumped underground and comes out as steam that can be used for heating or to power turbines.

Hydroelectric- Movement of water through rivers/lakes/dams drives turbines and generators.

Activity Four Resource- Examples of Renewable Energy

Largest floating solar plant - China Largest offshore wind farm - London

Largest hydroelectric dam - China

Largest solar plant - Spain