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WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?
WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?
1. Global warming
1. Global warming
When the sun's energy passes through the atmosphere, greenhouse gases absorb the radiation and prevent the heat from leaving the atmosphere. This is known as the greenhouse effect.
When the sun's energy passes through the atmosphere, greenhouse gases absorb the radiation and prevent the heat from leaving the atmosphere. This is known as the greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse gases act a bit like a blanket over the Earth. We need some greenhouse gases or Earth would be too cold for life to exist.
Greenhouse gases act a bit like a blanket over the Earth. We need some greenhouse gases or Earth would be too cold for life to exist.
When we add more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, more of the sun's energy gets trapped.
When we add more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, more of the sun's energy gets trapped.
Over the last 100 years, the average temperature on Earth has warmed by 1°C. This doesn't mean every day or every place in the world is hotter, but overall the land, the air and the sea are all becoming hotter, and this is happening at a faster and faster rate.
Over the last 100 years, the average temperature on Earth has warmed by 1°C. This doesn't mean every day or every place in the world is hotter, but overall the land, the air and the sea are all becoming hotter, and this is happening at a faster and faster rate.
The past five years have been the warmest years on record.
The past five years have been the warmest years on record.
This is global warming.
This is global warming.
Fire threat areas in Australia are becoming more extreme
Fire threat areas in Australia are becoming more extreme
and extending further across Australia as temperatures rise.
and extending further across Australia as temperatures rise.
DISCUSS: How is increasing fire danger in Australia related to global warming?
DISCUSS: How is increasing fire danger in Australia related to global warming?
2. Melting ice and rising sea levels
2. Melting ice and rising sea levels
Sea ice and glaciers are melting.
Sea ice and glaciers are melting.
Aerial shots of the Mer De Glace (Sea of Ice) glacier in France.
Aerial shots of the Mer De Glace (Sea of Ice) glacier in France.
Left 1919. Right 2019.
Left 1919. Right 2019.
Glacier breaking away in the Arctic.
Glacier breaking away in the Arctic.
Birds show size.
Birds show size.
As oceans warm and expand, and ice continues to melt, sea levels are rising. The 1oC rise in world temperature has increased the height of the sea by 1 metre.
As oceans warm and expand, and ice continues to melt, sea levels are rising. The 1oC rise in world temperature has increased the height of the sea by 1 metre.
Many countries across the world, especially low-lying areas like the islands of the Pacific, are going under water.
Many countries across the world, especially low-lying areas like the islands of the Pacific, are going under water.
Kavieng, Kimbe, Gizo, Honaria and Latu islands of the Solomon Islands group are now under water due to the rising sea level.
Kavieng, Kimbe, Gizo, Honaria and Latu islands of the Solomon Islands group are now under water due to the rising sea level.
Surrounding islands are also in danger.
Surrounding islands are also in danger.
Along the coast of Tonga
Along the coast of Tonga
What Liberty Island USA and Sydney near the Opera House would look like with another 1 metre rise in sea level.
What Liberty Island USA and Sydney near the Opera House would look like with another 1 metre rise in sea level.
3. Extreme weather
3. Extreme weather
DISCUSS: What types of extreme weather events do you know?
DISCUSS: What types of extreme weather events do you know?
4. Extinction of the world's plants and animals
4. Extinction of the world's plants and animals
Scientists say we are in the world's sixth great extinction of living things. This one is different because the other five were all millions of years ago, before humans lived on earth, and were caused by major disasters (eg huge volcanoes erupted and sent ash into the sky and blocked the sunlight for months and years. Plants died, animals soon after. )
Scientists say we are in the world's sixth great extinction of living things. This one is different because the other five were all millions of years ago, before humans lived on earth, and were caused by major disasters (eg huge volcanoes erupted and sent ash into the sky and blocked the sunlight for months and years. Plants died, animals soon after. )
Scientists are fighting to save Australia's native species, with 47% of these threatened with extinction by rising temperatures and lack of rainfall.
Scientists are fighting to save Australia's native species, with 47% of these threatened with extinction by rising temperatures and lack of rainfall.
85% of our plants and many of our native animals occur naturally nowhere else around the world. If we lose a species here, it’s gone forever.
85% of our plants and many of our native animals occur naturally nowhere else around the world. If we lose a species here, it’s gone forever.
Some of our native animals are already extinct, or very close to it, including the koala.
Some of our native animals are already extinct, or very close to it, including the koala.
DISCUSS: Can you name these animals?
DISCUSS: Can you name these animals?
Another huge issue, not so much to do with climate change but absolutely essential to our survival on earth is what is happening to bees.
Another huge issue, not so much to do with climate change but absolutely essential to our survival on earth is what is happening to bees.
Bees are responsible for 3 of every 4 bites of food that you eat. Their value is not the honey they make, but that they enable plants to make new plants when they transfer pollen from one plant to another. Without bees, we will not be able to grow crops and feed the world.
Bees are responsible for 3 of every 4 bites of food that you eat. Their value is not the honey they make, but that they enable plants to make new plants when they transfer pollen from one plant to another. Without bees, we will not be able to grow crops and feed the world.
We are killing bees when through pesticides farmers are spraying on crops to kill bugs. Around the world, people are in law courts fighting big companies to have these pesticides banned so bees can be saved.
We are killing bees when through pesticides farmers are spraying on crops to kill bugs. Around the world, people are in law courts fighting big companies to have these pesticides banned so bees can be saved.
5. Health
5. Health
In Australia, heatwaves cost more lives than all other natural hazards put together.
In Australia, heatwaves cost more lives than all other natural hazards put together.
Heatwaves increase heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and drive up hospital admissions and death rates, particularly among older people and people with chronic illnesses.
Heatwaves increase heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and drive up hospital admissions and death rates, particularly among older people and people with chronic illnesses.
Heatwaves were getting longer, hotter, and more frequent. They don't just affect people's health. They impact our power supply, transport systems, and water supply.
Heatwaves were getting longer, hotter, and more frequent. They don't just affect people's health. They impact our power supply, transport systems, and water supply.
DISCUSS: How do heatwaves impact our power supply, transport systems, and water supply?
DISCUSS: How do heatwaves impact our power supply, transport systems, and water supply?
WHAT'S CAUSING CLIMATE CHANGE?
WHAT'S CAUSING CLIMATE CHANGE?
The reason we are facing a climate crisis is because we are releasing excessive greenhouse gases by:
The reason we are facing a climate crisis is because we are releasing excessive greenhouse gases by:
1. Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) to make electricity and drive vehicles
1. Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) to make electricity and drive vehicles
2. Cutting down and burning trees (especially in the Amazon to provide palm oil)
2. Cutting down and burning trees (especially in the Amazon to provide palm oil)
* Trees and forests store carbon dioxide as they grow. When we cut down forests, they cannot remove carbon dioxide.
* Trees and forests store carbon dioxide as they grow. When we cut down forests, they cannot remove carbon dioxide.
* When forests burn, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This contributes further to global warming.
* When forests burn, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This contributes further to global warming.
3. Using too much:
3. Using too much:
* food - it takes electricity to produce food, and then to store and cook it.
* food - it takes electricity to produce food, and then to store and cook it.
* plastics - most plastics are made from fossil fuels and we use electricity to produce them
* plastics - most plastics are made from fossil fuels and we use electricity to produce them
Electricity in Australia mainly comes from coal power stations, which burn fossil fuels and so increase greenhouse gases.
Electricity in Australia mainly comes from coal power stations, which burn fossil fuels and so increase greenhouse gases.
Coal is used for 75% of Australia's electricity generation, gas 16%, hydro 5% and wind 2%.
Coal is used for 75% of Australia's electricity generation, gas 16%, hydro 5% and wind 2%.
Not really a climate change issue, but devastating to our planet is the massive pollution right across the globe
Not really a climate change issue, but devastating to our planet is the massive pollution right across the globe
that is being caused by plastic wastes.
that is being caused by plastic wastes.
4. Over-producing:
4. Over-producing:
* crops: and so we are cutting down trees to make more farm land
* crops: and so we are cutting down trees to make more farm land
* meat: more cows means more methane, a greenhouse gas, which cows release
* meat: more cows means more methane, a greenhouse gas, which cows release
WHAT CAN / MUST WE DO?
WHAT CAN / MUST WE DO?
Australia is one of the highest CO2 emitters in the world per person. Australia’s carbon footprint, including coal and natural gas exports, is 9x China and 4x the USA.
Australia is one of the highest CO2 emitters in the world per person. Australia’s carbon footprint, including coal and natural gas exports, is 9x China and 4x the USA.
Our country isn't doing much to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The world has 12 years to keep global warming below 1.5°C. For Australia to meet the goal of the treaty, it has to move quickly, but we are not doing that.
Our country isn't doing much to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The world has 12 years to keep global warming below 1.5°C. For Australia to meet the goal of the treaty, it has to move quickly, but we are not doing that.
Changes in all areas of society are needed to limit environmental damage that can't be reversed.
Changes in all areas of society are needed to limit environmental damage that can't be reversed.
[8.43 mins, start at 0.40]
[8.43 mins, start at 0.40]
Individually we are small drops. Together we are a wave.
Individually we are small drops. Together we are a wave.
Every person has to act, every person has to change...
Every person has to act, every person has to change...
Why should we do anything? We're too small to make a difference!
Why should we do anything? We're too small to make a difference!
Scroll down to video [5.00 mins]
Scroll down to video [5.00 mins]
TAKE ACTION EVERY DAY
TAKE ACTION EVERY DAY
REDUCE WASTE: PACKAGING AND LITTER
REDUCE WASTE: PACKAGING AND LITTER
Think before you buy single-use plastics. Recycle. Don't buy more food than you need. Try to buy goods not over-packaged.
Think before you buy single-use plastics. Recycle. Don't buy more food than you need. Try to buy goods not over-packaged.
Manufacturing plants emit a large number of greenhouse gases per year. Recycling is a cost-effective and eco-friendly process that eliminates waste and doesn’t emit greenhouse gases. Recycle paper, glass, plastic, and electronics.
Put your rubbish in a bin, save it getting into waterways.
Put your rubbish in a bin, save it getting into waterways.
TAKE ACTION EVERY DAY
TAKE ACTION EVERY DAY
REDUCE WASTE: ENERGY
REDUCE WASTE: ENERGY
Use clothing to keep you warm or cool before you turn on fans, heaters or aircon. Close doors and windows when the aircon is on. Turn off electrical appliances and lights when you are not using them.
Use clothing to keep you warm or cool before you turn on fans, heaters or aircon. Close doors and windows when the aircon is on. Turn off electrical appliances and lights when you are not using them.
Becoming more energy efficient is a great way to prevent pollution. It causes the power plants to expend less energy that can lead to the production of greenhouse gases. This means do what you can to cut down on energy usage. Make sure to turn off lights and unplug devices that you are not using anymore. Replace your light bulbs with energy-efficient light bulbs to help you save electricity too.
Spread awareness about renewable energy.
Spread awareness about renewable energy.
Build with LED lights and solar cells, where possible. You will save money too!
TAKE ACTION
TAKE ACTION
THINK LIKE AN ECO-CITIZEN:
THINK LIKE AN ECO-CITIZEN:
Educate yourself and your families. Vote responsibly, not just by habit.
Educate yourself and your families. Vote responsibly, not just by habit.
Help people who will fight against climate change get into government. Vote for laws and politicians that are working to stop climate change.. Voting the right people into office will help pass laws that allow us to fight against the companies that are mainly to blame for climate change.
Buy food and clothing from companies that use sustainable methods, eg sustainable palm oil.
Buy food and clothing from companies that use sustainable methods, eg sustainable palm oil.
Palm oil is cheap and has a wide range of applications. You almost certainly eat or use palm oil on a regular basis: half of all packaged products contain it, from ice cream to shampoo and lipstick. Palm oil is grown in the tropics, and clearing for plantations has destroyed vast areas of rain-forest. Palm oil plantations are expanding more rapidly than any other agriculture. Elephants, orangutans, rhinos and tigers are losing their homes, and some Indigenous peoples have been forced off their land and robbed of their livelihoods. Cutting down and burning trees is also increasing greenhouse gases.
Research what is happening and why it is an issue.
Research what is happening and why it is an issue.
In a nutshell
Life on Our Planet Netflix series (requires subscription) https://www.netflix.com/au/title/80213846?fbclid=IwAR13J7yNdeymFbW57x_rprQxXG9gfMUXXZBrROuYoYaQYNLrrLHig9W07vY
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