Current issues

• There are many ways to reduce carbon emissions such as waste reduction, energy conservation and efficiency, legislation and policies, alternative energy sources, reforestation and cultural and behavioral changes.
• Climate change is the large-scale long-term shift or change in the average weather patterns of the planet (local, regional and global climates).
• Global warming is the increase in the average atmospheric temperature near the surface of the earth.
• There are two main causes of global warming: natural variability and human activity.
• Factors which contribute to natural variability in global warming are: volcanic activity, solar changes, changes in the Earth's orbit and natural changes in greenhouse gases
• Human activities that cause climate change include burning fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture, industrial processes, transportation, livestock farming, and land use changes.
• Effects of climate change on the environment

  • Rising sea levels
  • Melting glaciers
  • Increased frequency of extreme events like heatwaves, droughts, floods, wildfires, storm surges, hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, tornadoes
  • Ocean acidification
  • Coral bleaching
  • Loss of habitat
  • Extinction of species
  • Desertification
  • Soil erosion
  • Water scarcity
  • Food shortages
  • Air pollution
  • Respiratory diseases
  • Malnutrition
  • Displacement of people
  • Conflicts over resources
  • Economic instability
  • Social unrest
  • Political instability
  • Migration
  • Poverty
  • Inequality
  • Mental health problems
• Indicators of global warming: rise in sea levels, sea ice melting and continental ice sheet melting, extreme weather events of conditions, changed in animal nesting.
• The effects of climate change can be seen through indicators such as rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, increased intensity of extreme weather events, melting glaciers and snowpack, ocean acidification, sea level rise, impacts on ecosystems and wildlife, and changes in water availability.
• Climate change has significant economic consequences, including damage to infrastructure, loss of property value, higher costs for insurance companies, reduced agricultural productivity, increased healthcare expenses due to air pollution, and decreased tourism revenue.
• Adaptations to mitigate the impact of climate change include reducing carbon emissions, increasing energy efficiency, investing in renewable energy sources, improving disaster preparedness, promoting sustainable land use practices, conserving forests, protecting coastal areas from flooding, developing new crops and breeds of animals adapted to changing climates, and implementing policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Human activities causing climate change include burning fossil fuels, deforestation, agricultural practices, industry, transportation, livestock farming, and land-use changes.
• Resource security is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
• Causes of food insecurity natural disasters, climate change, urbanization, poor governance, lack of access to farming lands.
• Causes of water insecurity: climate change, water pollution global population growth, unsustainable industrial and agricultural practices.
• Causes of energy insecurity: oil and fossil fuel depletion, lack of investment in renewable or alternative energy sources, geopolitics, lack of infrastructure, environmental issues, reliance on foreign sources of energy.