Global warming🔥

• Earth Summit, Rio 1992

  • Set out aims to stabilise greenhouse gas levels 
• Kyoto Protocol 1997

  • Delegates from 150 countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  • It stated that industrialised countries would reduce emissions to below the levels in 1990
  • Developing countries including China and India were exempt from the agreement
  • The USA did not sign up for the treaty
  • Canada withdrew in 2011 stating that without China and USA the treaty would not work
• Paris Agreement 2015

  • Global agreement to limit global warming to 2oC (preferably 1.5oC) above pre-industrial levels
  • Agreement also includes reducing CO2 emissions by at least 60% by 2050
  • Signed by 196 countries including the USA and China (the USA withdrew in 2020 and later, re-joined in 2021) 
  • Conference of the Parties (COP)
  • The United Nations (UN) holds an annual (every year) meeting to discuss climate change.
  • COP26 was held in Glasgow, UK in 2021 and in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in 2022
  • All nations agreed to take actions to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Conference of the Parties (COP)

  • The United Nations (UN) holds an annual (every year) meeting to discuss climate change.
  • COP26 was held in Glasgow, UK in 2021 and in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in 2022
  • All nations agreed to take actions to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Increased temperatures and lack of precipitation


  May lead to the spread of diseases
• Italy has experienced cases of malaria since 2017 when it was previously a malaria free area
• An additional 280 million people may be affected by malaria
• Water-borne diseases are more likely to spread
• Heat waves may become more frequent
• Heat stroke, dehydration and sunburn increase during heat waves
• Stagnant air during heat waves increases air pollution levels
• Respiratory diseases increase and those suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma may be more affected
• Increased temperatures negatively affect people with cardiopulmonary diseases
• Diets may be restricted by food shortages leading to malnutrition and famine
• Milder winters may lead to fewer winter related deaths
• Loss of job opportunities due to changes in tourism and agriculture
• Homes 

  • Increased flooding due to sea level rise and increased frequency and severity of storms will lead to displacement of large numbers of people
• Agriculture

  • Farmers may need to change the crop they grow if climate conditions become unsuitable
  • Coastal flooding may lead to salt intrusion
  • Reduced availability of water will mean that irrigation is limited or impossible
  • Food shortages will lead to malnutrition and famine
• Employment

  • Job opportunities may change or decrease because:
  • Tourism may decline in some areas for example ski resorts may close due to the lack of reliable snow
  • Coastal resorts may be at risk of flooding leading to the closure
  • Farmers may have to change the crop they grow or livestock they raise or leave farming
  • In some areas agriculture may decline due to rising temperatures or changing rainfall patterns
  • Declining fishing in some areas due to changing ocean temperatures
• Settlements

  • Settlements in low-lying areas may have to be abandoned or need additional defences against sea level rise:
  • Moving settlements or improving flood defences will be costly
• Sea level rise


  Warmer temperatures cause the water in seas and oceans to expand, increasing the sea level
• Melting ice


  Adding to the increasing volume of water
• Average sea levels have risen 23 cm since 1880
• Sea levels are forecast to increase a further 30 cm by 2050
• Low-lying coastal areas and islands

  • At higher risk of flooding
  • The Maldives may be uninhabitable by 2050
• Beach erosion


  • Increasing leading to greater coastal erosion
• Coastal ecosystems


  • Including coral reefs and mangrove swamps will be affected
• Saltwater ingress


  • Contaminating freshwater supplies and affecting coastal agriculture
• Changes in climate patterns

  Increase the frequency and severity of storms
• Atlantic hurricane season was the first most active on record


  2020
• Atlantic hurricane season was the third most active


  2021
• Frequency and length of droughts

  Are increasing
• Dry conditions


  Lead to the increased risk of wildfires
• In September 2021 the USA National Fire Centre reported 44,647 wildfires which had burned 5.6 million acres
• Rising sea levels together with increased storms

  Lead to increased flooding risk
• Ecosystem change


  • Location of biomes may shift to the north (Northern Hemisphere) and south (Southern Hemisphere) as they rely on specific climate conditions
  • Polar and tundra biomes are at risk of becoming extinct as they cannot shift any further north/south
• Increasing sea temperatures and ocean acidification


  Resulted in coral bleaching
• Changing temperatures


  Migration and behaviour patterns of animals affected
• Migration and behaviour patterns of animals affected by changing temperatures

  • Fish species are moving north and south of their usual habitats to seek cooler water
  • Reduced hibernation due to warmer winters
• Ecosystems threatened


  • Mangrove swamps and coral reefs are threatened by rising sea levels