A P R E S E N T AT I O N B Y K I T Z A D A M F .

M A L I G A L I G

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY CRISIS AND

ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS
CLIMATE
CHANGE
WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE AND
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES?

Climate change is a broad range of global

phenomena created predominantly by burning
fossil fuels, which add heat-trapping gases to
Earth’s atmosphere. These phenomena
include the increased temperature trends
described by global warming, but also
encompass changes such as sea level rise;
ice mass loss; shifts in flower/plant blooming;
and extreme weather events.
413
Parts per million
1.9
ºF since 1880

CARBON GLOBAL
DIOXIDE TEMPLERATUR
E

12.85
Percent per decade
3.3
Milimeters per year

ARTIC ICE SEA LEVEL

MINIMUM
 CAUSES OF
CLIMATE
CHANGE
On Earth, human activities are
changing the natural greenhouse.
Over the last century the burning of
fossil fuels like coal and oil has
increased the concentration of
atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).
This happens because the coal or oil
burning process combines carbon with
oxygen in the air to make CO2. To a
lesser extent, the clearing of land for
agriculture, industry, and other human
activities has increased concentrations
of greenhouse gases.
 1.
GREENHOUSE
GAS EMISSIONS
Emissions Evidence that CO2
emissions are the cause of global
warming is very robust. Scientists have
known since the early 1800s that
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
trap heat. Global CO2 emissions from
human activity have increased by over
400% since 1960. As a result, the
concentration of CO2 in the air has
reached more than 400 parts per
million by volume (ppm), compared to
about 280 ppm in 1750 (around the
start of the Industrial Revolution).
 2. EARTH’S
NATURAL
CLIMATE
Over the last 800,000 years, there
have beenCYCLE
natural cycles in the Earth’s
climate, between ice ages and warmer
interglacial periods. After the last ice
age 20,000 years ago, average global
temperature rose by about 3°C to 8°C,
over a period of about 10, 000 years.
 3. SOLAR
INFLUENCES
The sun is the primary source of
Earth’s heat, so relatively small
changes in solar output can affect our
climate. Satellite observations since
the late 1970s have shown a slight
decrease in the sun’s total energy
output. However, instead of cooling,
the Earth has warmed over this period.
Also, warming from the sun would heat
all of the atmosphere, including the
lowest few kilometers (the
troposphere) and the layer above (the
stratosphere). Observations show that
the stratosphere is in fact cooling while
the troposphere warms. This is
consistent with greenhouse gas
heating and not solar heating.
IMPACTS OF
CLIMATE
CHANGE
Climate change could affect our society through
impacts on a number of different social, cultural,
and natural resources. Some groups of people
will likely face greater challenges than others.
Climate change my especially impact people
who live in areas that are vulnerable to coastal
storms, drought, and sea level rise or people
who live in poverty, older adults, and immigrant
communities. Similarly, some types of
professions and industries may face
considerable challenges from climate change.
Professions that are closely linked to weather,
such as outdoor tourism, commerce, and
agriculture, will likely be especially affected.
IMPACTS IN
VULNERABILIT
Y AND EQUITY
1. Geographic Location
•Population in coastal areas
are more sensitive to storms,
drought, air pollution and heat
waves.
• Population in mountainous
areas will likely face water
shortages and increased
wildfires in the future.
• Arctic residents will likely
experience problems caused
by thawing permafrost
 IMPACTS IN
VULNERABILIT
Y AND EQUITY
2. Ability to cope.
• People who live in poverty may have a
difficult time coping with changes. These
people have limited financial resources to cope with heat,
relocate or evacuate, or respond to
increases in the cost of food.
• Older adults may be among the least able to
cope with impacts of climate change.
• Elderly people are particularly prone to
heat stress.
• Young children are another sensitive age
group, since their immune system and other
bodily systems are still developing and they rely
on others to care for them in disaster situations.
 IMPACTS IN
VULNERABILIT
Y AND EQUITY
3. INDIGENOUSE PEOPLE
• Climate change will make it harder for tribes to access
safe and nutritious food, including traditional foods
important to many tribes’ cultural practices. Many tribes
already lack access to safe drinking water and wastewater
treatment in their communities. Climate change is expected
to increase health risks associated with water quality
problems like contamination and may reduce availability of
water, particularly during droughts. By affecting the
environment and natural resources of tribal communities,
climate change also threatens the cultural identities of
indigenous people. As plants and animals used in
traditional practices or sacred 123 ceremonies become
less available, tribal culture and ways of life can be greatly
affected.
 03
SOLU TI ONS
“
“We can't save the world by playing by the
rules, because the rules have to be
changed. Everything needs to change -
and it has to start today.

G R E TA T H U M B E R G
REDUCE REUSE RECYCL
E

Cut down on what you throw away. Follow the three "R's" to conserve
natural resources and landfill space
SOLUTIONS

VOLUNTEER
Volunteer for cleanups in your community. You
can get involved in protecting your watershed,
too.
SOLUTIONS

EDUCATE
When you further your own education, you can
help others understand the importance and
value of our natural resources.
 The less water you use, the less
runoff and wastewater that eventually
end up in the ocean.

SOLUTIONS

CONSERVE
WATER
 04
CONCLUSI ON
CONCLUSION

PROTECTING THE
PLANET STARTS
WITH YOU
Global warming is the major challenge for our
global society. There is very little doubt that
global warming will change our climate in the
next century.
CONCLUSION

PROTECTING THE
PLANET STARTS
WITH YOU
• There must be an international political
solution.

• Funding for developing cheap and clean

energy production must be increased

• We must not pin all our hopes on global

politics and clean energy technology, so
we must prepare for the worst and adapt
C O V E R PA G E 2

THERE IS
NO
PLANET B