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2.2. Climate change

A little bit of science, presented fast.

Key Takeaways 2.2

In a nutshell

  • Do not panic or get too depressed.

  • Climate change is complicated but addressing it is a really important element of future sustainability, so it is good to understand it.

David Attenborough quote

Right now, we are facing a man-made disaster of global scale. Our greatest threat in thousands of years. Climate Change. If we don’t take action, the collapse of our civilizations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon.
David Attenborough

Greenhouse gases and climate change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Some shifts are natural, through variations in the solar cycle, but the impact of human activities is now the main driver of climate change.

Why? Because human activity results in an increased concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the Earth’s atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O). These gases trap heat from the sun, creating what is known as the greenhouse effect. 

Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy production, transportation, and industrial processes, are the primary sources of these emissions.

Negative impacts of climate change

As a result of climate change, the Earth’s average temperature has been rising, with the following negative impacts: 

  • Increase in heat-related events such as heatwaves, hurricanes, storms, wildfires, and drought.
  • Increasingly unpredictable rainfall with floods in some areas and droughts in others.
  • Melting of glaciers and ice caps, leading to rising sea levels, which threatens coastal areas, increases risk of flooding and endangers ecosystems and communities.
  • Disruption to ecosystems due to changes in climate conditions affecting habitats, migration patterns and increased risk of species extinction.
  • Agricultural disruption resulting in failed crops, altering growing seasons, and increased risk of pests and disease.

These impacts will be unevenly felt around the world, with some countries facing far greater risks than others. However, given our globalised food systems and the increased political instability from conflict over resources, all countries, communities and companies will feel the impacts and costs of climate change.

But, as Mark Maslin points out in How to Save Our Planet, we are not equally liable for the mess we find ourselves in. The richest 10% of the world’s population emit 50% of carbon pollution into the atmosphere. The poorest 3.9 billion have contributed just 10%.