The meaning of climate change

Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperatures and weather patterns either natural or caused by humans. As Peter de Menocal, a climate scientist with Columbia University, describes 'Climate change exerts a destabilising influence on an already unstable world. It adds a fundamental insecurity to people's lives and livelihoods, from small island nations to the most developed nations in the world'.

The causes of climate change

From the research done by the students of all four countries participating in our project the result is that the causes of climate change can be separated into two groups.

First and foremost, the Natural Causes which include : 

A) From a geological longitudinal point of view, Continental Drifts meaning that landmasses drift apart and the climate of the continents changes. 

B) Ocean Currents which move the large amounts of heat that escapes from the oceans across the planet increasing, therefore, the temperature and leading to climate change as well.

C) Volcanoes which release large amounts of greenhouse gases and ash into the atmosphere causing a temporary cooling. So changing the climate temperature again.

Secondly, the Human Causes which are even worse as they are created by the activities humans get involved in and although they know the effects they never stop engaging into them. Here we have activities like :

A) Air Pollution resulting from the gases transport, factories and electricity power stations emit into the atmosphere.

B) Water pollution caused by the increasing contamination from municipal and industrial waste.

C) Overexploitation of water resources. Less water on earth influences climate change more.

D) Forest fires and Deforestation also exert strong pressures on the state of the environment.

E) Fossil fuels which release CO2 into the atmosphere when they are burnt.

F) Livestock. The greater the consumption of products for its living and after the consumption of it by humans the greater the climate is affected.

G) Fertilizers being used to a great extent lead to a greater contamination of the environment.

The consequences of climate change

All the causes mentioned in the previous section have their side effects on the environment affecting thus the climate as well. 

As a result, we notice :

 A) A rising of minimum and maximum temperatures on land and in oceans. The rising of temperatures in the latter lead to shrinking glaciers, thawing permafrosts and rising sea levels. This leads further to degradation of coastal zones, erosion of coasts and retreat of shores, salty water entering the precious groundwater and that of rivers and lakes cumulating to a loss of biodiversity in terrestrial and marine ecosystems. 

B) Heavy or reduced precipitation leading on the one hand to heavy rains or hail and on the other hand to an increase in droughts alternating the food chain and reducing the water supplies in many parts of the world.

C) Global Warming increasing by the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere either through transport, industries or forest fires.

D) Forest Fires and Deforestation lead to less oxygen generating epidemics and genetic transformations.

E) Extreme weather and natural phenomena, such as hurricanes, typhoons or "El Niño" will be more frequent and of greater intensity. This also represents a danger for the population in certain places.

F) Pests and diseases. Temperature changes cause disease vectos to expand the range of latitudes in which they live, posing a health risk. In addition, crops can be affected by pests of organisms from other latitudes.

G) Climate refugees. Extremely weather may trigger a migratory movement to areas less affected by climate change.

H) Species extinctions:  Droughts, floods, see warming and changes in the salinity are changes to which species cannot adapt to or do not have enough time to adapt to increasing the time to its extinction.

Particularities of climate change in the LECLIC countries

The characteristics of climate change are more or less common to all LECLIC Countries as all four are a part of the Mediterranean Sea Area.

However, two particular studies, which were carried out, one by the Spanish Team and the other by the Greek Team, depict the great extent to which climate change  will have affected  these two countries in the near future based on the present situation. 

In Spain it is estimated that by 2050 a large part of the Bay of Cadiz will be flooded due to the rising sea levels affecting 600,000 people who could lose their homes. Furthermore, this could also lead to Cadiz being seperated from San Fernando, leaving an island.

In Greece four side effects are estimated for the near future.

A) A Drier Climate due to the decrease in rainfall by 20-30 % in the summer and 10% in the winter. Moisture deficit will increase by up to 12% and an increased tendency of soil conversion to dry land by up to 60% will appear.

B) Increased Water Temperatures will cause eutrophication and excess algal growth and will reduce drinking water quality. Increased sediment and nutrient inputs due to extreme storm events will add more harm as well.

C) Coastal degradation by the rapid expansion of tourism and thus urbanisation in coastal areas.

Differences and similarities between countries

After gathering all the information contibuted in by the four teams of our project, which has been mentioned in the previous sections, we notice that although all of us are from the same area, that of the Mediterranean Sea, we do not only have common elements about climate change but also differences.

As far as the common elements are concerned they refer to :

A) The toxic gases that pollute the atmosphere from transport, industries and the increasing contamination from waste by both. 

B) Rising temperatures that lead to melting glaciers, rising sea levels, degradation of coastal zones, threatening terrestrial and marine life and leading to loss of biodiversity.

C) Increase in droughts which also threatens any form of life and leads to loss of biodiversity again.

D) Overexploitation of water resources.

E) Deforestation and Forest fires.

On the other hand, there were also some different elements mentioned by the four teams according to the environmental characteristics and conditions of each country. These were the following :

A) Continental Drifts and Ocean Currents.

B) Volcanoes (with their toxic gases).

C) Heavy vs. Reduced precipitation.

D) Alteration of the food chain.

E) New illnesses and Genetic Transformations.

Concluding let us see what are the students' knowledge about climate change, its causes and consequences and what they have learnt during our project.

The Spanish students experimented about how consumption of electricity affects climate change. They studied it in two different contexts using winter time vs. summer time and concluded that we harm more the environment in winter when electricity consumption is greater and that their findings apply to similar other cases as well.

The Greek students experimented on how CO2 reacts with water and degrades it. They concluded that this happens to a great extent but they believe that there is no deadline after which the planet explodes, no point at which action becomes pointless to save the planet.

The Italian students offer solutions for saving the planet such as raising awareness of others through training, talking about reversing climate change, saving trees and forests and planting trees near your home, involving the community in reducing CO2 emissions and giving up fossil fuels, recycling and reaching the goal 'Zero Waste', and eating better natural, local and organic food by buying directly from producers as this can ensure you that you are not eating chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Furthermore, this has as a result the reduction of ammonia emissions released into the air by fertilizers, reduction of transport CO2 emissions and use of fuels for the carrying of products and no wasting of water or energy for the processing, packaging and conservation of the products and finally the elimination of plastic or cardboard packaging.

Last but not least the Portuguese students who created a Climate Collage of all the aforementioned to express their own opinion.

Extended information on how students experimented and researched about climate change causes and consequences can be found in the next PowerPoints and Collages.

Students' opinion on:

How has the participation in the LECLIC project helped you to understand what climate change is?

Maria of 14th Junior High School of Patras

I personally believe that participating in the Leclic project helped me to understand what climate change is because we did not just talk about this we acted.In addition we watched videos, we created games that helped us understand better the climate change.Furthermore I learnt more information about this issue not only for my country but for other countries too.

Lippi of Scuola secondaria di I Grado Ciro Scianna, Sicily

It made me better understand the climatic situation of our planet, so compared to first recycling, reuse and I do not waste much compared to before. It also made me realize that if we don't reduce pollution in a few years we could stop existing. And it is very important for all living things. 

Sofia of Agrupamento de Escolas Rio Novo Principe-Cacia, Portugal

For me participation in the project gave more information about climate change, I learn things that I don't know before. And now I understand How important is to do things to mitigate climate change.

Daniel of Colegio La Salle-Buen Consejo, Spain

Being in the LECLIC project has helped me understand how climate change works and how it is evolving very quickly. If we do not act soon, this can be a very big problem in the future that will affect our successors. With this project I have seen that this is something serious and that we have to mitigate it now.

Bibliographical references

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TNJqva3g3j8nyqRdfJSwSaN1_bkI_-Bk/view

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=Jb1TULQC6BM&feature=youtu.be

Peterson E.,STEAM Presentation Today, theinspiredclassroom.com

Slideserve.com/nerita/Stream-education

Slideshare, STEAM Learning Education, Slideshare.net/nettrice/steam-leading-education-k12