COP27 Lesson 1

What's the difference between weather and climate?

20,000 years ago, much of the Ireland was covered in glaciers. In Ireland today, we have a warmer climate and no glaciers.

Global climate change refers to the average long-term changes over the entire Earth. These include warming temperatures and changes in rainfall, as well as the effects of Earth’s warming, such as:

• Rising sea levels

• Shrinking mountain glaciers

• Ice melting at a faster rate than usual in Greenland, Antarctica and the Arctic

• Changes in flower and plant blooming times.

The Earth’s climate has constantly been changing — even long before humans came into the picture. However, scientists have noticed unusual changes recently. For example, Earth’s average temperature has been increasing much more quickly than they would expect over the past 150 years.

What causes climate change?

1. Burning fossil fuels

Over the past 150 years, industrialised countries have been burning large amounts of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. The gases released into the atmosphere during this process act like an invisible ‘blanket’, trapping heat from the sun and warming the Earth. This is known as the “Greenhouse Effect”.

2. Farming

Believe it or not, cows’ eating habits contribute towards greenhouse gases. Just like us, when cows eat, methane gas builds up in their digestive system and is released in the form of… a burp! This might sound funny, but when you imagine that there are almost 6.5 million cows in Ireland releasing all that gas into the atmosphere, it sure adds up!

3. Deforestation

Forests absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide – a greenhouse gas – from the air, and release oxygen back into it. The Amazon rainforest is so large and efficient at doing this that it acts like our planet’s air conditioner – limiting climate change. Sadly, many rainforests are being cut down to make wood, palm oil and to clear the way for farmland, roads, oil mines, and dams.

How will climate change affect the planet?

The Earth has had many tropical climates and ice ages over the billions of years that it’s been in existence, so why is now so different? Well, this is because for the last 150 years human activity has meant we’re releasing a huge amount of harmful gases into the Earth’s atmosphere, and records show that the global temperatures are rising more rapidly since this time.

A warmer climate could affect our planet in a number of ways:

– More rainfall

– Changing seasons

– Shrinking sea ice

– Rising sea levels

AND IMPORTANTLY THE POOREST ON OUR PLANET WILL WILL SUFFER MOST FIRST!

How will climate change affect wildlife?

Climate change is already affecting wildlife all over the world, but certain species are suffering more than others. Polar animals – whose icy natural habitat is melting in the warmer temperatures – are particularly at risk. Polar bears need sea ice to be able to hunt, raise their young and as places to rest after long periods of swimming.

It’s not just polar animals who are in trouble. Apes like orangutans, which live in the rainforests of Indonesia, are under threat as their habitat is cut down, and more droughts cause more bushfires.

WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BIODIVERSITY EMERGENCY?

How will people be affected by climate change?

Climate change won’t just affect animals, it’s already having an impact on people, too.

Most affected are some of the people who grow the food we eat every day. Farming communities, especially in poorer developing countries, are facing higher temperatures, increased rain, floods and droughts.

In Kenya, climate change is making rainfall patterns less and less predictable. Often there will be droughts followed by huge amounts rain, which makes it very difficult to grow crops.

Farmers might then resort to using cheap chemicals to improve their crop to earn more money, even when long-term use of these chemicals can destroy their soil.

How are people coping with climate change?

Buying Fairtrade products can help make sure a farmer is paid a fair wage. This means they can cover their costs, earn enough money to have a decent standard of living, and invest in their farms to keep their crop healthy, without needing to resort to cheap methods of farming which can further damage the environment.

How can I help prevent climate change?

Small changes in your own home can make a difference, too. Try switching to energy-saving lightbulbs, walking instead of using the car, turning off electrical items when you’re not using them, recycling and reducing your food waste. All these little things can make a difference.

Possible Activities:

1. List / Draw those things that you or your family can do to save energy.

2. List / Draw those things that you or your family can recycle / reuse / repurpose.

3. List the faritrade goods that can be bought.

4. Draw and / or colour a poster about the effects of climate Change.

5. Draw and colour a poster that could be used on a March to bring attention to the damage that we are doing to our Planet.