The long-term alteration of global weather patterns caused by human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation; a major challenge for foreign policy due to its global nature and potential consequences.
Greenhouse gases: Understanding the different types of greenhouse gases and their role in climate change.
Global warming: Understanding the science behind global warming, the difference between natural and human-made causes and its effects on the environment.
International agreements: Reviewing the role of international treaties and agreements like the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol, in mitigating climate change.
Renewable energy: Understanding different types of renewable energy sources like wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal energy, their advantages and disadvantages, and their role in mitigating climate change.
Carbon pricing: Understanding the mechanism of carbon pricing, its role in mitigating carbon emissions, and the different types of carbon pricing systems.
Climate policies: Reviewing the different climate policies and initiatives developed by governments around the world to regulate emissions and achieve sustainable development.
Climate adaptation: Understanding the importance of adapting to climate change and how it impacts different sectors like agriculture, health care, and energy.
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): Understanding the CDM and its role in fostering sustainable development and reducing emissions in developing countries.
Climate finance: Reviewing different financing mechanisms that support climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Ecosystems: Understanding how climate change is impacting the world's ecosystems, including coral reefs, forests, and wetlands.
Climate refugees: Understanding the concept of climate refugees, and how climate change is affecting migration and displacement globally.
Environmental justice: Examining issues of environmental justice, which relate to the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities, particularly in developing countries.
Global Warming: This refers to the steady increase in the planet's average surface temperature caused by greenhouse gases' accumulation in the atmosphere.
Extreme weather events: Climate change has caused more severe and frequent weather patterns such as hurricanes, drought, floods, and heatwaves.
Ocean acidification: As carbon dioxide combines with seawater, it leads to the creation of carbonic acid, which lowers the ocean's pH levels. Ocean acidification harms marine creatures and ecosystems and threatens food security.
Sea-level rise: Due to melting glaciers and ice sheets, the ocean's sea level is rising gradually, which endangers coastal communities and infrastructure.
Changes in precipitation patterns: Climate change has brought shifts in the timing and amount of precipitation, which affects agriculture, water availability, and livelihoods.
Coastal erosion: Rising sea levels lead to coastal erosion, which can endanger towns and cities near the coast.
Biodiversity loss: Climate change is causing the extinction of plant and animal species across the planet as their natural habitats change and become unsustainable.
Pollution and waste: Climate change exacerbates human-made pollution and waste on land, oceans, and the atmosphere, leading to health issues and global food insecurity.