"Climate change affects the physical environment, ecosystems and human societies."
The impact of human activities on the environment and the resulting changes in the climate, including global warming, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events.
Greenhouse gases: This topic covers the various gases including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons, that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to global warming.
Climate Models: The study of complex mathematical models used to study climate and predict future changes is known as Climate modeling.
Climate Feedbacks: The various feedback loops which either amplify or dampen the impacts of climate change on ecosystems, known as Climate Feedbacks.
Global Temperature Trends: Changes in global temperature over the past century were analyzed to better understand climate change.
Weather events: The study of extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and floods, and their increased frequency and intensity due to climate change.
Climate Science: The physical and biological processes that drive climate change and how these processes interact with humans.
Climate Adaptation: Ways that communities, particularly those that are vulnerable, can prepare and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Renewable Energy: This topic demonstrates the different types of clean energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, which have a minimal impact on the environment.
Climate Policies: The laws and international agreements that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Environmental Justice: The disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable populations, with a focus on social equity and justice.
Ecological Footprints: The study of the ecological impacts of human consumption and production, which contributes to climate change.
Oceans and Marine Life: The impacts of climate change on oceans, such as acidification, rising sea levels, and changes in ocean biomes.
Forests and Biodiversity: The impacts of climate change on forests and biodiversity due to the degradation of ecosystems.
Agriculture and Food Security: The impacts of climate change on food production, distribution and availability and its affect on global and regional food security.
Resilience and Sustainability: The ability of a community to cope with the impacts of climate change while promoting the long-term sustainability of natural resources and human systems.
Global warming: It refers to the gradual temperature increase in the Earth's atmosphere. The primary cause of global warming is an increase in human-made emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which trap heat from the sun's rays and prevent it from leaving the Earth's atmosphere.
Ocean acidification: As carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater, it reacts with water molecules to form hydrogen ions, leading to a decrease in the pH levels of seawater, making it more acidic. This affects marine ecosystems and can impact the growth and survival of marine organisms.
Glaciers melting: As temperatures warm up, glaciers and ice sheets in polar regions begin to melt, contributing to sea-level rise. This melting can also change the flow of water in rivers and lakes, impacting local ecosystems, and human water supplies.
Extreme weather events: Climate change is causing an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, droughts, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. These events can have significant impacts on human health, infrastructure, agriculture, and natural ecosystems.
Changes in precipitation patterns: Warmer temperatures can cause changes in the amount and timing of precipitation, leading to droughts or flooding in certain regions. This can impact agricultural productivity, water availability, and the health of ecosystems.
Loss of biodiversity: Climate change can cause the extinction of many plant and animal species due to shifting temperatures or changing environmental conditions. This loss of biodiversity can have significant impacts on ecosystems' functioning and can ultimately affect the health and wellbeing of human societies.
"Changes in the climate system include an overall warming trend, more extreme weather and rising sea levels."
"The Arctic is warming faster than most other regions."
"These include an increase in ocean temperatures, a rise in sea level from ocean warming and ice sheet melting. They include increased ocean stratification. They also include changes to ocean currents including a weakening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation."
"Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is acidifying the ocean."
"Recent warming has had a big effect on natural biological systems. It has degraded land by raising temperatures, drying soils and increasing wildfire risk."
"Species all over the world are migrating towards the poles to colder areas. On land, many species move to higher ground, whereas marine species seek colder water at greater depths."
"At 2 °C (3.6 °F) of warming, around 10% of species on land would become critically endangered."
"Food security and access to fresh water are at risk due to rising temperatures."
"Climate change has profound impacts on human health. These can be direct impacts via heat stress. They can be indirect changes via the spread of infectious diseases."
"Humans are vulnerable and exposed to climate change in different ways. This varies by economic sector and by country."
"Wealthy industrialized countries, which have emitted the most CO2, have more resources. So they are the least vulnerable to global warming."
"Climate change affects many economic sectors. They include agriculture, fisheries, forestry, energy, insurance, and tourism."
"Some groups may be particularly at risk from climate change, such as the poor, women, children, and indigenous peoples."
"Climate change can lead to displacement and changes in migration flows."
"It has degraded land by raising temperatures, drying soils, and increasing wildfire risk."
"These include increased ocean stratification."
"Changes to ocean currents include a weakening of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation."
"Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is acidifying the ocean."
"Climate change has profound impacts on human health... They can be indirect changes via the spread of infectious diseases."