Climate Week North East Friday 15th March to Sunday 24th March 2019

Climate Week North East When? – Friday 15th March – Sunday 24th March 2019 Why? - Raise awareness of Climate Change and Reducing Carbon Emissions What? – Events happening during the week – www.climateweekaberdeen.org Where? – Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire How? - YOU can make changes in school and at home. YOU can get others involved and spread the word. YOU could put on an event…. Who? Everyone! Contact alison@aberdeenclimateaction.org for more info The following presentation will help explain what Climate Change is and how you can help © Aberdeen Climate Action C.I.C 2018

How and why our planet is changing, and what we can do to help. Climate Change How and why our planet is changing, and what we can do to help.

What is Climate Change? Climate change is the process of our planet heating up or cooling down Currently our planet is experiencing global warming- the process of Earth heating up © Aberdeen Climate Action C.I.C 2018

Why does Climate Change Happen? The Earth’s temperature is regulated by gases that form a protective bubble around the planet, the Ozone Layer. When the amounts of these gases change, the amount of heat trapped on Earth also changes Global warming happens when there is an increase in gases like carbon dioxide © Aberdeen Climate Action C.I.C 2018

Impacts of Climate Change Rising temperatures are causing: Melting sea ice Flooding More rainfall Stronger, more frequent storms Droughts Mass extinction of animals, insects, plants, fish, birds… https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/30/one-in-six-of-worlds-species-faces-extinction-due-to-climate-change-study According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, around 20-30 percent of flora and fauna species evaluated during climate change studies are at risk of extinction Coral bleaching One species in the ecosystem triggers others dying – sandeels/ puffins etc. Drought Unsuitable habitat and nowhere else to go Here is the most up to date report from the IPCC (8th Oct 2018) -http://report.ipcc.ch/sr15/pdf/sr15_spm_final.pdf © Aberdeen Climate Action C.I.C 2018

Save Energy Energy is created in lots of different ways that contribute to climate change Use of fossil fuels is the main cause of climate change By reducing energy usage we can reduce the impacts of energy production Switching lightbulbs off when you leave a room helps save energy. Ask kids about other ways to reduce energy use Can be as simple as just cutting down on what we use so that manufacturing energy is cut too © Aberdeen Climate Action C.I.C 2018

Reduce Carbon Emissions Carbon dioxide is a powerful greenhouse gas and many of our regular activities release it By driving less, avoiding flying, buying locally and using less energy we can reduce emissions We all need to reduce emissions: businesses too! http://www.zerocarbonbritain.org/images/pdfs/ZeroCarbonBritain-MakingItHappen.pdf most emissions associated with the UK diet relate to those from livestock (mainly cows and sheep). Agriculture is responsible for about 10% of the UK’s production emissions of greenhouse gases but have a huge amount of methane too – more destructive. In EU 30% of all food is wasted! Transport is responsible for about a quarter of the UK’s domestic greenhouse gas emissions, most of which come from cars and other road transport (40% of that is cars – 25% more from vans and heavy transport) Almost half of the UK’s energy use is in buildings. This includes heating homes, workplaces, shops and public buildings; providing hot water; and powering appliances – 17% of green house emissions – need to be made energy efficient and low carbon Energy supply from fossil fuels is responsible for 32% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions (heating and lighting count for about 2/3rd of that) © Aberdeen Climate Action C.I.C 2018

Save Water Using less water reduces the amount of energy used to treat, pump and heat water. Having a shower instead of a bath saves water and reduces the amount of energy used in the process. Turning the tap off when you’re brushing your teeth or when you see a leaky tap are also good ways to save water. © Aberdeen Climate Action C.I.C 2018

Reduce Waste Reducing waste is an important way to ensure less rubbish ends up in landfill, polluting the Earth. Reducing waste reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. In the home, you can do this by recycling, bringing your own carrier bags to the shops, repairing items rather than throwing them away. © Aberdeen Climate Action C.I.C 2018

What can YOU do? Reduce, reuse and recycle! Save energy at home and work/ school: wear a jumper rather then put up on heating; switch lights off; short showers. If possible, walk to school, cycle or take public transport instead of driving to lower CO2 emissions. Alternatively carpool. Go renewable in your energy supply. Eat less meat & dairy! Eating less meat and more vegetables is better for the environment, healthier and sustainable. Speak to your elected officials to get carbon reducing policies in place. Individuals can not reduce carbon emission enough themselves and through their actions to keep the temperature rise below 2%. (see the notes page on slide 6). The majority of carbon emissions can only be reduced with government driving it through laws, policies and subsidies/funding. The Climate Change Bill is currently going through the Scottish Parliament and now is the time to get the kids approaching their MSPs with their thoughts i.e. we want a word that is secure, clean and with wonderful nature – our kids deserve that – and can’t have it if business continues as usual and climate change is not stopped. Non governmental organisations and groups are asking for a net zero carbon emission target by 2040 to be in the Climate Change Bill. http://www.stopclimatechaos.org/campaigns/act-for-our-future © Aberdeen Climate Action C.I.C 2018

Teacher Resources https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/geogr aphy/general-geography/what-is-climate- change/ http://climatechoices.co.uk/pages/activities0.ht m Fun Carbon Footprint Calculator: http://meetthegreens.pbskids.org/features/carb on-calculator.html https://www.rainforest- alliance.org/articles/how-to-talk-to-kids-about- climate-change Rainforest Alliance have a whole school Climate Change Curriculum: https://www.rainforest- alliance.org/curricula Info & videos for and by kids on climate change https://www.aberdeenclimateaction.org/kids.html © Aberdeen Climate Action C.I.C 2018

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