Face the Facts of Climate Change

Face the Facts Activity: 1.Form small groups. 2.Listen while a climate change statement is read aloud. 3.Discuss the statement with your group. Do you agree or disagree with the statement? Can you reach a consensus? 4.When prompted, hold up the appropriate Face the Facts card.

The terms global warming and climate change are commonly used to refer to the same phenomenon, though they actually have different meanings. Statement 1:

The terms global warming and climate change should not be used interchangeably as they refer to different concepts. Answer: Agree

Global warming: refers to the observed increase in average temperatures near the Earth’s surface and in the lower layers of the atmosphere. Climate Change: is a shift in the average weather of a given region over time. It includes changes in temperature, wind patterns and precipitation, which can mean an increase in droughts, floods, storms, hurricanes, tornadoes and other weather events.

Greenhouse Effect: Trace amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) act like the glass of a greenhouse and trap the heat from the sun next to the Earth.

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect: Human activities over the last two hundred years have created a thicker blanket of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Increases in anthropogenic (or human-made) greenhouse gases have led to increased global average temperatures.

Weather patterns can be hard to predict, therefore we should be sceptical about the accuracy of climate predictions. Statement 2:

Just as weather and climate are fundamentally different concepts, so are the processes involved in predicting each of them. Answer: Disagree

Climate models use the past to predict the future Avg. global temperature records since 1860 Today’s models now reproduce the past century global temperatures Reinforces confidence in future climate predictions Climate models predict that global temperatures will rise by 1.4 to 5.8°C over the next century

Scientists cannot agree whether the enhanced greenhouse effect, or global warming, is being caused by humans. Statement 3:

Scientists are certain that the enhanced greenhouse effect we have been experiencing is directly linked to more greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere and that these GHG concentrations have increased due to human activity. Answer: Disagree

Scientists Agree CO 2 levels have increased due to increases in fossil fuel burning since the Industrial Revolution Global average temperatures have increased in line with CO 2 levels

A few degrees of warming would be nice! Statement 4:

Over the last century, the Earth’s average surface temperature has risen 0.7°C. And although that may not sound like much, it is. The Earth - like the human body - is in a delicate balance and very sensitive to any change in temperature. Answer: Disagree

1 metre rise in sea levels More intense weather events (i.e. Hurricanes) Reduced agricultural yields Declines in arctic sea ice and tundra permafrost Human health risks to increase Over the next century, scientists expect:

The world’s poorest countries and most vulnerable people will bear the heaviest burden of climate change. Statement 5:

For reasons of geography and poverty, the world’s poorest people will be hit the hardest by climate change. Answer: Agree

geographical vulnerability economic reliance on agriculture already poor conditions high population density lack of resources to detect and adapt to threats Certain populations are more vulnerable due to:

The most vulnerable are always children.

The science of climate change is too uncertain to act on. Statement 6:

The time to act on climate change is now. Humans are at a crossroads where climate change is concerned – a direct path to sustainable societies and low carbon living must be taken. Answer: Disagree

Where the potential impacts will be severe and potentially irreversible, action must be taken to prevent such harm even in the face of scientific uncertainty. We must follow the precautionary principle, which states that:

Rises in global temperature will lead to the passing of tipping points, which will eventually lead to runaway climate change. What will happen if we wait?

Experts and engineers have developed low- carbon or no-carbon technologies, but developing and implementing them will be too costly for the economy. Statement 7:

Claims that fighting climate change will cripple the economy and cost hundreds of thousands of jobs are unfounded. In fact, companies that are already reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, with conservation efforts and new technologies, are discovering significant cost-savings. Answer: Disagree

Report by Sir Nicholas Stern in 2006, estimated that an aggressive approach to mitigate CO 2 levels will cost 1% of global GDP per year. The same report estimated a “do nothing” approach would result in costs between 5 and 20% global GDP per year to deal with effects of climate change. The Stern Review

Given the global nature of climate change, governments and world leaders should take the lead on mitigation efforts. Statement 8:

Taking action on climate change is ultimately the responsibility of everyone. After all, we all pollute the atmosphere with too much carbon. Though we look to our elected officials and climate scientists for leadership and guidance. Answer: Agree and disagree

Reduce, reuse, recycle Ditch the car Travel efficiently Eat low carbon Turn the thermostat down Switch off electronics Cut Your Carbon