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

2. 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 –
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 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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…
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, around 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) -
© Aberdeen Climate Action C.I.C 2018

7. 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

8. 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!
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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.
© Aberdeen Climate Action C.I.C 2018

12. Teacher Resources
aphy/general-geography/what-is-climate- change/ m
Fun Carbon Footprint Calculator: on-calculator.html
alliance.org/articles/how-to-talk-to-kids-about- climate-change
Rainforest Alliance have a whole school Climate Change Curriculum: alliance.org/curricula
Info & videos for and by kids on climate change
© Aberdeen Climate Action C.I.C 2018

13. Aberdeen Climate Action.org