The controversy surrounding climate change continues to rage – are man’s actions rather than a natural phenomenon responsible for climate change, and if we alter our behaviour will it make any difference? This book looks at the debate about global warming, as well as at the causes and effects of climate change and their implications for the future.
The information comes from a wide range of sources and includes government reports and statistics, newspaper reports, features, magazine articles and surveys, literature from lobby groups and charitable organisations.
Chapter One: Our Changing Climate
Instant expert: climate change, World becoming more humid, Climate changes controversies, Why it’s green to go vegetarian, What does climate change mean for us?, Biodiversity and climate change: ecosystems.
Chapter Two: Climate Politics
Climate change and cities, Climate change denial, The deceit behind global warming, G8 climate change accord elicits mixed reactions, UK legislation: Climate Change Bill, Climate change is like ‘World War Three’, Right to be suspicious, Carbon offsetting – frequently asked questions, Rockin’ all over the world . . .
Chapter Three: Climate Solutions?
Can algae save the world?, Oceans offer climate cure, Carbon sequestration, Fuelling the future, Sustainable fossil fuels, Climate change and the need for renewable energy, Combat climate change with fewer babies, New eco-towns could help tackle climate change, The inconvenient truth about carbon offsetting, Muck and brass – with carbon credits, Positive energy.
Key Facts
Glossary
Index
Additional Resources
Acknowledgements
Key Facts
• The world is becoming more humid under climate change and exacerbating global warming, research reveals. (page 2)
• Change in solar activity is one of the many factors that influence the climate but cannot, on its own, account for all the changes in global average temperature we have seen in the 20th century. (page 5)
• There are real concerns that, in the long term, rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere could set in motion large-scale and potentially abrupt changes in our planet’s natural systems and some of these could be irreversible. (page 6)
• ‘Greenhouse gases’ are so called because they act like the glass of a greenhouse, trapping heat from the sun to warm up the Earth. Most of these gases occur naturally and without them our planet would be too cold to sustain life, but the balance is a very delicate one. (page 7)
• The world is warming faster than at any time in the last 10,000 years. (page 8)
• 18% of respondents in a 2007 Ipsos MORI poll agreed that human activity does not have a significant effect on the climate. 69% did not agree. (page 12)
• Collectively the G8 – Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, USA, Japan and Russia – which represent just 13 per cent of the world’s population, are responsible for around 43 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. (page 16)
Climate Change Study Guide
Each book in the Issues series has a study guide. These four-page guides provide a variety of discussion points and other activities to suit a wide range of ability levels and interests.
Publisher: Independence Educational Publishers
Price: £1.50
ISBN: 978 1 86168 450 9 |
