Higher temperatures will lead to... Animal extinctions

Transcription

1 what will you do? 1 Humans have been found guilty of damaging the system that maintains life on Earth. World News Why does climate change matter? Polar ice caps melting In the past, we were not sure why world temperatures were rising. Now, scientists have huge amounts of data showing a clear pattern. There is strong evidence that humans have caused global warming. Higher temperatures will lead to... Animal extinctions Severe droughts in some areas and floods in others

2 what will you do? 2 So how have we caused climate change? The Earth s atmosphere is a layer of gases, including carbon dioxide, water vapour and methane. Infrared radiation (heat) from the Sun goes through the atmosphere to the Earth s surface. The Earth s surface emits different infrared radiation. Some of this is absorbed by the atmosphere and trapped. So the atmosphere keeps the Earth warm. The problem is that we burn fossil fuels in power stations and car engines. When fossil fuels burn, more carbon dioxide goes into the atmosphere. So the atmosphere absorbs more infrared radiation. And the Earth s temperature rises.

3 what will you do? 3 So it looks like humans have caused climate change. And we re the next generation of adults on this planet. So it s our problem now. What will YOU do? There are loads of things we can to do to help we just need to get everyone doing them! Are you up to the challenge? Produce a brief for a campaign to get your school to take action on climate change. Include science to explain how your ideas will help slow climate change. Present your brief to the rest of your class. They will vote for the best campaign.

4 1 2 Your campaign: Be a power-saver down if people did not waste electricity. 3 4 Your campaign: What a waste down if people did not throw out so much rubbish. Your campaign: Go easy on the gas down if people did not burn so much fuel in vehicles. Your campaign: Don't be a hot-head down if people heated their homes more efficiently Your campaign: Be water-wise Your campaign: Plant power down if people did not waste water. could be slowed down if there were more plants on the Earth.

5 5 Most of the electricity in this country is produced in fossil fuel-burning power stations. Burning fossil fuels (like coal and oil) releases carbon dioxide and water vapour into the atmosphere both of these are greenhouse gases. Burning fuel in the engines of cars, lorries and aeroplanes produces carbon dioxide. Going on holiday on an aeroplane and buying imported food are ways of increasing global warming that you might not have even thought about. The rubbish you throw away will probably be burnt (which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere) or left to rot in landfill sites (which release methane). Recycling or reusing waste saves on energy consumption as it cuts out the need for manufacturing new goods. Your house is heated by electricity or by burning methane gas (a fossil fuel). Having the heating up too high or wasting heat because your house is not properly insulated both add to global warming. The water that goes down your plughole is eventually reused so valuable energy is needed to clean it up. Hot water in your home has been heated by electricity or by burning methane gas (a fossil fuel) so don t waste it! Plants absorb carbon dioxide. Every time you use wood or paper from a non-sustainable source (one where the trees are not replanted when they are cut down) you are adding to global warming.

6 what will you do? 6 Campaign Brief Planning Sheet Our campaign is called: Our campaign will encourage students and teachers to: It's important to do this because: During our campaign we will: Vote for us because: Explain what climate change is and how your campaign will make a difference. Describe your campaign. How will you get people to listen to your message? Why should the people vote for you? How will your campaign be fun and informative?

7 what will you do? 7 Which campaign gets your vote? Be a power saver Go easy on the gas What a waste Don't be a hot-head Be water wise Plant power