The Bishop’s Co-Ed School, Kalyani Nagar - Pune

STUDENT NAME: NEVAN GURUNG

CLASS: 9th SECTION: E
ROLL NO: 47
TOPIC: Climate change
SUBJECT TEACHER: SHARON DASS
Acknowledgement
I take this opportunity to thank my Principal Mr. ASHLEY EATES, The
Headmaster Mr. MERWYN RODRICKS and my Geography Teacher
Mrs. SHARON DASS for guiding me towards accomplishing this
literary task. I would also like to thank my parents who have
supported me wholeheartedly throughout the completion of the
assignment.
Brief Introduction of ‘Climate’
What is Climate?
Climate is the average weather pattern of a place prevalent over a
large area for a long time, say 35 years.
Places like polar regions are cold throughout the year, while
places near the equator have hot and wet conditions all year
round. So, the climate of Antarctica is quite different than that
climate of the tropical island. We can generalize and say that the
Zaire forests experience an equatorial type of climate where
temperature and rainfall are uniformly high throughout the year,
while in desert regions the climate is extremely hot in summers
and cold in winters and there is hardly any rainfall. Again, coastal
areas have equable climate and good rainfall. So, we see that the
climate of various places on the earth varies a great deal. Also,
living being of different kinds are found to live in different places
and different climates. If you visit a desert, you will see camels and
cacti; a hilly region will have plenty of oak, pine, deodar and yaks,
and a river or a pond will house fish of various
kinds and planktons
 What is Climate
change?
Climate change refers to significant, long-term changes in the
global climate. The global climate is the connected system of
sun, earth and oceans, wind, rain and snow, forests, deserts
and savannas, and everything people do, too. The climate of
a place, say New York, can be described as its rainfall,
changing temperatures during the year and so on.
But the global climate is more than the “average” of the
climates of specific places. The Climate System A description
of the global climate includes how, for example, the rising
temperature of the Pacific feeds typhoons which blow
harder, drop more rain and cause more damage, but also
shifts global ocean currents that melt Antarctica ice which
slowly makes sea level rise until New York will be under
water.
It is this systemic connectedness that makes global climate
change so important and so complicated
Causes of Climate change.
• Fossil fuels – coal, oil and gas – are by far the largest
contributor to global climate change, accounting for over 75
per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 per
cent of all carbon dioxide emissions.
• As greenhouse gas emissions blanket the Earth, they trap
the sun’s heat. This leads to global warming and climate
change. The world is now warming faster than at any point in
recorded history. Warmer temperatures over time are changing
weather patterns and disrupting the usual balance of nature.
This poses many risks to human beings and all other forms of
life on Earth Generating power.
• Generating electricity and heat by burning fossil fuels
causes a large chunk of global emissions. Most electricity is
still generated by burning coal, oil, or gas, which produces
carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide – powerful greenhouse gases
that blanket the Earth and trap the sun’s heat.
• Manufacturing and industry produce emissions, mostly
from burning fossil fuels to produce energy for making things
like cement, iron, steel, electronics, plastics, clothes, and
other goods. Mining and other industrial processes also release
gases, as does the construction industry Cutting down forests
 Continuation of Slide 5

Causes of Climate change.

• Cutting down forests to create farms or pastures, or for other
reasons, causes emissions, since trees, when they are cut,
release the carbon they have been storing. Each year
approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed
Using transportation
• Most cars, trucks, ships, and planes run on fossil fuels. That
makes transportation a major contributor of greenhouse
gases, especially carbon-dioxide emissions. Road vehicles
account for the largest part, due to the combustion of
petroleum-based products, like gasoline, in internal
combustion engines.
• Producing food causes emissions of carbon dioxide, methane,
and other greenhouse gases in various ways, including
through deforestation and clearing of land for agriculture and
grazing Powering buildings Globally,
• Residential and commercial buildings consume over half of all
electricity. As they continue to draw on coal, oil, and natural
gas for heating and cooling, they emit significant quantities of
greenhouse gas emissions
 Effects of Climate change.
Hotter temperatures :As greenhouse gas concentrations rise, so does the global surface temperature. The last decade, 2011-2020, is the
warmest on record. Since the 1980s, each decade has been warmer than the previous one. Nearly all land areas are seeing more hot days and
heat waves. Higher temperatures increase heat-related illnesses and make working outdoors more difficult. Wildfires start more easily and spread
more rapidly when conditions are hotter. Temperatures in the Arctic have warmed at least twice as fast as the global average.
More severe storms :Destructive storms have become more intense and more frequent in many regions. As temperatures rise, more moisture
evaporates, which exacerbates extreme rainfall and flooding, causing more destructive storms. Recently in Bangladesh On the morning of May 26,
the Bangladesh Meteorological Department issued a distress signal number 10 in nine coastal districts regarding a huge storm coming the
named it ‘remal’.
About 8,000 to 9,000 shelters were prepared in the coastal districts of Bangladesh to evacuate people to safety.
Increased drought :Climate change is changing water availability, making it scarcer in more regions. Global warming exacerbates water shortages
in already water-stressed regions and is leading to an increased risk of agricultural droughts affecting crops, and ecological droughts increasing
the vulnerability of ecosystems.
A warm, rising ocean :The ocean soaks up most of the heat from global warming. The rate at which the ocean is warming strongly increased over
the past two decades, across all depths of the ocean. As the ocean warms, its volume increases since water expands as it gets warmer. Melting ice
sheets also cause sea levels to rise, threatening coastal and island communities. In addition, the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, keeping it from the
atmosphere. But more carbon dioxide makes the ocean more acidic, which endangers marine life and coral reefs.
Pictures of the remal storm
 Continuation of Slide 7
Effects of Climate change.
Loss of species :Climate change poses risks to the survival of species on land and in the
ocean. These risks increase as temperatures climb. Exacerbated by climate change, the
world is losing species at a rate 1,000 times greater than at any other time in recorded
human history. One million species are at risk of becoming extinct within the next few
decades. Forest fires, extreme weather, and invasive pests and diseases are among many
threats related to climate change.
Not enough food :Changes in the climate and increases in extreme weather events are
among the reasons behind a global rise in hunger and poor nutrition. Fisheries, crops, and
livestock may be destroyed or become less productive.
More health risks :Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity.
Climate impacts are already harming health, through air pollution, disease, extreme weather
events, forced displacement, pressures on mental health, and increased hunger and poor
nutrition in places where people cannot grow or find sufficient food. Every year,
environmental factors take the lives of around 13 million people. Changing weather
patterns are expanding diseases, and extreme weather events increase deaths and make it
difficult for health care systems to keep up
 The world is about 1.19°C (2.14°F) warmer than the pre-industrial era. Most of
Facts on Climate Change. the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gas emissions gets absorbed by the
ocean. As a result, it takes enormous shifts to raise temperatures even slightly,
because it’s otherwise buffered by the ocean. But when five Hiroshima bombs’
worth of excess heat are absorbed every second by the ocean, you begin to see
warming on the scale we now face today. Antarctica is losing 1 billion metric
tons of ice every 40 hours. Ice melt is rapidly accelerating as temperatures rise
and feedback loops take over. Over the past 30 years, the earth has lost 28
trillion ton of ice, which is enough to cover the United Kingdom in an ice sheet
100 meters thick. Sea levels have risen by 9 inches over the past century. That
might not seem like a lot but consider how much water it takes to raise sea
levels. According to NASA, 365 gigatons of water would raise sea levels by a
single millimeter. One gigaton contains 264 billion gallons and there’s 25.4
millimeters in an inch.
NASA breaks it down further:
• “Greenland has been losing about 280 gigatons of ice per year on average,
and Antarctica has lost almost 120 gigatons a year with indications that
both melt rates are increasing. A single gigaton of water would fill about
400,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools; each gigaton represents a billion
tons of water.”
• Storms, droughts, floods, forest fires, and heat waves have become more
common and grown more intense because of warmer temperatures and
rising sea levels. The United Nations found that climate-related disasters
surged five-fold over the past 50 years, with disproportionate impacts being
felt in poorer countries. Climate disasters are costing countries hundreds of
billions of dollars annually.
• Countries aren’t just facing a gradual increase in temperatures. They’re also
facing more extreme heat waves. In fact, severe heat waves that would
happen once every 10 years are now happening twice as frequently, while
even rarer, twice-in-a-century heat waves are happening five times as often.
 • TAKE A CONSUMPTION REDUCTION: CHALLENGE Not only is it great for your wallet
but taking a no or low-spend challenge significantly impacts the environment. Over-
consumption contributes directly and indirectly to climate change, pollution,
biodiversity loss, and resource depletion.
• DONATE TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITY: At Greater Good Charities, every month is Earth
Month. We work year-round to protect and preserve endangered species and their
How to Control Climate vital habitats around the world. When you donate, you continue our mission and make
Change? a significant difference in our planet’s biodiversity
• DO A PLASTIC AUDIT: More than 300 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide
every year. Single-use plastic has a massive impact on the planet. Reducing plastic
consumption can prevent greenhouse gases and microplastics from entering the
environment. To reduce your consumption, it’s important to understand where you’re
starting. First, record all the plastic that goes in and out of your house over a week or
even a month. Then, review your list and see if there is an opportunity to swap to
more sustainable sources. For example, using reusable straws, bags, coffee cups, and
water bottles is a great place to reduce plastic usage. By making small changes every
day, we can have a big impact on the planet.
Difference between: Adaptation
and Mitigation of Climate
Change.
Climate Change Mitigation:
Definition: Climate change mitigation refers to actions taken to reduce
or prevent the emission of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the
atmosphere. The goal is to prevent the planet from warming to more
extreme temperatures.
Purpose: Mitigation aims to address the root causes of climate change
by minimizing emissions. It involves transitioning from fossil fuels to
clean, renewable energy sources and restoring natural habitats to
achieve net-zero carbon emissions.
Climate Change Adaptation:
Definition: Climate change adaptation involves adjusting our behavior,
systems, and ways of life to protect ourselves, our economies, and the
environment from the impacts of climate change.
Purpose: Adaptation focuses on managing the effects of climate change.
As our climate changes, we must adapt to new conditions, such as
altered growing seasons, water availability, and increased risks (e.g.,
wildfires, diseases).
Examples of Climate Change,
Adaptation and Mitigation.
Climate Change Adaptation Examples:
Infrastructure Resilience: Building or retrofitting
infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events (e.g.,
stronger storm drains, flood barriers, and seawalls).
Early Warning Systems: Developing systems to predict and
respond to natural disasters (such as cyclones, floods, and
wildfires) helps protect communities.
Ecosystem Restoration: Restoring wetlands, mangroves, and
forests helps buffer against storms and sea level rise.
Water Management: Efficient water use, rainwater
harvesting, and drought-resistant crops are essential for
adaptation.
Health Preparedness: Public health systems prepare for
changing disease patterns due to climate shifts.
Community Education: Educating people about climate risks
and adaptive behaviors fosters resilience.
Examples of Climate Change, Adaptation
and Mitigation.

Climate Change Mitigation Examples:

Renewable Energy Transition: Countries and communities are
shifting from fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) to renewable
energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower. This reduces
greenhouse gas emissions and promotes a cleaner energy future.
Energy Efficiency: Improving energy efficiency in buildings,
transportation, and industrial processes helps reduce overall energy
consumption and lowers emissions.
Afforestation and Reforestation: Planting trees and restoring forests
act as carbon sinks, absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere.
Public Transportation: Investing in efficient public transportation
systems reduces reliance on individual cars and decreases
emissions.
Waste Management: Proper waste disposal and methane capture
from landfills contribute to mitigation.
 Conclusion / Summary.
Climate change evidence from the Geological Record.
The Geological Society’s Scientific Statement “What the Geological Record Tells us About our Present and Future
Climate” shows how carbon emissions from human activities are causing climate change. The geological record provides
powerful evidence that atmospheric CO2 concentrations drive climate change, and supports multiple lines of evidence
that greenhouse gases emitted by human activities are altering the Earth’s climate. These changes directly affect our
environment as well as the health and wellbeing of humans across the world. Anthropogenic climate change needs to be
slowed, stopped and ideally reversed by meeting or exceeding the targets for emissions reductions set out in the Paris
Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Meeting these targets will require a fundamental shift in how we produce and consume energy. Earth scientists have a
vital role to play in supporting this shift. The transition from hydrocarbons to renewable energy will require more mining
for critical elements and resources, such as lithium and cobalt

Why Is It Important to Study Climate Change?

Earth’s climate is undergoing changes never seen before by humans. Compared with levels before the Industrial
Revolution, the global average temperature has risen a full degree Celsius. That may not sound like much, but it’s already
severely impacted how our planet functions.
Greenland and Antarctica have lost enough sea ice to fill 400,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Extreme weather
events are becoming more common. Heat waves that once happened every 50 years now happen almost five times as
often, and that number is expected to rise further.
Studying climate change will help us understand why global temperatures continue to rise, how the climate affects us, and
how we can tackle this challenge before things get much worse.
 Bibliography.
Windows Co-pilot
Google, Microsoft Edge, Chat GPT.
What is climate change
https://www.warmheartworldwide.org/what-is-climate-
change.html?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxeyxBhC7ARIsAC7dS39MAJo4O-
EaytSmOagf7Ldb4k2Si472zoY4WPxAsucX3tqi5yalZdIaAlQgEALw_wcB
Causes And Effects
https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/causes-effects-climate-change
Climate Change Examples
https://www.ibm.com/blog/climate-change-examples/