Select a course.
Climate Change
infoWhy this? Climate change is one of the most significant geographical issues facing the world today. This unit explores how and why Earth's climate has changed over time, from natural climate change and Ice Ages to the rapid warming observed today. Building on prior learning about rock formation, glaciation and landscape change, pupils use evidence from rocks, fossils, glaciers and Ice Age landscapes to explore how Earth's climate has changed over geological time before investigating the causes and impacts of recent warming. Pupils examine the natural and human causes of climate change, the environmental, social and economic impacts on people and places around the world, and why recent warming differs from past climate changes. They also consider how societies can respond through mitigation and adaptation, and evaluate issues of climate justice, responsibility and global action.
scheduleWhy now? This unit builds on prior learning from Weather & Climate, Tectonic Hazards, Extreme Weather, Rivers & Flooding, Migration and Globalisation. Pupils already understand how physical processes shape environments and influence human activity, and they can now apply this knowledge to a contemporary global issue. Beginning with Earth's climate history and Ice Ages helps pupils understand that climate has changed naturally throughout geological time before exploring why current climate change is different. As a Year 9 topic, it develops pupils' ability to analyse evidence, evaluate different viewpoints and make informed judgements about a complex issue that links physical and human geography at local, national and global scales.
neurologyYou need to know
- Weather is the day-to-day state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time, including temperature, precipitation, and wind.
- Climate is the average weather conditions of a place over a long period, typically 30 years or more.
- The main difference between weather and climate is timescale: weather is short-term, climate is long-term.
- Temperature and CO₂ graphs can be used to identify trends and patterns related to climate change.
- Ice cores, glacier melting, and sea level rise are three types of evidence that show climate change is happening.
- Volcanic activity and solar activity are two natural processes that can cause climate change.
- Volcanic eruptions can cool the Earth by releasing ash and sulphur dioxide, which reflect sunlight.
- Changes in solar activity, such as sunspot cycles, can alter the amount of solar energy reaching Earth, affecting global temperatures.
- In the natural greenhouse effect, incoming short-wave radiation warms Earth's surface, Earth emits long-wave radiation, and greenhouse gases absorb and re-radiate some of this energy, keeping the planet warm enough for life.
- Human activities that increase greenhouse gas emissions include burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture.
- The enhanced greenhouse effect is the process by which human activities increase the concentration of greenhouse gases, intensifying global warming.
- Human greenhouse gas emissions are the dominant cause of recent global warming, while solar changes and volcanic activity cannot explain the observed long-term warming.
- The transport, energy, and agriculture sectors are major contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Environmental impacts of climate change include rising sea levels, melting glaciers, and ecosystem loss.
- Social and economic impacts of climate change include loss of homes, food insecurity, and job disruption.
- Certain communities or regions, such as low-income, low-lying, or developing areas, are more vulnerable to climate change due to factors like geography, wealth, and infrastructure.
- Mitigation refers to actions taken to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases.
- Climate change mitigation strategies include renewable energy and reforestation.
- Adaptation refers to actions taken to adjust to actual or expected climate change and its effects.
- Adaptation strategies include physical defences like the Thames Barrier and sea walls in the Maldives.
- Climate justice is the concept that addresses the ethical dimensions of climate change, recognising that its impacts are not distributed equally.
- The low-lying islands of the Maldives are vulnerable to coastal flooding as sea levels rise.
- Coastal flooding in the Maldives can damage homes and disrupt tourism, threatening residents’ livelihoods.
- The Malé sea wall in the Maldives is an adaptation that helps protect the city from coastal flooding.
- Parts of London lie on the River Thames floodplain, making them vulnerable to tidal flooding as sea levels rise.
- Tidal flooding in London can damage homes and businesses and disrupt transport, causing economic losses.
- The Thames Barrier is an adaptation that helps protect London from tidal flooding.
- Global agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, aim to coordinate international efforts to address climate change.
rocket_launchYou must be able to
- Interpret temperature and CO₂ graphs to describe trends and patterns in climate data.
- Assess the strength of different evidence and explain why scientists conclude that recent warming is unequivocal and primarily human-caused.
- Compare the contributions of solar changes and volcanic activity to recent global warming with the contribution of human greenhouse gas emissions.
- Explain the enhanced greenhouse effect, showing how human activity intensifies global warming.
- Explain the role of key sectors, such as transport, energy, and agriculture, in contributing to global emissions.
- Describe three environmental impacts of climate change and explain these using case study examples, such as the Arctic.
- Justify whether climate change is the biggest environmental threat, using evidence.
- Analyse a case study to explain how and why people and places are affected by climate change.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of a global agreement, such as the Paris Agreement, in addressing climate change.