Module 1 – The Big Picture The Big Picture

? The greenhouse effect When you go into a greenhouse, it is warmer than outside. This is because light energy can get through the glass, warms everything up and changes to heat energy. Most of this warm air is then trapped by the glass. That is how carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane, nitrous oxide and others came to be called ‘greenhouse’ gases. Because of human activity there is an increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The light energy from the sun can get through them, warms the planet up and changes to heat energy. A lot of this heat is trapped by the gases in the atmosphere and causes the planet to warm up. We call this global warming. Just like being in a big greenhouse! It is global warming that causes climate change. Nothing to do with the hole in the ozone layer! Image credit: West Wales Eco Centre

? Climate change As the planet warms up, the global average temperature increases. The climate is changing and becoming more unpredictable. All over the world we are experiencing more floods, droughts and storms. These can cause health problems, food shortages, water shortages and people having to leave their homes. Wildlife is disappearing and sea levels are rising.

? Peak oil CO 2 comes from burning fossil fuels – coal, oil, and gas to make heat, electricity, and transport fuel. As well as causing climate change, there is another problem with fossil fuels – they’re running out.

? Biodiversity loss It’s just not polar bears that will become extinct because of climate change. Hundreds of thousands of species are under threat because they cannot adapt to a changing climate.

? Global poverty It is mostly people in rich northern countries that have been burning fossil fuels and causing climate change. But it is people in less developed countries in the south who are most affected by climate change, from crops failing, water shortages, and rising sea levels.