The Climate Change Game 1a Climate change science and impacts Climate Centre was established in 2002 and became and independent foundation in 2004. We can be seen as a knowledge or a reference centre to the whole RC/RC Movement. Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre

Prizes for the Winning Team! Have Fun Test Your Knowledge Learn More Prizes for the Winning Team!

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Rules Two teams First team gets a question Team has 2 minutes (max) to answer If it is answered correctly, the team gets a point If the team answers incorrectly or it takes too long, the other team gets the opportunity to answer The team with most points wins!

First Question is for Team #1 Ready?! First Question is for Team #1

Why is the planet warming up? The sun is getting closer and hotter as part of a natural sun cycle. Heat-trapping gases are building up in the atmosphere, preventing warmth from the sun escaping back out into space. Scientists do not know why the earth is warming up, they just know that it is. Answer B. The whole in the ozone layer is a different problem, with different causes and solutions (although some greenhouse gases also are bad for the ozone layer). The affects of the whole in the ozone layer are more localized as opposed to global. The Montreal Protocol regulates gases that deplete the ozone layer, so this issue is still important, but in many ways is being addressed.

But they prevent heat from escaping back out. The Answer is B! Humans release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. But they prevent heat from escaping back out. These heat-trapping gases let sunlight in.

What is this process called? Global dimming Air pollution build-up The greenhouse effect Atmospheric thickening Refers to process described in previous slide.

The answer is… Global dimming Air pollution build-up The greenhouse effect Atmospheric thickening Refers to process described in previous slide. 10

What evidence of climate change have scientists already observed? The planet is warmer on average The sea level is rising There has been more intense cyclone activity in the North Atlantic All of the above

Answer: D The planet is warmer on average by 0.74°C (2005 compared to 1906). The sea level is rising by 1.8 mm/yr since 1961, and 3.1 mm/yr since 1993. The rate is increasing! There has been more intense cyclone activity in the North Atlantic since about 1970. All of the above IPCC AR4

What are the two biggest causes of this build-up of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere? Industry and energy supply Agriculture and forestry (including deforestation) Burning of fossil fuels and land-use change Transportation and buildings

This was sort of a trick question … Industry (19.4%) and energy supply (25.9%) Agriculture (13.5%) and forestry (including deforestation) (17.4%) Burning of fossil fuels and land-use change (encompasses all of these categories!) Transportation (13.1%) and buildings (7.9%) Answer: C However, all other factors contribute, because they involve burning of fossil fuels (transit, energy use, industrial processes, waste) and land use change (deforestation, converting forest land for use in agriculture or other purposes). From IPCC AR4

Can the terms ‘global warming’ and ‘climate change’ be used interchangeably? Yes, they refer to processes closely related, and people understand what you’re referring to when you use either of them. No, these are completely separate processes and should not be confused.

The answer is Yes! When the ocean, land and air get warmer (global warming), things change in the climate system (climate) change)… Answer: Yes Explanation: These terms are often used interchangeably. Global warming was commonly used in the 80’s to talk about how human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, were increasing the heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere that have been causing the planet to warm. But scientists have learned that raising the temperature of the atmosphere, oceans and land will also result in large scale climatic changes, such as changes in rainfall patterns. Both global warming and climate change are happening, and it is okay to use either term, though ‘climate change’ refers more comprehensively to the changes occurring due to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. http://www.climatecentral.org/library/faqs/what_is_the_difference_between_global_warming_and_climate_change On a warmer planet, interactions between the ocean and atmosphere change. For example: warmer ocean temperatures supply more energy to tropical cyclones as they move across the ocean, strengthening them. At warmer temperatures evaporation increases, as does the ability of the atmosphere to hold more water vapour. Thus we can expect longer/more intense dry periods, and heavier more intense rainfall when it occurs. Scientists call this increased rainfall variability. We can also expect that some areas will generally become drier while others become wetter overall.

If we stopped all greenhouse gas emissions today, would we still have climate change? No, the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere would quickly dissipate, immediately stopping the warming and related changes in the climate. Yes, humans have been adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere for so many years now, that even if all emissions stopped today, the planet would still continue to warm for decades to come.

If we stopped all greenhouse gas emissions today, would we still have climate change? No, the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere would quickly dissipate, immediately stopping the warming and related changes in the climate. Yes, humans have been adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere for so many years now, that even if all emissions stopped today, the planet would still continue to warm for decades to come. Answer: Yes However, dramatically reducing our emissions is still critical in order to prevent run-away climate change and to keep climate risks manageable.

Race for both teams - a point for the team that finishes first! Match the following terms with their correct definitions…

Match the term with the definition Weather Climate Climate change Refers to average weather conditions over a long period of time (30+ years). Refers to conditions like rain, temperature and wind over hours to days. Refers to a statistically significant change in the state of the climate (or average weather) that persists for an extended period of time (decades or longer).

The difference is in the timescale! Answers: Weather Climate Climate Change Refers to conditions like rain, temperature and wind over hours to days. Refers to average weather conditions over a long period of time (30+ years). Refers to a statistically significant change in the state of the climate (or average weather) that persists for an extended period of time (decades or longer). A note about climate change: Changes in climate can be due to natural causes. However when we talk about the climate change that is occurring today, we are talking about anthropogenic climate change, or climate change that is caused by human activities, such as land-use change and the burning of fossil fuels that release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere. The difference is in the timescale!

If we know the climate change projections for 2100, do we need to pay attention to forecasts on shorter timescales? Yes, because between now and 2100 natural climate variability and weather could bring us conditions/events that are different from the long-term projections. No, for example, if the climate change projection is for drought in 2100, we know that we will gradually experience drying over the next century, so we just need to focus on drought-preparedness and water resource management.

If we know the climate change projections for 2100, do we need to pay attention to forecasts on shorter timescales? Yes, because between now and 2100 natural climate variability and weather could bring us conditions/events that are different from the long-term projections. No, for example, if the climate change projection is for drought in 2100, we know that we will gradually experience drying over the next century, so we just need to focus on drought-preparedness and water resource management.

If we experience an extreme weather event, can we attribute that particular event to climate change? Yes, climate change will bring more extreme weather events, so we can attribute each individual event to climate change. No, because weather fluctuates on short-term timescales and climate change is occurring over a much longer timescale.

Answer: No, because weather fluctuates on short-term timescales and climate change is occurring over a much longer timescale. However, an increase in the average occurrence of extreme weather events over time may be attributed to climate change, especially if other forms of natural climate variability can be ruled out.

What is the definition of Climate Change Mitigation? A) Action taken to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. B) Action taken to reduce the impacts of climate change on lives, livelihoods and ecosystems. 26

What is the definition of Climate Change Mitigation? The answer is A: Action taken to reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. - B is called climate change adaptation: Action taken to reduce the impacts of climate change on lives, livelihoods and ecosystems. 27

Challenge Questions These questions are not multiple choice Each team has 2 minutes to draft an answer Correct answers from either/both teams earn 2 points

Name five things scientists project for our future given climate change See next slide for answers. Use judgment

What scientists project: Temperature increase (in the range of 1.1-6.4°C by the year 2100, depending on how we are able to curb our greenhouse gas emissions). Increased frequency of hot extremes and heat waves Increased frequency of heavy precipitation (rain and snow) events Increase in tropical cyclone intensity Generally, precipitation increases in high latitudes and decreases in sub-tropical land regions Decreased snow/ice extent Rising sea level Relative to temperatures in 1980-1999. Source: IPCC 2007, AR4

What kind of humanitarian impacts 2-minute brainstorm: What kind of humanitarian impacts would this have? Relative to temperatures in 1980-1999.

Let’s hear from each team, 1 point for every impact listed. Impacts listed that the facilitator finds questionable or do not have a logical justification will be tabled for further research (no points). Relative to temperatures in 1980-1999.

Let’s tally the points…

Congratulations! Winning team, you get a prize! Losing team, we hope you had fun while learning  Maybe the winning team will share their prize with you…