This slideshow outlines the key messages of the Climate Fresk workshop. From the key points of the physical system to the framing of climate action, you should learn something about your role as a climate leader. Get in touch with Climate Clarity at info@climateclarity.co.uk to learn more about the workshop and book it in your community or organisation.

1. Climate Fresk
Key messages

2. ● The Cards: Climate change in 5 sets
● What is at stake?
● What can we do?
Overview

3. The Cards of the Fresk
You can look at an annotated summary of the Fresk here.
And you can examine any card in detail by double clicking it on this network map.

4. ● Human activity causes climate change
● The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon where gases form a ‘blanket’
around the Earth, preventing heat from going back into space
● Burning fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal) emits carbon dioxide (CO2), which adds to the
greenhouse effect, raising the temperature of the planet: global warming
● Global warming has many knock-on effects, including rising sea levels and
melting ice caps
● Remember that melting sea ice does not cause sea level rise
Set 1 - The basics of global warming

5. Set 2 - Which human activities do we mean?
There are 4 main sectors that emit the most
greenhouse gases (GHGs):
● Agriculture (25%)*
● Transportation (20%)
● Building use (15%)
● Industry (40%)
*Rather than using large amount of fossil
fuels, agriculture is responsible for 80% of
deforestation in the world, and for the
emission of other GHGs such as methane
and nitrous oxide, both of which are more
potent greenhouse gases than CO2.

6. Set 2 - Where does the CO2 go?
The CO2 released by our emissions ends
up in carbon sinks:
- 25% dissolves into the ocean,
acidifying the ocean
- 25% is captured by plants via
photosynthesis
- 50% remains in the atmosphere,
blanketing the Earth in a higher
concentration of carbon dioxide,
leading to a stronger greenhouse
effect.

7. Set 3 - It’s an energy game
Radiative forcing measures the
difference between the energy that enters
the Earth (from the sun) and the energy that
leaves.
The additional greenhouse effect causes the
Earth to gain energy, because less energy
can escape back into space. Gaining energy
has a heating effect.
Aerosols prevent some of the sun's energy
from reaching the Earth, and therefore make
the Earth lose energy. This has a cooling
effect.

8. Set 3 - It’s an energy game
All that extra energy has to physically go
somewhere. So, where?
● 93% of this energy warms the ocean
● 5% is dissipated in the ground
● 3% melts the planet’s ice (glaciers, ice
caps, sea ice)
● 1% warms the atmosphere
These air and water temperature increases
disrupt the water cycle.
The sea levels are rising due to the melting
of continental ice (glaciers and ice caps)
adding water to the ocean, and ocean water
expanding as it heats up.

9. Set 4 - Under the sea
When CO2 dissolves in the ocean, it makes the ocean acidic and creates problems for underwater life.
Phytoplankton and zooplankton, the tiny critters at the base of the oceanic food chain, are affected by
difficulties in forming shells.
Marine biodiversity as a whole is threatened by the removal of the base of the food chain, plus the
increase in water temperature.

10. Set 4 - Under the sea
The increase in ocean temperature
leads to more powerful and frequent
hurricanes and cyclones.
The low pressure generated by these
stones causes the sea level to rise locally,
which can lead to coastal flooding via
storm surges..
The risk of coastal flooding, also called
marine submersion, is amplified by the
sea level rise.

11. Set 5 - Introducing feedback loops
Feedback loops, or tipping points, happen when effects reinforce each other - a vicious circle.
The melting permafrost releases methane (another potent greenhouse gas) which causes more
greenhouse effect, greater temperature rise and thus more permafrost melting.

12. Set 5 - A disrupted system starts to spiral
You may be familiar with these effects of
climate change:
● Heatwaves & wildfires
● Droughts & river flooding
● Hurricanes
● Depletion of freshwater resources
● Erosion of biodiversity
These are already affecting agricultural
yields and threatening global food security.
Feedback loops happen when effects
reinforce each other - a vicious circle. The
melting permafrost releases methane which
causes more warming and more permafrost
melting.

13. Set 5 - A disrupted system starts to spiral
The decline in agricultural yields can lead to dramatic consequences for
mankind, especially as these consequences amplify each other.
The effects are disproportionately felt in the Global South, but will
increasingly be felt directly worldwide.

14. What is at stake?

15. How bad is a few degrees’ rise?
The difference between our current climate and an ice age is 5 degrees celsius.
During the last ice age, the sea level was 120m lower, Northern Europe was covered in ice
sheets kilometers thick, and agriculture was impossible in much of Europe.
So, what will a 3+ degree rise in temperatures in only 100 years do to the planet?

16. Source: Global risk of deadly heat. Nature climate change, 7(7), 501-
It could become so hot that some of the
world’s most populated areas become
uninhabitable for more than half of the
year. Certain levels of heat and humidity
are deadly for human bodies.
What will happen to these people?
Heat: +4°C in 2100?

17. Image source: Earth’s Safe Planetary Boundary for Pollutants
An explanation of the different planetary boundaries.
Climate change is only one of the planetary
boundaries.
When deciding how to respond to climate
change, it is important to consider the
whole system.
For instance, an action that cools the planet
may not be good for the biosphere that all
life depends on.
The 9 Planetary Boundaries

18. What can we do?

19. To comply with the Paris Agreement of
keeping global heating under 2 degrees
Celsius, we must reduce carbon emissions to
2 tonnes per capita in richer countries.
To see which changes to make in your
personal life, you can calculate your current
carbon footprint and identify improvements
with Giki.
Or check out taking ‘The Jump’ - five shifts to
protect the Earth and live with joy.
Reduce carbon emissions in our personal lives!

20. “What are the biggest, quickest changes I can make?”
We need to slash the amount of carbon,
reducing the average UK carbon footprint by
a factor of six! (From 13Tco2eq to 2Tco2eq per
person.
If you want to reduce carbon today, we
suggest the following:
● Avoid flights wherever possible
● Avoid/limit red meat consumption
And of course:
● Talk to those around you about your
actions to maintain a liveable climate.
A flight, London to
New York, emits
1.59TCO2eq per
passenger.
Climate

21. It is important to understand that systemic
changes are needed to face climate
change. This means decarbonisation of our
society, including our workplaces.
For help in understanding the role you can
play in your job to help your workplace
decarbonise, check out Project Drawdown’s
Job Function Action Guides.
Reduce carbon emissions in our work lives!
Carbone 4’s report: ‘Doing Your Fair Share For The Climate?’ states that 75% of emission reductions will end up needing to
come from collective decarbonisation of our systems. (i.e. agriculture, industry, fright, public services, heat and energy)

22. We each play many different roles: we
are individuals, family members, citizens,
employees, managers, workers, sports-
enthusiasts, nature-lovers, friends, and
leaders.
Understanding this helps us see all the
different spheres where we have influence,
can have impact, and can show leadership.
Thank you for taking part in the Climate
Fresk workshop facilitated by Climate
Clarity CIC.
Ultimately, we win by working together, at all scales