Global warming is caused by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities like burning fossil fuels. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, causing temperatures to rise and driving climate change effects like rising sea levels and more extreme weather. As the climate continues to warm due to inaction, serious consequences are expected, including severe summer heat and drought as well as wetter, stormier winters and increased flooding. Political and individual responses aim to reduce emissions through alternatives to fossil fuels, conservation efforts, and raising fuel prices to encourage lower consumption.

1. Global Warming and Climate
Change
Lesson Objective:
1. To describe the causes of global
warming
2. To understand ‘the green house effect’

2. Causes of Global Warming
The main cause is
from pollution and
the production of
greenhouse gases,
such as carbon
dioxide. These
occur from burning
of fossil fuels.
One main example
of this is the
increasing amount
of vehicles on our
roads.
Greenhouse gases trap
energy from the sun into
our atmosphere. After a
period of time this
increases the earth's
temperature, causing
global warming.
The exertion of fumes has
dramatically increased
since the industrial
revolution.
In the last two decades it
has accelerated alarmingly.
The trend of temperature is
upwards and has risen 1.1
degrees Celsius in twenty
years, causing striking
change.
By 2020 the average
summer temperature will be
at least 30 degrees Celsius
in the summer, causing
large draughts, with mild
winters. This is a significant

4. Green House Gases

5. Effects of Global Warming
Since global warming,
ecosystems have been
changing dramatically all
across the globe.
Coastal areas are becoming
under threat due to the
stormy weather and the
polar ice caps melting,
causing the sea level to
rise.
More animals may become
extinct as they cannot adapt
to their changing habitats.
As the snow is melting due to
the temperature rise, the
number of animals which rely
on the snow are slowly
decreasing.
The snow acts as a cover for
shelter and is also used as a
camouflage.
If the snow is not produced,
due to wetter winters, this can
affect the food chain of
animals also.

6. Effects of Global Warming
SUMMER
Because of the prolonged high
temperatures, it will cause knock
on effects for the elderly and
young, as they cannot withstand
unusual heat. This means that
death rates may increase.
Roads in high heat will soften,
becoming costly and time
consuming to replace, as we have
over 250,000 miles of road in
Britain.
One of the largest problems caused
by Global Warming is draught.
Already plans are being made to
produce more reservoirs to prepare
for the years to come. This will not
cost much and only 20 or so families
will loose their homes.
In recent years there has been
“hose pipe bans” to save the needed
water.

7. SUMMER cont.
Urban heat islands are areas of land
which trap heat due to the high rates
of pollution. This is because of the
unusually large amount people in a
relatively small area, therefore these
areas are major cities such as
London.
On average it is 9 degrees hotter
here than the surrounding areas.
More of these areas will
develop, causing increasingly
unbearable heat.
Many plans are being made to
try and reduce the effects of
Global Warming for the future.
Effects of Global Warming

8. Effects Of Global Warming
WINTER
Winter temperatures will rise,
becoming more mild, due to
global warming. We will
experience wetter weather,
with rare snow fall.
Hurricane and tornadoes will
become more common
causing devastation. This will
have knock on effects as any
damage caused will be costly
to replace.
As a result of these weather
conditions, flooding will
increase. To reduce the
effects, water barriers are
being installed in high risk
areas.
Also, old sewage networks
are put under pressure in wet
weather in urban areas. This
is because there is little
drainage and low absorbency
because of this.
There are plans to produce
new sewage networks over
the country to stop the
flooding.
This, however, will take a
long period of time and will
cost millions of pounds.

9. Responses to Global Warming
As vehicles are used on
a large scale by millions
across Britain, the
obvious answer would be
to make them more
efficient and less
polluting to our
environment.
That is why companies
are developing cars
which are run by
hydrogen.
This is better for our
atmosphere and will
prevent making the issue
of global warming worse.
Also, homes are being
made more Eco-friendly
by having thicker walls to
keep heat in for the winter
and cool the home in the
summer.
Solar panels are used to
produce energy to lower
the usage of fossil fuels.
Along the roof of homes,
plants that absorb water
are being grown to capture
precipitation. This water
then can be used for
toilets.

10. Political Response to Global
Warming
The world’s nations attempted
to tackle a range of
environmental problems,
including climate change.
This included the increase of
petrol prices and larger taxes
for drivers, to simply put
people off driving.
Also, cutting carbon dioxide
emissions by using
alternatives, such as hydro
electric power, solar power
and wind farming.
Advertising is used to put across these
messages, to get people into a new routine of
doing these things. This may cost a lot, but is
ensuring that we will save money as a
country. This money then can be used to
prevent us harming our environment anymore
than it already is.
The public are being
informed about not wasting
water and electricity, by
turning off lights and taps.
This eventually will make a
large impact to society to
save needed water for
summer, and burning less
fossil fuels for electricity.