Climate change refers to long term shifts in weather patterns while global warming specifically refers to increases in average surface temperatures. The greenhouse effect occurs when greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun, warming the planet. Human activities that burn fossil fuels have increased the amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect and leading to increased global warming and climate change impacts like rising sea levels and more extreme weather. Reducing emissions through activities like using less energy, recycling more, and planting trees can help address climate change.

1. Introduction to Climate change
Climate change refers to general changes in climate patterns,
including temperature, precipitation, winds, and other factors.
Global warming (as well as global cooling) refers specifically to any
change in the global average surface temperature.
Do not confuse the two.

2. Important Climate Change Terms
Climate
This describes all weather occurring over a period of years in a given place. It is the
average weather condition. Climate tells us what it’s like in the place where you live.
Greenhouse
In some countries, people build a small glass house to plant crops in it. It is built to
keep the sun's heat from escaping from the glasshouses.
In a way, the earth is like a glasshouse and it has important gasses in the atmosphere
that keeps us warm.
Some of these gases are water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane.
When the sun heats the earth, these gases keep the heat on the earth's surface.
Without these gases, heat would escape back into space and Earth’s average
temperature would be about 60°F colder.

3. How does the Greenhouse Effect
happen?
The earth’s atmosphere is all around us.It is the air that we breathe.
●Sunlight enters the Earth’s atmosphere, passing through the blanket of
greenhouse gases.
●As it reaches the earth’s surface, the land and water absorbs the sunlight’s
energy.
●Once absorbed, the energy is sent back into the atmosphere in the form of infrared rays.
●Some of the energy passes back into space, but much of it remains trapped in
the atmosphere by the greenhouse gases, causing our globe (earth) to warm up.
●This warming is what we call Global Warming, and it is caused by the
greenhouse effect.
●

4. The greenhouse effect is important
Without the greenhouse effect, the earth would
not be warm enough for humans to live. But if
the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it
could make the earth warmer than usual. Even
a little extra warming of the earth may cause
problems for humans, plants and animals.

5. What brings about more
Greenhouse gases?
In this new era (the age of industrialization), the earth is full of industries. Millions of
vehicles, aeroplanes and engines are produced every year. A lot of artificial things have
been produced and have ended up in waste dumps. Humans produce much more
waste than ever before.
Take a good look at the simple sketch above.
What did you notice in that sketch? What do all those activities have in common?

6. They all produce a lot of smoke,
fumes and water vapor!
Simply put, human's reliance on artificial things, including all the things that make us
comfortable at home, has contributed immensely to the emission of more greenhouse
gases than before. These gases in the atmosphere have trapped more heat on the
earth’s surface and made it warmer. This is Global Warming.
It is very IMPORTANT that you turn off all electrical appliances when they are not in
use. This is good practice, and you end up saving some money too.
Everything humans have at home or workplace need power to work. This power comes
from burning fossil fuels and other natural sources. The more fuels are burnt, the more
CO2 are produced into the atmosphere.
This means each time your dad drives his car, or you turn on an electric appliance, you
are indirectly adding to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

7. But thats not all !
It must also be noted that less forest cover all over the world has
resulted in less carbon absorption and storage. This is because plants
absorb carbon from the atmosphere during photosynthesis.
Additionally there is more methane release from permafrost due to
higher temperatures.
This is not very good, as we are all contributing to global warming and
climate change. This is a problem.

8. Effects of Climate change
Global Warming also causes other things to happen that is not related to
climate change.
●Global warming causes thermal expansion of land and water. It also
causes ice sheets to melt in icy regions of the world and mountain tops.
Large volumes of melted ice (water) then flows down into streams, rivers,
lakes and seas.The result is rising sea and water levels, causing floods
and massive destruction to low-lying towns and cities along water bodies.
●Changing climate may also cause the weather to become more extreme,
be it droughts or violent storms and heavy rain.
●Extreme changes in temperature makes people suffer breathing
difficulties, head aches, body rashes and other illnesses.

9. Effect of Climate change
Climate change also distorts the natural habitats and lives of many
plants and animals. For example, the survival of polar bears and
penguins in icy regions are in danger, as they cannot survive anywhere
else. Other plants and animals in hot regions will die if temperatures
suddenly become too cold for them.
●
Changing climate also causes water bodies to dry out. There is also
dryness that causes droughts, bush fires and many water and land
animals will die as a result.
●

10. So what can we do ?Cool things to do !!!
Go by bus! Save money !
Walk! Don’t drive. Great exercise !
Ride! Don’t drive. Exercise again !
Protect and plant trees. Fun and fresher air for everyone !
Recycle, reduce and re-use items. Brilliant attitude !
Cool thing to do !!!