Climate change

Definition

Climate change refers to significant and lasting changes in global temperatures and other climate patterns over extended periods. It is primarily driven by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, which increases greenhouse gas emissions, leading to global warming and extreme weather events. The effects of climate change intersect with various global challenges, influencing development goals, economic stability, and environmental sustainability.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of natural disasters like hurricanes, droughts, and floods, posing threats to human life and infrastructure.
2. Developing countries are disproportionately affected by climate change due to limited resources and heightened vulnerability, impacting their efforts toward economic growth and poverty alleviation.
3. Agricultural productivity is at risk from climate change due to shifting weather patterns, which can affect food security and exacerbate hunger in vulnerable populations.
4. Mitigation strategies include transitioning to renewable energy sources, enhancing energy efficiency, and promoting sustainable land-use practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
5. International agreements like the Paris Agreement aim to unify global efforts in combating climate change through commitments to reduce emissions and adapt to its impacts.

Review Questions

• How does climate change influence global development goals related to poverty alleviation?
  • Climate change significantly impacts global development goals, especially those aimed at poverty alleviation. Extreme weather events can destroy infrastructure, disrupt livelihoods, and worsen food insecurity for vulnerable populations. As a result, communities may face increased poverty levels as they struggle to recover from these challenges. Efforts to achieve poverty reduction must integrate climate resilience strategies to ensure sustainable development.
• Evaluate the criticisms of modernization theory in relation to climate change and its effects on developing nations.
  • Critics of modernization theory argue that it fails to account for external factors like climate change that disproportionately affect developing nations. Modernization theory suggests that all countries can progress through similar stages of development. However, climate change poses unique challenges for these nations, limiting their growth potential and often exacerbating existing inequalities. This calls for a re-evaluation of development approaches that consider environmental sustainability alongside economic progress.
• Synthesize the relationship between climate change impacts on biodiversity loss and conservation strategies necessary for sustainable development.
  • Climate change drives biodiversity loss through habitat destruction, altered ecosystems, and species extinction. This creates a pressing need for effective conservation strategies that not only aim to protect endangered species but also enhance ecosystem resilience. Sustainable development relies on conserving biodiversity as it provides essential services like clean water, pollination of crops, and carbon sequestration. Thus, addressing climate change while implementing conservation measures is vital for ensuring the sustainability of both ecosystems and human societies.

Related terms

Greenhouse Gases: Gases in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

A collection of 17 interlinked global goals established by the United Nations in 2015 to address social, economic, and environmental sustainability issues by 2030.

Ecosystem Resilience: The ability of an ecosystem to withstand or recover from disturbances, such as climate change, while maintaining its essential functions and processes.