Transcript the PowerPoint Slideshow

The Big Picture
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Module 1 – The Big Picture
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When you go into a greenhouse, it is warmer than outside. This is because light energy can get through the glass, warms
everything up and changes to heat energy. Most of this warm air is then trapped by the glass. That is how carbon dioxide (CO 2),
methane, nitrous oxide and others came to be called ‘greenhouse’ gases. Because of human activity there is an increase of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The light energy from the sun can get through them, warms the planet up and changes to
heat energy. A lot of this heat is trapped by the gases in the atmosphere and causes the planet to warm up. We call this global
warming. Just like being in a big greenhouse! It is global warming that causes climate change. Nothing to do with the hole in
the ozone layer!
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The greenhouse effect
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As the planet warms up, the global average temperature increases. The climate is changing
and becoming more unpredictable. All over the world we are experiencing more floods,
droughts and storms.
These can cause health problems, food shortages, water shortages and people having to leave
their homes. Wildlife is disappearing and sea levels are rising.
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Climate change
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CO2 comes from burning fossil fuels – coal, oil, and gas to make heat, electricity,
and transport fuel. As well as causing climate change, there is another problem
with fossil fuels – they’re running out.
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Peak oil
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It’s just not polar bears that will become extinct because of climate change.
Hundreds of thousands of species are under threat because they cannot adapt to a
changing climate.
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Biodiversity loss
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It is mostly people in rich northern countries that have been burning fossil fuels
and causing climate change. But it is people in less developed countries in the
south who are most affected by climate change, from crops failing, water
shortages, and rising sea levels.
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Global poverty