Prime Time 7/8, Writing, Arbeitsheft

15 62 15 Nature and the environment 15.1 Text input What is climate change? Climate change has become one of the key global issues, affecting all walks of life in all regions of the planet. But what is climate change, and what are its main causes? Throughout this article we examine what climate change is and the factors that have caused the global climate to shift over the past 200 years. What is climate change? Climate shapes the physical make-up of the earth – and this shapes how and where humans live on the planet. It’s normal for the climate to be in a perpetual cycle of change. Changes in the atmosphere occur naturally, creating new weather systems and climates over long periods of time. Yet whilst climate change in general is unsurprising when taking into consideration the history of the planet, the modern phrase “climate change” refers to something quite different, namely human intervention creating accelerated changes to the planet’s climate. Human activity over the past 200 years, in particular the burning of fossil fuels, has changed the make-up of the earth’s atmosphere at a much faster pace than would naturally occur. This is one of the greatest concerns facing the world over the next 200 years. The greenhouse effect One way in which human activity affects the climate is the greenhouse effect, the name given to the phenomenon of man-made “greenhouse gases” creating an imbalance in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are naturally occurring gases that manage the temperature of the earth by absorbing heat from the sun. The greater the concentration of greenhouse gases within the atmosphere, the hotter the temperature gets, in the same way a greenhouse heats up inside. Since the Industrial Revolution, the level of CO 2 , one of the principle greenhouse gases, in the atmosphere has increased by 30%, due to the burning of fossil fuels, which gives off a cocktail of gases including CO 2 . The rate of burning fossil fuels has closely correlated with a gradual increase in global temperatures. Even a tiny increase in overall temperatures can have a massive effect on the climate. Deforestation The effect of having more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is worsened by mass deforestation and tree felling, particularly in the rainforests, that has accompanied industriali- sation. According to the UN, increased pressure for land and fuel means that 60 acres of tropical forest are felled every minute. The detrimental impact this has on the planet’s climate is twofold. Not only do trees naturally absorb CO 2 , reducing the amount that would otherwise reach the atmosphere, but the burning of trees, which creates CO 2 and other greenhouse gases, accounts for around 20% of all man-made emissions, second only to the burning of fossil fuels. Living with climate change The effects of climate change are already being felt in many areas of the world. A rise in temperature in the polar region is causing widespread melting of the ice caps, deserts are expanding through previously fertile lands, inland waterholes are drying up, and sea levels are rising. The UK, for example, has experienced some of the hottest years on record, along with more extreme weather conditions including flooding and storms. Scientists agree that much of the damage created by the human actions of the past 200 years is irreparable – so the future of the planet is uncertain. However, by making positive changes to our lifestyles that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we can reduce the future effects of climate change. (Kelly Fenn, www.preventclimatechange.co.uk, 27 April 2018; adapted and abridged) 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv