Temperatures & Trees Campaign
Lesson 1: What is climate change?
Late Primary School/Junior Cycle Level
Earth’s Atmosphere
Image: NASA
Our atmosphere is a thin layer of gases (100 km thick).
It extends from the surface of the Earth, to the edge of space.
It is what makes Earth habitable!
Without our atmosphere, we would be exposed to harmful radiation from the sun and the extreme coldness of space.
The atmosphere is like a shield protecting Earth from space!�Here is how the atmosphere helps us:
The air we breathe on earth is made of:
Greenhouse Gasses
What are greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that absorb heat radiating from the Earth and re-emit it. It traps heat close to the Earth’s surface, similar to how glass panels trap heat inside a greenhouse.
Examples of greenhouse gases:
Click here
to watch a video about the greenhouse effect
Greenhouse gases are not always bad! They occur naturally in the atmosphere and help keep the Earth warm and habitable.
HOWEVER, human activities have put more greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) into the atmosphere, leading to more heat being trapped in the atmosphere than normal – i.e., higher temperatures than normal.
Important Definitions
Weather vs. Climate
An easy way to remember it:
Climate is what you expect (e.g., dry summers), and weather is what you get.
Describes how the atmosphere behaves over a short time.
Timescale: Minutes – Weeks
Examples:
“It’s raining.”
“It’s meant to be 25°C on Friday.”
Weather
The AVERAGE weather for a region over a long time.
Timescale: Seasons – Millenia
Example:
“The wet season normally starts in November.”
Climate
Activity
Can you tell whether these statements refer to weather or climate?
Weather
Climate
or
Weather
Climate
or
Weather
Climate
or
Weather
Climate
or
Activity
Can you tell whether these statements refer to weather or climate?
Weather
Climate
or
Weather
Climate
or
Weather
Climate
or
Weather
Climate
or
Why words matter
One of the main reasons people don’t believe in climate change is because they confuse it with global warming.
Is global warming happening? Yes! Climate data shows us that NORMAL temperatures are increasing over Earth as a whole (Global Warming).
Does this mean that you can’t experience cold days or extremely cold events? No! While temperatures are raising on average, global warming is just one part of the climate change story. Climate change impacts different parts of the planet differently.
The term ‘Global Warming’ does not necessarily describe the weather that people are experiencing at any given time. This is why climate scientists are using ‘Climate Change’ instead, since it avoids confusion and may help explain severe weather conditions such as snow in unexpected places or at odd times of the year.
Climate Change in the Past
How do scientists know what the climate was like thousands to millions of years ago?
Click on the
to watch a short video about each method
Has climate change happened before?
Yes!
Earth has gone through many ice ages and warmer climates.
Normally climate change is caused by:
But this time it is humans causing it and it is happening faster than ever before.
What is Causing Climate Change Now?
Then why are scientists blaming us for current climate change?
Climate change is happening faster today than ever recorded before in history and scientists are linking it to our carbon emissions!
Source: NOAA
Remember: Scientists are not blaming you personally – they are observing patterns and recommending ways to change the outcome.
We cannot change the past but we CAN change our future!
Fossil Fuels
What are fossil fuels?
They are carbon-based natural energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas, formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago.
What do we use them for?
We burn fossil fuels to produce electricity, heat our homes, power cars, planes, and factories, and make products like plastics.
Why is burning them so bad?
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO2 - a greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere.
Click here
to watch a video about how fossil fuels are formed
Our carbon emissions timeline
How much is 35 billion tonnes of CO2?
If you pumped Croke Park full of CO2, it could hold 891 tonnes of CO2 gas.
That means you can fill Croke Park
40 million times with the CO2 that we release globally in one year!
Effects of climate change
Click here
to watch a video about the effects if climate change
There is Hope!
The Paris Agreement
In 2015 world leaders came together in Paris, France and decided to do something to fight climate change. They promised that their countries would lower greenhouse gas emissions and set special reduction targets for everyone. This became known as the Paris Agreement.
The Paris Agreement:
Click here
to watch a video about the Paris Agreement.
Public support for climate action is stronger than ever!
In 2024, a global study with over 70,000 people from 77 countries found that:
Source: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Peoples’ Climate Vote 2024
What can you do?
Our actions can make a difference, but the biggest difference will come from demanding change or action from governments & big businesses.
Here are some examples of things that you can do to make the planet healthier and fight climate change. You don’t have to do all of this. Start with what is easy and convenient. Small changes matter.
THANK YOU!
087 644 6676
globe@eeu.antaisce.org
Toshka van Eyk
Deputy Country Coordinator
GLOBE Ireland
Videos
Links to other lessons