Climate Change and Human Impact: An ESS Perspective

30 Sep Climate Change and Human Impact: An ESS Perspective

Climate Change and Human Impact: An ESS Perspective

In the world we live today there are several issues as important as climate change. This is an ongoing climate change that we are facing today and it causes all kinds of events: hurricanes, severe storms, draughts and bleaching of coral reefs. Its effects is seen in many nations across the globe, all economies are faced with this challenge. The climate is really changing and our activities are to blame. Humans are only species responsible for what is currently happening on Earth. In ESS IB, students are exploring and learning how human activities are leading to global warming and climate change. They learn about possible strategies that could be implemented in order to live in a climate change better world.

Climate change – what is it?

Climate today is much different from what we had 30 years ago. It is defined as the shift in climatic patterns across the world such as temperature and winds. Solar flashes and volcanic eruptions can naturally influence climate, but anthropogenic factors such as industrial activity and traffic are mainly responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions. Main greenhouse gasses are carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and methane (CH₄). They trap the heat in the atmosphere of the Earth and it can’t escape leading to rising atmospheric temperatures which is known as greenhouse effect.

Human activities such as combustion of fossil fuels (oil, coal and natural gas) lead to high amounts of gasses such as CO2 being released into the atmosphere and leading to global warming and climate change.

Humans and climate change

Humans are responsible for global warming and climate change. Students in ESS IB are learning about this and are able to recognize what actions are leading to this phenomena. Impacts of climate change are huge on both local and global level.

Some of the human actions that are leading to climate change:

1. Burning of fossil fuels- this leads to CO2 emissions which is a GHGs.
2. Cutting down the forests- trees are natural absorbants of CO2 in the process of photosynthesis and they act as carbon sinks.
3. Agriculture- beef production leads to large CH4 emissions and methane is a GHGs.
4. Industrial activities- cement production etc. are large emitters of GHGs.

In ESS IB students learn how to think about these activities and analyze them. They are able to connect them with the corresponding consequences such as biodiversity loss and melting of the glaciers.

Climate change effects

In ESS IB we learn about consequences of climate change that are both social and environmental. The consequences are more visible everyday across the world.

Negative environmental and social effects:

• Temperature change- there is a rise in temperature happening in the moment as we speak and it is global.
• Ice caps and glaciers melt- as the temperature increase the ice caps and glaciers are melting and it is accelerated.
• Weather changes – becomes more extreme as storms and hurricanes appear.
• Seas and oceans become acidic – due to the high CO2 emissions being absorbed into the ocean and leading to bleaching of the coral reefs and decline in biodiversity.
• Food availability – agricultural patterns might change which leads to the change in yields and therefore some food loss.
• Water availability- freshwater resources become limited due to the change in precipitation patterns.
• Spread of Diseases- some diseases will shift into higher latitudes such as malaria.
• Humans being displaced- migrations will become more frequent due to the shortages in food and water.

IB ESS students learn these effects of climate change and are able to evaluate its impacts.

Climate change solutions

We need climate change solutions fast and IB ESS students are able to evaluate them. There is a wide range of mitigation and adaptation strategies related to climate change.

Mitigation Strategies:

• Using more Renewable Energy choices (tidal, hydroelectric power and solar energy).
• Planting more trees and forests
• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
• Change of Transportation means (metro, buses, electric cars).

Adaptation Strategies:

• Build coastal protection
• Using water resistant crop species
• Save more of Freshwater resources
• Special planning in the cities

Students learn about the implementation of the strategies and what is better for high and low income countries. They also include the ethical aspect when evaluating the strategy. The IB ESS course is able to equip the students with enough knowledge and information about climate change so they become an active component of the society today ready to take action. Every action an individual takes leads us towards a better world, a world where climate change is no longer a problem, but it becomes a solution. It is possible by planting more trees, using sustainable transportation means such as public transport and buying more electric cars.