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Climate change and the greenhouse effect

Evidence suggests that climate change has been happening for over 3 million years and that the Earth has undergone dramatic changes to its climate - varying from the ice ages to periods of considerable warming.

Since the 1850s and the the global average temperature has been rising. Many believe that this is down to human activity and the ever increasing use of technology and the burning of fossil fuels to produce energy.

Climate change is driven by a process known as the greenhouse effect. This is where heat is trapped within our atmosphere by naturally occurring gases known as . Without the greenhouse effect this heat would not be trapped and the Earth鈥檚 temperature would drop to -50掳C.

The Earth absorbs and reflects solar radiation. Greenhouse gases trap heat and warm the Earth. Some radiation is reflected away from the Earth. Pollution adds to greenhouse gases.

However, human activity has now led to what is known as the enhanced greenhouse effect. By burning more fossil fuels and by clearing more land for uses such as agriculture, we are continuing to add more and more of these greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

As a result more heat is being trapped and the Earth is warming. According to the (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), since 1970 the global average temperature has been rising at a rate of 1.7掳C per century. This change alone can have drastic impacts on vulnerable communities around the world.

Natural causes of climate change

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 3, Diagram showing three ways the Earth's orbit changes., Orbital changes - the Earth's natural warming and cooling periods caused by Milankovitch cycles or variations in the tilt and/or orbit of the Earth around the Sun (Wobble, roll and stretch theory).

Human causes of climate change

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 4, This is a coal power station in the UK. Coal is a fossil fuel which is often used for providing heat., Burning fossil fuels, eg coal, gas and oil - these release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Impacts of climate change

We are already beginning to see the huge impact climate change is having globally, with an increase in droughts, storms, rising sea levels and warming oceans. These events threaten communities and habitats endangering those that live there.

Maldives

One example where climate change is having an impact is the Maldives. This country is made up of chains of islands or (250 of which are inhabited) located in the Indian Ocean.

The islands and atolls are all small, flat and densely populated with the highest point being 2.4m above sea level. With the increase in ocean temperatures the Maldives are increasingly threatened by violent storms.

Climate change also threatens the existence of the Maldives with sea levels projected to rise between 10 to 100 centimetres by the year 2100. Mal茅, the capital, is especially threatened because it is located on a small, flat, extremely densely populated atoll that is surrounded by sea walls, and other barriers to protect against storms. This means that Mal茅 cannot change shape in response to the rising sea levels and is therefore reliant on expensive engineering solutions.

Aerial view of the island of Male which is the capital of the Maldives.

The impact of a changing climate is also being felt in Wales. Due to rising temperatures, habitats are impacted by more frequent heatwaves and higher rainfall due to storms. In turn, these are affecting the local plants and wildlife.

Rising sea levels, combined with more intense and frequent storms are increasing the risk of flooding and damage in coastal towns such as Aberystwyth.

Farmers also face challenges too. Wales is set to face more rain, warmer temperatures and fiercer storms in future and this will make it more difficult to manage crops effectively and make a living.

Watch: A changing climate

Watch this short clip to understand more about natural and man-made causes of climate change.

Dealing with climate change

Dealing with climate change has become a fundamental issue that has been highlighted by scientists and activists across the world. One of the key ways we can manage climate change is by reducing the amount of fossil fuels that we rely on. Recent developments have allowed us to use renewable energy sources in order to cut down the amount of fossil fuels being burnt.

There are different types of renewable energy.

  • Water energy - water is used to drive turbines in several ways including waves, tides and falling water in hydroelectric power schemes.
  • Solar energy - energy from the Sun is used to generate electricity and to produce hot water.
  • Wind energy - wind turns turbines to generate electricity.
  • Geothermal energy - the Earth's natural heat is used to heat homes or generate electricity.

In March 2021 Senedd Cymru approved a target of emissions by 2050. This means balancing the greenhouse gas emissions with the amount of gases removed from the atmosphere.

Several goals have been set to achieve this. 43,000 hectares of woodland must be planted by 2030, increasing to 180,000 hectares by 2050. This will play a vital part in removing CO鈧 from the atmosphere.

The UK government has decided to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. They will invest 拢500 million in charging points for electric cars and fund research into battery technology.

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