Climate Change

Climate Change (Advanced level)

The Earth is heating up and scientists believe that it’s our fault. When we burn fossil fuels, greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide increase and surround the earth like a thick blanket. This traps heat and temperatures rise. Scientists say that in the next 100 years, average temperatures will rise by 3 C. Ice is already melting, sea levels are rising and the climate is changing.

According to recent climate reports, melting ice from the polar ice caps and mountain glaciers could cause sea level to rise by about 1 metre by 2100. If this happens, whole countries such as Maldives will vanish and millions in low-lying areas will lose their homes. Coastal cities including Shanghai, Bangkok, New York and London will also be under threat. If the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica ever melt completely, sea levels will rise about 60 m.

Global warming is a serious threat to wildlife. In particular, Arctic polar bears are in great danger. The ice that they hunt from is melting very fast, so they have to swim further and further to find food. Many starve or drown. By 2100, summer ice may disappear completely in the Arctic, and polar bears probably won’t survive. Changing weather patterns and rising sea levels threaten thousands of other species too. Some people believe that 30-40 % of the world’s species could become extinct because of climate change.

Heatwaves, droughts, hurricanes and tornadoes happen a lot more frequently these days and climatologists believe this is because of global warming. When sea temperatures rise, there are changes in the atmosphere. But climate change doesn’t just mean hotter temperatures. It means more and more extreme and unpredictable weather. To help, we should reduce our carbon footprint. We can cycle, walk, or take a bus instead of travelling by car, use energy-saving bulbs, and put on more clothes instead of turning up the heat. Experts say we must do something now. If sea levels start rising even faster, it will be impossible to stop!

Climate Change (Basic level)

The Earth is heating up and scientists believe that it’s our fault. When we burn fossil fuels, greenhouse gases increase and surround the earth like a thick blanket. This traps heat and temperatures rise. Ice is already melting, sea levels are rising and the climate is changing.

According to recent climate reports, melting ice from the polar ice caps could cause sea level to rise by about 1 metre by 2100. If this happens, whole countries will vanish and millions in low-lying areas will lose their homes.

Global warming is a serious threat to wildlife. In particular, Arctic polar bears are in great danger. The ice that they hunt from is melting very fast, so they have to swim further and further to find food. Many starve or drown. Changing weather patterns and rising sea levels threaten thousands of other species too. 30-40 % of the world’s species could become extinct because of climate change.

Heatwaves, droughts, hurricanes and tornadoes happen a lot more frequently these days and this is because of global warming. When sea temperatures rise, there are changes in the atmosphere. Climate change means more and more extreme and unpredictable weather.

To help, we can cycle, walk, or take a bus instead of travelling by car, use energy-saving bulbs, and put on more clothes instead of turning up the heat. Experts say we must do something now. If sea levels start rising faster, it will be impossible to stop!