Fuels and Earth Science: Climate Change

Climate change is primarily caused by increased levels of greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. The main greenhouse gases are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen oxides.
The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that helps to maintain the Earth’s temperature. It is caused by the greenhouse gases trapping some of the sun’s energy that would otherwise be reflected back into space.
Human activities have led to a significant increase in the levels of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide. This is due to burning fossil fuels for energy and deforestation, which reduces the amount of carbon dioxide that can be absorbed by trees.
Carbon footprint refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted due to human activities. It is usually measured in units of carbon dioxide.
Global warming is a major aspect of climate change and refers to the long-term increase in the Earth’s average temperature.
Consequences of climate change include extreme weather conditions, rising sea levels, changes to wildlife habitats and food production issues.
Various strategies can be used to mitigate the effects of climate change. These include reducing carbon emissions, switching to renewable energy sources, implementing carbon capture and storage, and promoting energy efficiency.
Renewable energy sources are an important part of strategies to manage climate change. These sources include solar power, wind power, hydroelectric power, and biofuels.
Biofuels are fuels that are derived from biomass (organic materials) . There are two main types of biofuels: bioethanol, made from plants like sugarcane and corn, and biodiesel, made from vegetable oils, fats and greases.
Increasing sustainability can help to reduce the impacts of climate change. This can be achieved in various ways, such as through reducing energy consumption, recycling and waste reduction, and using sustainable transport options.