CLIMATE CHANGE
Definitions:
Climate change : refers to the change in the average weather conditions or change in the statistical
distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time.
Climate change adaptation : refers to the process through which societies increase their abilities to cope
with the adverse effects of climate change.
Or
: refers to taking appropriate action and making adjustments to reduce the
negative impact of climate change.
Climate change mitigation : refers to strategies to reduce the root cause of climate change or the
sources that drive climate change
Climate proofing: refers to the tightening of infrastructure so that it is not shaken by climate change
Evidence of climate change
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rising sea level
acidification of sea water through the intake of carbon dioxide
reduction in the area covered by ice e.g shrinking of glaciers
shrinking of water bodies such as lakes
presence of landforms such as laterites and wadis in desert environments today
climatic records kept by meteorologists
archaeological evidence of pottery remains in deserts
presence of fossils in deserts indicate that they were once wet
Causes of climate change
natural causes
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volcanic eruptions
elnino or lanina events
Milanko Vitch cycles
11 year sunspot / droughts recurring after every 11yrs
natural fires
anthropogenic/ human induced / artificial causes
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deforestation
agriculture
land use changes
industrial activities
mining
forest fires
 landfills
 increased motor vehicle use
Effects of climate change
 sea level rises
 disappearing / melting of glaciers
 warming of oceans
 ocean acidification
 melting of ice caps
 droughts
 heat waves
 floods
 severe cyclones
 shifting of seasons
 temperature increases
 forest fires
Climate change adaptation strategies
 growing of small grain crops e.g rapoko, sorghum to increase food security in vulnerable
communities
 water harvesting techniques so as to increase amount of water availability in times of scarcity
 zero tillage
 contour ploughing
 mulching
 cloud seeding
 intercropping
 conservation farming
 agro forestry
 clean forms of energy
 command agriculture
 awareness and training
Climate change mitigation strategies
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education and training
afforestation
reforestation
clean forms of energy
alternative sources of energy
organic fertilizers
biogas production using animal waste
catalytic converters to reduce emission of Carbon dioxide to the atmosphere
polluter pay principle solar powered vehicles electricity powered trains control forest fires
Climate proofing
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environmental insurance
tightening policies in agriculture, industry,mining and transport
change road designs and constructing stronger and higher bridges
building strong designs for houses
creating floating houses that rise during floods
integrated risk reduction through international cooperation
roof top gardens to increase carbon dioxide sinks