Climate Change - Consequences

Objective: explore the consequences of climate change

Outcomes:

Starter: to what extent is Bangladesh under threat from climate change?

Before this lesson, you should have watched Before the Flood as preparation.

1. Make a list of all the consequences of climate change you can think of and compare your list with a partner. Then go here and see if you are missing any. ONE of the the consequences at that link is wrong - can you spot it?

2. You need to develop your understanding of these consequences in more detail, under these headings:

• water stored in ice and oceans, and changing sea levels
• carbon stored in ice, oceans and the biosphere
• incidence and severity of extreme weather events, including drought
• spatial changes in biomes, habitats and animal migration patterns
• changes to agriculture, including crop yields, limits of cultivation, soil erosion

You will be allocated one of these to investigate in a pair or three. Your findings should be summarised on one slide here.

Note: - whichever group you are allocated, it is essential that you consider the impacts on people and places, including health hazards, migration and transport routes (where appropriate).

3. You need to be clear on the FEEDBACK loops that play a role in the climate and climate change. Use the diagram below to help you answer the following questions:

• describe the role of methane feedback loops in increasing global temperatures.
• there are four consequences outlined on the diagram. Explain links between them.

PLENARY: "Major positive feedback loops will hasten climate change regardless of any actions taken to cut emissions" Do you agree? If this is true, what does this mean for humanity?