Environment & resources · Both
Climate Change – Causes & Responses
Climate change is a core environmental theme. Separate natural greenhouse effect from human enhancement, and mitigation from adaptation.
Causes
• Greenhouse gases (CO₂, methane…) trap heat
• Human sources: fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture, industry
• Evidence: temperature records, ice melt, sea-level rise, extreme weather trends
Responses
**Mitigation** – reduce emissions (renewables, efficiency, afforestation, agreements)
**Adaptation** – live with effects (flood defences, drought-resistant crops, planning)
Local, national and global scales all matter.
Practice questions
1. Mitigation vs adaptation?
2. Name two human sources of greenhouse gases.