What you'll need to know...
KEY CONCEPT - Possibilities for responding to climate change and power over the decision-making process
Disparities in exposure to climate change risk and vulnerability, including variations in people’s location, wealth, social differences (age, gender, education), risk perception
• Detailed examples of two or more societies with contrasting vulnerability
Government-led adaptation and mitigation strategies for global climate change:
• global geopolitical efforts, recognizing that the source/s of greenhouse gas emissions may be spatially distant from the countries most impacted
• carbon emissions offsetting and trading
• technology, including geo-engineering
Civil society and corporate strategies to address global climate change
• Case study of the response to climate change in one country focusing on the actions of non-governmental stakeholders
Synthesis, evaluation and skills opportunities
Why perspectives and viewpoints may be different about the need for, practicality and urgency of action on global climate change
Disparities in exposure to climate change risk and vulnerability, including variations in people’s location, wealth, social differences (age, gender, education), risk perception
• Detailed examples of two or more societies with contrasting vulnerability
Government-led adaptation and mitigation strategies for global climate change:
• global geopolitical efforts, recognizing that the source/s of greenhouse gas emissions may be spatially distant from the countries most impacted
• carbon emissions offsetting and trading
• technology, including geo-engineering
Civil society and corporate strategies to address global climate change
• Case study of the response to climate change in one country focusing on the actions of non-governmental stakeholders
Synthesis, evaluation and skills opportunities
Why perspectives and viewpoints may be different about the need for, practicality and urgency of action on global climate change
Disparities in exposure to climate change risk...
Exposure to climate change risks is not evenly distributed across the world. Some places and populations face much greater threats from hazards such as sea-level rise, extreme heat, drought and flooding. These disparities are influenced by a range of factors including geographic location, levels of development, population density and access to resources. For example, low-lying coastal regions and small island states are particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels, while poorer countries often have fewer resources to prepare for or respond to climate-related events. In this section, you will explore how and why exposure to climate change risks varies between places and populations.
You will focus on the impact on Angolan women on the continent of Africa, as well as the Inuit people of the Arctic. For the second videos in each location below, click on the 'watch on YouTube' link on the black screen.
You will focus on the impact on Angolan women on the continent of Africa, as well as the Inuit people of the Arctic. For the second videos in each location below, click on the 'watch on YouTube' link on the black screen.
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Women in Angola Resources
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Arctic Community Resources
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Task - To complete this task, you will need the IB DP Geography OUP textbook. You will complete the first section on vulnerability followed by detailed examples of two societies with contrasting vulnerability. Follow the instructions to complete the tasks. The videos above will act as a good starting point to your research.
Or......
Exam Corner
Suggest two ways in which differences in people’s location may lead to increased vulnerability to climate change. [2 + 2]
Suggest two ways in which differences in people’s wealth may lead to increased vulnerability to climate change. [2 + 2]
Suggest two reasons why females in low-income countries are more at risk from the impacts of climate change. [2+2]
Government-led adaptation and mitigation strategies for global climate change...
Governments play a crucial role in responding to global climate change because they have the power to create laws, regulate industries and coordinate action at national and international scales. Their responses generally fall into two categories: mitigation and adaptation.
Mitigation strategies aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to slow the rate of global warming, for example through renewable energy policies, carbon taxes or emissions regulations.
Adaptation strategies focus on reducing the impacts of climate change that are already occurring or expected in the future, such as sea-level rise, drought and extreme weather. In this section, you will examine how governments design and implement these strategies and why their effectiveness varies between places.
Mitigation strategies aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to slow the rate of global warming, for example through renewable energy policies, carbon taxes or emissions regulations.
Adaptation strategies focus on reducing the impacts of climate change that are already occurring or expected in the future, such as sea-level rise, drought and extreme weather. In this section, you will examine how governments design and implement these strategies and why their effectiveness varies between places.
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Task - This piece of work is going to be completed in two parts.
Part 1 - Using this November 2019 edition of BBC The Inquiry, complete this note taking framework on the process of going 'Carbon Zero'.
Part 1 - Using this November 2019 edition of BBC The Inquiry, complete this note taking framework on the process of going 'Carbon Zero'.
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Paris Agreement (2015) – Research Task
Use your IB Geography textbook and/or the resources provided (webpage and videos) to research the Paris Agreement on climate change, signed at COP21 in Paris in 2015. Objective: Create a short presentation (4 slides) that explains the agreement and evaluates its effectiveness. Slide 1 – The Event Include a publicity photograph from COP21 in Paris (2015) showing world leaders involved in the agreement. Add a short caption explaining: • Where and when the agreement was signed • Why this meeting was significant for global climate governance Slide 2 – Objectives Explain the main aims of the Paris Agreement, including: • Limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and aiming for 1.5°C • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions • Encouraging countries to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) • Supporting adaptation and climate finance for developing countries Slide 3 – Participation Explain who signed the agreement and who did not. Include: • Nearly 195 countries adopted the agreement in 2015 • Almost every UN country has endorsed it • Countries that have not formally joined include Iran, Libya and Yemen • Why global participation is important for tackling climate change Slide 4 – Successes and Failures Evaluate the effectiveness of the Paris Agreement. Successes: • Global cooperation on climate policy • Many countries committing to carbon neutrality • Growth of renewable energy and clean technology investment Failures / Challenges: • Global emissions are still rising • Targets are voluntary and vary between countries • Political changes can affect participation Key Case Study: The United States You must include: • US withdrawal under President Trump in 2020 • Re-joining under President Biden in 2021 • Withdrawal again at the start of Trump’s second presidency in 2025 Explain how this example shows that political leadership can strongly influence climate policy and international agreements. |
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Adaptation & Mitigation Strategies...
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Mitigation – reducing climate change – involves reducing the flow of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, either by reducing sources of these gases (for example, the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, heat or transport) or enhancing the “sinks” that accumulate and store these gases (such as the oceans, forests and soil).
Source: NASA |
Adaptation – adapting to life in a changing climate – involves adjusting to actual or expected future climate. The goal is to reduce our vulnerability to the harmful effects of climate change (like sea-level encroachment, more intense extreme weather events or food insecurity). It also encompasses making the most of any potential beneficial opportunities associated with climate change (for example, longer growing seasons or increased yields in some regions).
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Watch the first video above.
1. Outline how an adaptation approach to climate change works and how it may be attained. What are the limitations of adaptation?
2. Outline how the mitigation approach works and why it needs to be on a large scale.
Watch the second video above. This is all about adaptation strategies. If you want further information about some of the strategies show, please click on the photos beneath.
Copenhagen Waterways France Green Roofs Yokohama Stadium Mexico Forestry Scheme
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Optional Task- Using this link, watch the UN produced video on mitigation and adaptation strategies to climate change and take notes. This can be changed to six different languages.
Task 1 - In a group, you are now going to focus on each of the following mitigation schemes:
1. Carbon Trading - AFP Video
2. Carbon Offsetting - BP video
3. Alternatives to fossil fuels - VOA video
4. Geoengineering - Kurzgesagt video
5. Aforestation - Mr. Beast and Mark Rober & #teamtees (2 videos)
6. Carbon Capture & Sequestration - 2 x Seafields videos
Please use the intructions and structure sheet below to complete your factsheet. There are two things that you will need to do!
Task 1 - In a group, you are now going to focus on each of the following mitigation schemes:
1. Carbon Trading - AFP Video
2. Carbon Offsetting - BP video
3. Alternatives to fossil fuels - VOA video
4. Geoengineering - Kurzgesagt video
5. Aforestation - Mr. Beast and Mark Rober & #teamtees (2 videos)
6. Carbon Capture & Sequestration - 2 x Seafields videos
Please use the intructions and structure sheet below to complete your factsheet. There are two things that you will need to do!
Ways climate change and inequality are connected...
You are going to work in pairs to complete the tasks below. Click here to access a Google Shared Document containing the tasks. Make a copy of the Doc and share with one another / work collaboratively to complete the four tasks.
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Task 1 - Read this article and complete these basic response tasks.
i. Outline the impact of climate change on both the GDP of India and Brazil as outlined by the stated report. ii. Why are south east Asian countries often so badly impacted? iii. What is climate change doing to the frequency and intensity of storms and how does this impact some vulnerable countries? iv. What is the link between climate change and growth in poor urban areas? v. How can climate change impact on disposable income levels and poverty in countries like the USA and Spain? vi. Outline why women are often hit the hardest by climate change. Watch the embedded video on the DW article as well as the video to the right. Task 2 - Listen to short podcast from the BBC (click on the image to the right) that explains the role that changing gender roles can have on the fight against climate change. Make notes on the ways that improving gender equality can improve our chances of tacking climate change. Task 3 - Now read this article and make notes / mind map on the first four points, including clear titles and being careful to highlight key data. Now, study the map to the right. Click to enlarge. (a) Climate change equity for 2010. (b) Climate change equity for 2030.
Countries with emissions in the highest quintile and vulnerability in the lowest quintile are shown in dark red (the climate free riders) Those countries with emissions in the lowest quintile and vulnerability in the highest quintile are shown in dark green (the climate forced riders). Intermediate levels of equity are shown in graduating colours, with countries in yellow producing GHG emissions concomitant with their vulnerability to the resulting climate change. Data deficient countries are shown as grey. Maps generated using ESRI ArcGIS 36. Task 4 - Describe the global distribution of 'climate free & forced riders' in 2010 and how the levels of equity change by 2030 globally. |
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep20281
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The response to climate change in one country...
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In this short end of unit piece of work, you will be examining some of the ways in which France is responding to climate change through a series of projects initiated by ordinary French people.
Bound by and fully signed up to the Paris 2015 Agreement, Macron's first idea was to place a 23% tax rise on fuel that he hoped would incentivise people to either turn to hybrid cars or to use more public transport. The rural population revolted over the tax citing the lack of public transport alternatives and the high cost of switching to electric cars (despite a government 'prime').
Then this happened...
Covid-19 put a stop to the Yellow Vest movement about 18 months after it first started and Macron went back to the drawing board.
Part 1 - Plastic, Waste & Energy
Some immediate and hard hitting proposals were brought in to combat single use plastics.
Task 1 - Read this article and summarise what the first items to be phased out were.
Read a little further down...
Task 2 - Explain the reasoning behind the demand that all public establishments provide water fountains and that why some distributors will have to accept packaging back from their consumers. Additionally, note what France's target is by 2025.
Read a little further down..
Task 3 - Outline what France is doing regarding its energy policy and what will happen to the remaining coal fired power stations.
Keep reading, almost there...
Task 4 - Outline the changes and modifications that are aimed to make homes more energy efficient by the new government scheme.
Part 2 - Ask The People!
Following the plans outlined above, an inclusive and people focused approach was taken where 150 people were chosen from the thousands who applied to take part in 'The Citizens' Convention on Climate'.
This is how it worked:
Part 1 - Plastic, Waste & Energy
Some immediate and hard hitting proposals were brought in to combat single use plastics.
Task 1 - Read this article and summarise what the first items to be phased out were.
Read a little further down...
Task 2 - Explain the reasoning behind the demand that all public establishments provide water fountains and that why some distributors will have to accept packaging back from their consumers. Additionally, note what France's target is by 2025.
Read a little further down..
Task 3 - Outline what France is doing regarding its energy policy and what will happen to the remaining coal fired power stations.
Keep reading, almost there...
Task 4 - Outline the changes and modifications that are aimed to make homes more energy efficient by the new government scheme.
Part 2 - Ask The People!
Following the plans outlined above, an inclusive and people focused approach was taken where 150 people were chosen from the thousands who applied to take part in 'The Citizens' Convention on Climate'.
This is how it worked:
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Task 5 - Using the model above and this graphic, summarise in approximately 100 words what the convention aimed to do within the timescale given.
Task 6 - Using this article and this one too, take concise notes on at least three laws that were enacted as a result of the work of the 150 people above. Make sure that you explain how each one links to reducing the impacts of climate change.
Part 3 - Changing the French Constitution
Task 7 - As as result of The Citizens Convention on Climate, one of the outcomes that was put to Macron was to change the French constitution to include reference to climate change and the preservation of the environment. Read this article and make a short summary of the story and its likely future impact on government decision making.
