Define climate change - Answers Climate change refers to long term changes in temperature weather
patterns and environmental conditions including extreme events and sea level rise.
Define global warming - Answers Global warming refers specifically to the increase in average global
temperature.
Explain difference between climate change and global warming - Answers Climate change is broader
and includes temperature precipitation extreme weather and sea level rise while global warming
refers only to temperature increase.
Define weather vs climate - Answers Weather refers to short term atmospheric conditions while
climate refers to long term patterns over time.
List three key facts about climate change - Answers The greenhouse effect is understood greenhouse
gases are increasing and the climate is changing with more extreme events.
List major greenhouse gases - Answers Major greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide methane and
other heat trapping gases.
Why is climate change difficult to address - Answers It is influenced by politics values beliefs and
public perception rather than just scientific knowledge.
Explain role of ideology in climate beliefs - Answers People's political beliefs often influence their
perception of climate change more than scientific knowledge.
Explain direct health effects of climate change - Answers Direct effects include heat waves and
extreme weather events that can cause injury illness and death.
Explain indirect health effects of climate change - Answers Indirect effects include impacts on food
supply air quality and disease patterns.
List three main health pathways of climate change - Answers The three pathways are heat food
security and air pollution from wildfires.
Explain how heat affects health - Answers Higher temperatures increase mortality especially among
vulnerable populations.
List groups vulnerable to heat - Answers Elderly children people with chronic diseases outdoor
workers and those without air conditioning.
Define urban heat island effect - Answers Urban areas become hotter due to buildings and lack of
vegetation increasing heat exposure.
Why are cities hotter than rural areas - Answers Cities have more concrete less vegetation and retain
heat leading to higher temperatures.
Describe 2021 BC heat dome - Answers The 2021 heat dome caused about 1630 deaths in 8 days with
a large increase above normal mortality.
What does heat dome example show - Answers It shows how extreme heat can rapidly increase
mortality and overwhelm health systems.
Explain why heat risk is unequal - Answers Low income populations often lack cooling resources and
live in hotter environments increasing risk.
List solutions to reduce heat exposure - Answers Solutions include increasing green space improving
housing and targeting vulnerable communities.
Explain how climate change affects food security - Answers Changes in climate affect crop production
leading to food shortages and instability.
Explain food climate feedback loop - Answers Food production contributes to climate change which
then worsens food security creating a cycle.
List three requirements for wildfires - Answers Fuel ignition and hot dry windy weather are required
for wildfires.
Explain how climate change affects wildfires - Answers Climate change increases frequency intensity
and size of wildfires.
Explain health effects of wildfire smoke - Answers Wildfire smoke increases mortality respiratory
illness and may affect brain function and dementia risk.
Explain changing nature of wildfire exposure - Answers Wildfire exposure is shifting from short term
events to more frequent and long term exposure.
Explain air pollution trend with wildfires - Answers Wildfire smoke is reversing improvements in air
quality and increasing PM2.5 exposure.
List strategies to reduce air pollution exposure - Answers Strategies include reducing emissions
improving urban planning and using masks or air filters.