Climate change
UNIT I: Introduction to Climate change Introduction to Climate Change b) Climate Change:
Impacts, Vulnerability, Adaptation and Mitigation
Prepared By: Mr. Kshitij S. Bairagi, Asst. Professor, SP College (Autonomous), Pune.
Weather and climate
Weather is the set of meteorological conditions – wind, rain, snow, sunshine, temperature, etc. – at a
particular time and place. By contrast, the term “climate” describes the overall long-term
characteristics of the weather experienced at a place. For example, Singapore, in the tropics, has a hot
wet climate, while continental Mongolia always has cold winters. The ecosystems, agriculture,
livelihoods and settlements of a region are very dependent on its climate.
The climate therefore can be thought of as a long-term summary of weather conditions, taking
account of the average conditions as well as the variability of these conditions.
Weather refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific place at a particular time.
It includes daily changes in temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, and cloud cover. For
example, if it is raining in your city today, that is the weather. Weather can change quickly
within hours or days, and it is influenced by factors such as air pressure, moisture, and
temperature variations. Meteorologists use tools like thermometers, barometers, and satellite
images to predict the weather for the next few hours or days.
Climate, on the other hand, is the long-term average of weather conditions in a region over
many years, typically 30 years or more. It describes the general patterns of temperature,
precipitation, and seasonal changes in a particular area. For example, deserts have a hot and
dry climate, while tropical rainforests have a warm and humid climate. Unlike weather, climate
does not change frequently, but it can gradually shift due to natural factors like volcanic
eruptions or human activities such as deforestation and pollution, leading to climate change.
Scientists analyze climate using historical data, satellite observations, and computer models to
understand long-term trends.
, CLIMATE CHANGE
The official definition by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) that climate change is the change that can be attributed “directly or indirectly to
human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to
natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods”. However, scientists often
use the term for any change in the climate, whether arising naturally or from human causes.
In particular, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines “climate
change” as “a change in the state of the climate that can be identified ... by changes in the
mean and / or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically
decades or longer”.
The two main causes of climate change are human and natural causes of climate change. Natural
causes refer to the physical factors that contribute to the change of the atmosphere on the Earth.
On the other hand, human causes mean artificial factors and people’s activities that change to
climate on the Earth.
=
Anthropogenic climate change refers to the alteration of the Earth's climate system due to
human activities, particularly those that release greenhouse gases, such as:
1. Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
2. Deforestation and land-use changes
3. Agriculture and livestock production
4. Industrial processes and transportation
These human activities lead to an increase in atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide
(CO2), methane (CH4), and other greenhouse gases, resulting in:
1. Global warming
2. Rising sea levels
3. Changes in precipitation patterns
4. Increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events
Anthropogenic climate change is a pressing global issue, requiring urgent attention and
collective action to mitigate its impacts and adapt to its consequences
, INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE (IPCC)
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the most authoritative scientific
body responsible for assessing climate change. It was established in 1988 by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO) to provide policymakers with scientific insights into climate change, its causes,
consequences, and mitigation strategies. Unlike research organizations, the IPCC does not
conduct original research or data collection. Instead, it reviews thousands of scientific
studies and compiles them into comprehensive reports that guide global climate policies and
actions.
IPCC Structure and Membership
The IPCC is an intergovernmental organization with 195 member countries that participate
in its decision-making and approval processes. The highest governing body is the IPCC
Plenary Session, where government representatives review and approve reports line by line
to ensure scientific accuracy and policy relevance. The IPCC Bureau manages the
organization’s functions and consists of the IPCC Chair, Vice-Chairs, and Co-Chairs of the
Working Groups.
The IPCC has three Working Groups (WGs) that handle different aspects of climate change
science:
1) Working Group I (WGI): Focuses on the physical science basis of climate change,
including greenhouse gas emissions, global temperature rise, extreme weather, and
atmospheric changes.
2) Working Group II (WGII): Assesses impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability, analyzing
how climate change affects ecosystems, economies, and human societies.
3) Working Group III (WGIII): Examines mitigation strategies, exploring ways to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy, carbon capture, and policy
measures.
The Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI) develops methodologies for
countries to measure and report their greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring accurate tracking of
climate commitments.
UNIT I: Introduction to Climate change Introduction to Climate Change b) Climate Change:
Impacts, Vulnerability, Adaptation and Mitigation
Prepared By: Mr. Kshitij S. Bairagi, Asst. Professor, SP College (Autonomous), Pune.
Weather and climate
Weather is the set of meteorological conditions – wind, rain, snow, sunshine, temperature, etc. – at a
particular time and place. By contrast, the term “climate” describes the overall long-term
characteristics of the weather experienced at a place. For example, Singapore, in the tropics, has a hot
wet climate, while continental Mongolia always has cold winters. The ecosystems, agriculture,
livelihoods and settlements of a region are very dependent on its climate.
The climate therefore can be thought of as a long-term summary of weather conditions, taking
account of the average conditions as well as the variability of these conditions.
Weather refers to the short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific place at a particular time.
It includes daily changes in temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speed, and cloud cover. For
example, if it is raining in your city today, that is the weather. Weather can change quickly
within hours or days, and it is influenced by factors such as air pressure, moisture, and
temperature variations. Meteorologists use tools like thermometers, barometers, and satellite
images to predict the weather for the next few hours or days.
Climate, on the other hand, is the long-term average of weather conditions in a region over
many years, typically 30 years or more. It describes the general patterns of temperature,
precipitation, and seasonal changes in a particular area. For example, deserts have a hot and
dry climate, while tropical rainforests have a warm and humid climate. Unlike weather, climate
does not change frequently, but it can gradually shift due to natural factors like volcanic
eruptions or human activities such as deforestation and pollution, leading to climate change.
Scientists analyze climate using historical data, satellite observations, and computer models to
understand long-term trends.
, CLIMATE CHANGE
The official definition by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) that climate change is the change that can be attributed “directly or indirectly to
human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to
natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods”. However, scientists often
use the term for any change in the climate, whether arising naturally or from human causes.
In particular, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines “climate
change” as “a change in the state of the climate that can be identified ... by changes in the
mean and / or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically
decades or longer”.
The two main causes of climate change are human and natural causes of climate change. Natural
causes refer to the physical factors that contribute to the change of the atmosphere on the Earth.
On the other hand, human causes mean artificial factors and people’s activities that change to
climate on the Earth.
=
Anthropogenic climate change refers to the alteration of the Earth's climate system due to
human activities, particularly those that release greenhouse gases, such as:
1. Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
2. Deforestation and land-use changes
3. Agriculture and livestock production
4. Industrial processes and transportation
These human activities lead to an increase in atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide
(CO2), methane (CH4), and other greenhouse gases, resulting in:
1. Global warming
2. Rising sea levels
3. Changes in precipitation patterns
4. Increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events
Anthropogenic climate change is a pressing global issue, requiring urgent attention and
collective action to mitigate its impacts and adapt to its consequences
, INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE (IPCC)
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the most authoritative scientific
body responsible for assessing climate change. It was established in 1988 by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO) to provide policymakers with scientific insights into climate change, its causes,
consequences, and mitigation strategies. Unlike research organizations, the IPCC does not
conduct original research or data collection. Instead, it reviews thousands of scientific
studies and compiles them into comprehensive reports that guide global climate policies and
actions.
IPCC Structure and Membership
The IPCC is an intergovernmental organization with 195 member countries that participate
in its decision-making and approval processes. The highest governing body is the IPCC
Plenary Session, where government representatives review and approve reports line by line
to ensure scientific accuracy and policy relevance. The IPCC Bureau manages the
organization’s functions and consists of the IPCC Chair, Vice-Chairs, and Co-Chairs of the
Working Groups.
The IPCC has three Working Groups (WGs) that handle different aspects of climate change
science:
1) Working Group I (WGI): Focuses on the physical science basis of climate change,
including greenhouse gas emissions, global temperature rise, extreme weather, and
atmospheric changes.
2) Working Group II (WGII): Assesses impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability, analyzing
how climate change affects ecosystems, economies, and human societies.
3) Working Group III (WGIII): Examines mitigation strategies, exploring ways to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy, carbon capture, and policy
measures.
The Task Force on National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (TFI) develops methodologies for
countries to measure and report their greenhouse gas emissions, ensuring accurate tracking of
climate commitments.
