What is Climate Change?

Raise awareness on climate change and its related impacts.

Tackling Climate Change

In today's world, understanding the urgency of climate change and taking conscious steps to address it is more crucial than ever before. The first step to make a positive impact is to be informed and aware of the thematics of climate change. By understanding the threats posed by climate change, we can work together to secure a sustainable future for our planet. 
Hence, one of our core missions is to empower individuals and organizations with essential knowledge about crucial climate-related topics. Our ultimate goal with those projects is to create genuine awareness within your organization, enabling you to take effective action in response to climate change.
img Tackling Climate Change

1.5°c

warmer since pre-
industrial era

30%

CO₂ increase in
50 years

200M

people will roughly be displaced by 2050

1.2T 

tons of ice lost
each year

What is climate change?

Climate change refers to shifts in temperatures and weather patterns in a region over a long period of time (usually 30 years).
Such shifts can be natural or caused by human activity. While global warming is just one aspect of climate change. In fact, the definition of global warming refers to the rise in global temperatures due mainly to the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. 
img-what is climate change

What is the difference between climate change and global warming?

Climate change refers to shifts in temperatures and weather patterns in a region over a long period of time (usually 30 years). Such shifts can be natural or caused by human activity.
While global warming is just one aspect of climate change. In fact, the definition of global warming refers to the rise in global temperatures mainly due to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
Greenhouse effect

Understanding the Impacts of Climate Change

Many people believe that climate change primarily leads to higher temperatures, but the temperature rise is just the beginning of the story. Earth can be seen as a complex system, where everything is interconnected, and the repercussions of one event can swiftly affect other phenomena.
 
All consequences of climate change are extremely interconnected and cause feedback loops that amplify the problem. For example, thawing permafrost releases more methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere, further contributing to global warming.  These feedback loops create a self-reinforcing cycle, making the issue more challenging to control.
 
*Data source : Global Carbon Budget (2022) Our World in Data
emissions by region

What are the consequences of climate change?

Extreme Weather Events White

Extreme Weather Events

Global warming intensifies weather patterns, leading to more frequent and severe extreme events like hurricanes, droughts, and heatwaves. 

noun-ocean-acidification

Ocean Acidification

Increased carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans leads to ocean acidification. This has detrimental effects on marine life, especially on coral reefs and shellfish.

Rising Sea LevelsWhite

Rising Sea Levels

As global temperatures rise, polar ice melts, leading to the expansion of seawater and the subsequent rise in sea levels. This results in coastal erosion, loss of habitats for wildlife, and threatens low-lying communities with increased flooding risks.

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Drought and Wildfire

With global warming, there is a noticeable rise in both drought occurrences and the severity of wildfires. The changing climate  lead to overall drier conditions, making it easier for wildfires to spread and become more destructive and frequent

Extreme Weather Events White

Extreme Weather Events

Global warming intensifies weather patterns, leading to more frequent and severe extreme events like hurricanes, droughts, and heatwaves. 

noun-ocean-acidification

Ocean Acidification

Increased carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans leads to ocean acidification. This has detrimental effects on marine life, especially on coral reefs and shellfish.

White-Nov-23-2023-02-59-13-8522-PM

Drought and Wildfire

With global warming, there is a noticeable rise in both drought occurrences and the severity of wildfires. The changing climate  lead to overall drier conditions, making it easier for wildfires to spread and become more destructive and frequent

Rising Sea LevelsWhite

Rising Sea Levels

As global temperatures rise, polar ice melts, leading to the expansion of seawater and the subsequent rise in sea levels. This results in coastal erosion, loss of habitats for wildlife, and threatens low-lying communities with increased flooding risks.

abeille

The impact on Biodiversity

Additionally, as habitats disappear, many animal species face challenges in adapting to changing conditions, leading to population declines and, in some cases, extinction. In turn, the loss of key species can disrupt the delicate balance of ecosystems, causing cascading effects throughout the food web. This disruption can lead to the overpopulation of some species and the underpopulation of others, destabilizing ecosystems and leading to a loss of biodiversity. 

human

The impact on Human life 

The consequences of climate change have a significant and interconnected impact on human life. For instance, droughts and floods decrease the availability of food and drinkable water, while the rising temperatures make living conditions extremely difficult, especially for vulnerable individuals. These two factors can lead to mass migration, resulting in tensions and potential conflicts. These are only some examples of the impact of global warming on human life.

What cause global warming?

The Earth has a long history of experiencing natural cycles of warming and cooling, which occurred well before humans even existed (illustrated in graph 1). However, over the last two centuries, there has been a significant change in global air temperatures near Earth's surface, with an average increase of about 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Natural causes
Human causes

Screenshot 2023-07-28 at 17.12 1-1

The Earth's climate has naturally fluctuated over long periods, influenced by various factors like changes in solar activity, volcanic eruptions, shifts in Earth's orbit, and natural variations in carbon dioxide (CO2) levels. Scientists have reconstructed this climate history using indirect measures such as ice cores, tree rings, glacier lengths, ocean sediments, and others.

Screenshot 2023-07-28 at 17.04.37-1

The warming process of the Earth, caused by human activities, began around the 1800s and was primarily driven by the burning of fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas, which became prevalent after the first industrial revolution. This combustion releases numerous gases into Earth's atmosphere, where they can remain  for different amounts of time, from months to millennia.

What is the greenhouse gas effect?

Human-generated gases accumulate in the Earth's atmosphere, enhancing the natural greenhouse effect that sustains our planet's current temperature and the life it supports. When the sun's energy reaches Earth, some is absorbed by the surface, while the rest reflects back into space. Earth's atmosphere crucially retains a portion of this reflected energy, with these gases trapping some of the outgoing heat, maintaining a temperature conducive to life. Yet, human activities have amplified these gas concentrations, resulting in an intensified greenhouse effect and global warming.

UnderstandENV2

Sunlight passes through the atmosphere, bringing essential light and warmth to life on Earth.

The Earth absorbs part of the radiation and reflects another part back into the atmosphere. This process is a key element of the Earth's climate system, helping to regulate the planet's surface temperature.

Greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap some of this solar radiation, warming the planet.

They trap some of the infrared radiation (heat) re-emitted by the Earth's surface, preventing it from escaping completely into space. This process, known as the greenhouse effect, is natural and necessary to maintain the Earth's temperature at a habitable level. Without it, our planet would be much colder. However, increased concentrations of these gases can lead to further global warming, with potentially serious consequences for terrestrial ecosystems and living conditions.

💡 The Paris Agreement

Adopted in December 2015 and signed by nearly all countries worldwide, The Paris Agreement is a significant international treaty to combat climate change. It aims to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, with an ideal goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius, by encouraging countries to set and update emission reduction targets. It highlights transparency, accountability, and global cooperation in addressing climate change impacts, serving as a crucial framework for sustainable, low-carbon solutions for a resilient and sustainable future.

Variations in CO₂ emissions by region and sector

The two graphs below illustrate variations in CO2 emissions by region and sector. On the first graph, we can observe that both China and Europe have reduced their emissions. In the second graph depicting emissions by sector, the industrial and building sectors have seen a decrease in their emissions, whereas other sectors have experienced an increase.

*Data source :  International Energy Agency (IEA)

Emissions By Region
Emissions By Sector
Emissions by RegionV2C
Emissions by SectorV2C

What companies can do to tackle climate change?

Within their value chain: Companies can address climate change within their value chain by conducting comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) assessments to identify and quantify their emissions. By understanding where their emissions are highest, companies can implement targeted strategies to reduce their carbon footprint. This could include adopting energy-efficient technologies, shifting to renewable energy sources, optimizing supply chains, and enhancing product design to minimize waste and energy consumption.
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Beyond their value chain: Companies can contribute to broader climate change mitigation efforts through climate contribution (carbon offsetting). This involves investing in high quality projects that reduce, avoid, or sequester carbon emissions beyond their own value chain, such as reforestation, renewable energy installations, and methane capture initiatives. By purchasing carbon credits, companies can offset their own incompressible emissions, supporting global climate action. Additionally, companies can influence climate policy, foster sustainable consumer behaviors, and collaborate with partners, NGOs, and governments to amplify their impact on combating climate change.

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