Notes

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts can be natural, due to changes in the sun’s activity or large volcanic eruptions. However, since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures. The main greenhouse gases that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example. Clearing land and cutting down forests can also release carbon dioxide. Agriculture, oil and gas operations are major sources of methane emissions. Energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture and land use are among the main sectors causing greenhouse gases 1.

The consequences of climate change include intense droughts, water scarcity, severe fires, rising sea levels, flooding, melting polar ice, catastrophic storms and declining biodiversity 1. Climate change is also affecting the wine industry in Europe. According to new research, grape yields are dwindling due to a deadly combination of extreme weather and soil degradation caused by climate change. This could lead to the disappearance of Prosecco and other popular European wines 2.

It is important to note that climate change is not just an environmental issue but also a social justice issue. People around the world are already experiencing the consequences of climate change in diverse ways such as health impacts, food insecurity, displacement and loss of livelihoods 1. Limiting global temperature rise to no more than 1.5°C would help us avoid the worst climate impacts and maintain a livable climate 1.