Climate Change

Climate Change

Key Notes

Climate change refers to long-term changes in temperatures, precipitation patterns, wind patterns and other characteristics of the Earth's climate. It may result from natural variability and human activities, especially greenhouse gas emissions.

• Major contemporary driver: Human-induced emissions from fossil fuel combustion, land-use change, agriculture and industrial processes.

• Climate system components: Atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.

• Evidence: Rising global average temperatures, sea-level rise, glacier retreat, ocean warming and changes in extreme-event patterns.

• Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions or enhancing their removal, for example through renewable energy, energy efficiency and ecosystem restoration.

• Adaptation: Adjusting systems to actual or expected climate impacts, such as climate-resilient agriculture and flood management.

• Climate resilience: The ability of communities and ecosystems to prepare for, withstand and recover from climate-related impacts.

• Climate justice: Addresses the unequal distribution of climate impacts, responsibilities and capacities to respond.

• UNFCCC: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was adopted in 1992 and entered into force in 1994.

• Kyoto Protocol: Adopted in 1997; established emission-reduction commitments for specified developed-country parties under its framework.

• Paris Agreement: Adopted in 2015; seeks to hold the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.

• IPCC: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assesses scientific knowledge on climate change, its impacts, risks and response options.

Key Pointers for UPSC

• Mitigation addresses the causes of climate change; adaptation addresses its impacts.

• The Paris Agreement uses Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which parties prepare and communicate on a recurring basis.

• The principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) recognises shared responsibility while accounting for differences in national circumstances, historical contributions and capacities.

• Climate change can intensify certain weather and climate extremes, but attribution of an individual event requires scientific analysis.

• Oceans absorb much of the excess heat in the climate system and a substantial portion of human-caused carbon dioxide emissions.

• Climate change is related to, but not identical to, global warming.

MCQs

Q1. Which of the following is an example of climate change adaptation?

1. Replacing coal-fired electricity with solar power.

2. Improving flood warning systems and developing climate-resilient infrastructure.

3. Reducing methane emissions from landfills.

4. Increasing energy efficiency to reduce fossil fuel consumption.

Correct answer: 2) Improving flood warning systems and developing climate-resilient infrastructure.

Explanation: Adaptation reduces vulnerability to climate impacts. The other options primarily reduce greenhouse gas emissions and therefore represent mitigation.

Q2. The Paris Agreement aims to:

1. Limit global warming to exactly 1°C.

2. Hold warming well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.

3. Regulate only ozone-depleting substances.

4. Ban all fossil fuels immediately in every country.

Correct answer: 2) Hold warming well below 2°C and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.

Explanation: These are the Agreement's central long-term temperature goals.

Q3. Which organisation assesses scientific literature on climate change for policymakers?

1. IPCC

2. WTO

3. ILO

4. IMF

Correct answer: 1) IPCC.

Explanation: The IPCC synthesises and assesses scientific, technical and socioeconomic literature relevant to climate change.