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By National Geographic Kids associate editor Allyson Shaw. Adapted and republished from the April 2018 Save the Earth issue with permission.

Climate Reality is teaming up with National Geographic Kids to share resources for kids to learn about climate change - and for parents and teachers to teach kids how to take action! This is the first blog in the series, but be sure to check back for more!

FIRST, GET SMART!

We know you love watching videos on your phone. But modern activities - such as plugging in devices, driving cars, and cooling homes - rely on energy sources such as natural gas, oil, and coal. Those energy sources release a gas called carbon dioxide (CO ₂) into the atmosphere. When CO 2 and other greenhouse gases trap heat that would otherwise escape Earth's atmosphere, the planet's temperature rises. That's called global warming, which causes climate change.

Climate: The average pattern of weather conditions over a long period of time. Climate isn't weather- weather changes daily.

Global warming: The increase in Earth's average temperature over a long period of time.

Carbon dioxide: A gas released by the burning of coal, natural gas, oil, and wood that traps heat in the atmosphere.

Carbon footprint: The amount of carbon dioxide one human releases into the environment in a year.

Fossil fuels: Coal, oil, and natural gas, which come from the breakdown of ancient plants and animals over millions of years.

Click to enlarge. Image courtesy of National Geographic Kids magazine.

RISING TEMPERATURES

According to NASA, the Earth's average surface temperature has increased about 1.8°F over the past hundred years, making 2017 one of the hottest years ever recorded. Most scientists expect the climate to at least warm another 0.5°F to as much as 8.6°F by 2100.

What's the big deal about a little extra heat? According to most scientists, plenty. As glaciers and polar ice sheets melt, rising sea levels could threaten coastal areas. And this global warming causes other changes to the Earth's climate, including harsher droughts, stronger hurricanes, and shifting wind and ocean patterns. Together, these changes are known as climate change.

WHY THE WARM UP?

So what do scientists say is causing climate change? Earth is surrounded by an atmosphere made up of a layer of gases. When sunlight enters the atmosphere, some of the sun's heat is trapped by the gases, while the rest escapes the atmosphere. The trapped heat keeps Earth warm enough to live on.

But during the past few centuries, the oil, gas, and coal we use have released carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This gas traps heat that would otherwise escape Earth's atmosphere. This increases Earth's average temperature, which changes its climate. Climate change seems like an overwhelming problem, but you can make a difference.

SO WHAT CAN KIDS DO?

Click to enlarge. Image courtesy of National Geographic Kids magazine.

There are plenty of ways kids can take action to fight climate change. Check out the awesome graphic above to get some ideas on how you can take action to save the Earth!

You can also check out National Geographic Kids for videos, games, and more ideas about how to get involved and learn more about our planet.

WHAT CAN PARENTS AND TEACHERS DO?

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Just for Kids: What's Climate Change? And What Can I Do?

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Our planet is an amazing place to live... but it needs your help.

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Transcript and video of G.T.'s speech at the U.N. Climate Action Summit 

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Transcript and video of G.T.'s speech at the U.N. Climate Action Summit 

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Climate activist Greta Thunberg, 16, addressed the U.N.'s Climate Action Summit in New York City on Monday. Here's the full transcript of Thunberg's speech, beginning with her response to a question about the message she has for world leaders.
"My message is that we'll be watching you.

"This is all wrong. I shouldn't be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you!

"You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words. And yet I'm one of the lucky ones. People are suffering. People are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction, and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!

"For more than 30 years, the science has been crystal clear. How dare you continue to look away and come here saying that you're doing enough, when the politics and solutions needed are still nowhere in sight.

"You say you hear us and that you understand the urgency. But no matter how sad and angry I am, I do not want to believe that. Because if you really understood the situation and still kept on failing to act, then you would be evil. And that I refuse to believe.

"The popular idea of cutting our emissions in half in 10 years only gives us a 50% chance of staying below 1.5 degrees [Celsius], and the risk of setting off irreversible chain reactions beyond human control.

"Fifty percent may be acceptable to you. But those numbers do not include tipping points, most feedback loops, additional warming hidden by toxic air pollution or the aspects of equity and climate justice. They also rely on my generation sucking hundreds of billions of tons of your CO2 out of the air with technologies that barely exist.

"So a 50% risk is simply not acceptable to us - we who have to live with the consequences.

"To have a 67% chance of staying below a 1.5 degrees global temperature rise - the best odds given by the [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] - the world had 420 gigatons of CO2 left to emit back on Jan. 1st, 2018. Today that figure is already down to less than 350 gigatons.

"How dare you pretend that this can be solved with just 'business as usual' and some technical solutions? With today's emissions levels, that remaining CO2 budget will be entirely gone within less than 8 1/2 years.

"There will not be any solutions or plans presented in line with these figures here today, because these numbers are too uncomfortable. And you are still not mature enough to tell it like it is.

"You are failing us. But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say: We will never forgive you.

"We will not let you get away with this. Right here, right now is where we draw the line. The world is waking up. And change is coming, whether you like it or not.

"Thank you."

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Transcript: Greta Thunberg's Speech At The U.N. Climate Action Summit

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Climate activist Greta Thunberg, 16, addressed the U.N.'s Climate Action Summit in New York City on Monday. Here's the full transcript of Thunberg's speech, beginning with her response to a question about the message she has for world leaders. "My message is that we'll be watching you. "This is all wrong.

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Olafur Eliasons gennemgang af Earth Speakr

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Olafur Eliasons gennemgang af Earth Speakr

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Kan anbefales.

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Find amazing facts about animals, science, history and geography, along with fun competitions, games and more. Visit National Geographic Kids today!

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13 Feel Good Stories about People Saving our Planet

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13 Feel Good Stories about People Saving our Planet

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It seems that these days all we hear about is the tragic impact our actions are having on planet earth. With billions of tons of waste filling our oceans, millions of people experiencing hunger every day, and thousands of species entering the 'endangered species' list, it is time for all of us to make a change. However, not everything is terrible, there are still many people in the world who are trying their best to help our mother earth. This list compiled by Bored Panda shares positive environmental movements from all around the world. We hope that these initiatives will not only serve as great examples of ways to save the planet, but they will also inspire you to do as much as you can to become a part of brighter, and cleaner tomorrow.

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13 Feel-Good Stories About People Saving Our Planet

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It seems that these days all we hear about is the tragic impact our actions are having on planet earth. With billions of tons of waste filling our oceans, millions of people experiencing hunger every day, and thousands of species entering the 'endangered species' list, it is time for all of us to make a change.

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Play Quiz Games with the United Nations 

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Play Quiz Games with the United Nations 

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FN donerer 10g ris for hvert rigtigt svar i de mange quizkategorier (på mange sprog).
Sjovt, underholdende og meningsfyldt.

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Fridays For Future is an international climate movement active in most countries and our website offers information on who we are and what you can do.

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#FridaysForFuture is a youth-led and -organised global climate strike movement that started in August 2018, when [then] 15-year-old Greta Thunberg began a school strike for climate. To begin with, she was alone, but she was soon joined by others…

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Naturfænomener forklaret i et enkelt sprog

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Naturfænomener forklaret i et enkelt sprog

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Velegnet i samarbejde med natur og teknonologi, evtl. som CLIL

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Climate Kids is produced by the Earth Science Communications Team at

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App'en er gratis og kan anvendes på alle devices. Den giver børn en stemme og mulighed for kreativ interaktion på tværs af kloden.

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Earth Speakr is an artwork by Olafur Eliasson. It invites kids to speak up for the planet and adults to listen up to what they have to say.

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Climate change is endangering children and threatening their futures

Climate change puts children's most basic rights at risk, seriously affecting their access to health, food, water, clean air, education and protection. Around the world, the growing number of extreme weather events is putting more and more children's lives in danger. Every year, environmental factors take the lives of 1.7 million children under five.

For an even greater number of children, these events mean a reduced chance of a happy, healthy future. When floods hit, schools and health clinics are destroyed. When droughts occur, children spend less time in school because they have to walk miles to collect water. Rising sea levels and toxic air pollution turn children's communities into hazardous environments to grow up in.

These aren't problems that can wait. They are problems right now, and UNICEF is working tirelessly to help solve them.

600 million children - one in four worldwide - will be living in areas with extremely limited water resources by 2040

Protecting and empowering children in the face of climate change

Solving these problems is central to UNICEF's mission to realise the rights of every child - especially the most vulnerable. We respond rapidly to natural disasters, providing children with the care, supplies and protection that could save their lives. We are committed to providing a safe environment for every child to grow up in.

But children deserve more than protection. With the right support they can be empowered to become agents of change who can shape their own future. That's why UNICEF is providing communities with access to green technologies and promoting the use of sustainable energy.

UNICEF UK'S Youth Advisory Board's Message to World Leaders at COP26

UNICEF UK'S Youth Advisory Board, along with 25 Ambassadors and supporters want world leaders to hear them loud and clear. The climate crisis is a child rights crisis.

As COP26 kicks off on 31st October 2021, our Youth Advisory Board have written an open letter to world leaders as they enter critical negotiations on the climate crisis. The letter, published in The Times on 1 st November 2021 asks leaders, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, to listen to the voices of children, and to take their words with them into the Conference.

Co-signed by UK Ambassadors and High Profile Supporters, including Orlando Bloom, Olivia Colman and David Harewood they declare the climate crisis a child rights crisis and request leaders to add their name to the Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action.

Join our campaigners and add your name to the petition asking the UK Government to sign the Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action and put children at the heart of climate action.

Flood-resistant schools in Zambia

Living on the Barotse floodplain in Zambia is uniquely challenging for children, particularly with new uncertainties caused by climate change. Children can be seen using canoes to paddle to schools that often close for months during the flood season.

Disaster risk reduction in Cuba

In Cuba, UNICEF is helping to incorporate disaster risk reduction into its school curriculum. So that children can lead the way in creating a society that is rooted in preparedness and resilience.

Solar-powered water pumps in Malawi

Yesaya's life has changed for the better after a solar-powered water pump was installed near his school by UNICEF Malawi. He spends less time collecting water, and can attend school more regularly.

Giving children a voice in the fight for their environment

Children everywhere deserve to have a say in their future and we're fighting for their right to be heard. In the UK we've campaigned for children's right to breathe clean air, pressuring the government to reduce toxic air levels. In Zambia, child-led advocacy programme Unite4Climate is empowering children to become climate ambassadors. And in places like Za'atari Refugee camp in Jordan 'Start-up' events are equipping children with the skills they need to design innovative solutions to the challenges they face.

UNICEF fights to make sure children's voices are central to high-level discussions about climate and the environment. We use our unrivalled influence to work with governments in 190 countries striving to ensure that they stick to their climate and environment goals and help them to develop even more ambitious programmes that better protect children.

Support UNICEF and help us build a more sustainable future for children

By supporting UNICEF you can help protect children from the effects of climate change, fight for their voices to be heard and build a sustainable future.

Find out more about climate change and UNICEF's work

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Climate change puts children's most basic rights at risk, seriously affecting their access to health, food, water, clean air, education and protection. Around the world, the growing number of extreme weather events is putting more and more children's lives in danger. Every year, environmental factors take the lives of 1.7 million children under five.

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We've all heard of it, but what is climate change and what is it doing to our planet?

So, what is climate change?

Climate change (or global warming), is the process of our planet heating up.

Scientists estimate that since the Industrial Revolution, human activity has caused the Earth to warm by approximately 1°C. While that might not sound like much, it means big things for people and wildlife around the globe.

Unfortunately, rising temperatures don't just mean that we'll get nicer weather - if only! The changing climate will actually make our weather more extreme and unpredictable.

As temperatures rise, some areas will get wetter and lots of animals (and humans!) could find they're not able to adapt to their changing climate.

Check out our magazine!
National Geographic Kids is an exciting monthly read for planet-passionate boys and girls, aged 6-13! Packed full of fun features, jaw-dropping facts and awe-inspiring photos - it'll keep you entertained for hours! Find our magazine in all good newsagents, or become a subscriber and have it delivered to your door! Ask your parents to check out the 'Subscribe' tab on our website!
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What causes climate change?

1. Burning fossil fuels

Over the past 150 years, industrialised countries have been burning large amounts of fossil fuels such as oil and gas. The gases released into the atmosphere during this process act like an invisible 'blanket', trapping heat from the sun and warming the Earth. This is known as the " Greenhouse Effect ".

2. Farming

Believe it or not, cows' eating habits contribute towards climate change. Just like us, when cows eat, methane - a type of greenhouse gas - builds up in their digestive system and is released in the form of... a burp! This might sound funny, but when you imagine that there are almost 1.5 billion cows releasing all that gas into the atmosphere, it sure adds up!

3. Deforestation

Forests absorb huge amounts of carbon dioxide - another greenhouse gas - from the air, and release oxygen back into it. The Amazon rainforest is so large and efficient at doing this that it acts like our planet's air conditioner - limiting climate change. Sadly, many rainforests are being cut down to make wood, palm oil and to clear the way for farmland, roads, oil mines, and dams.

How will climate change affect the planet?

The Earth has had many tropical climates and ice ages over the billions of years that it's been in existence, so why is now so different? Well, this is because for the last 150 years human activity has meant we're releasing a huge amount of harmful gases into the Earth's atmosphere, and records show that the global temperatures are rising more rapidly since this time.

A warmer climate could affect our planet in a number of ways:
- Shrinking sea ice
How will climate change affect wildlife?

Climate change is already affecting wildlife all over the world, but certain species are suffering more than others. Polar animals - whose icy natural habitat is melting in the warmer temperatures - are particularly at risk. In fact, experts believe that the Arctic sea ice is melting at a shocking rate - 9% per decade! Polar bears need sea ice to be able to hunt, raise their young and as places to rest after long periods of swimming. Certain seal species, like ringed seals make caves in the snow and ice to raise their pups, feed and mate.

It's not just polar animals who are in trouble. Apes like orangutans, which live in the rainforests of Indonesia, are under threat as their habitat is cut down, and more droughts cause more bushfires.

Sea turtles rely on nesting beaches to lay their eggs, many of which are threatened by rising sea levels. Did you know that the temperature of nests determines whether the eggs are male or female? Unfortunately, with temperatures on the rise, this could mean that many more females are born than males, threatening future turtle populations.

How will people be affected by climate change?

Climate change won't just affect animals, it's already having an impact on people, too. Most affected are some of the people who grow the food we eat every day. Farming communities, especially in developing countries, are facing higher temperatures, increased rain, floods and droughts.

We Brits love a good cuppa, (around 165 million cups of the stuff every day!), but we probably take for granted just how much work goes into growing our tea. Environmental conditions can affect the flavour and quality plus it needs a very specific rainfall to grow. In Kenya, climate change is making rainfall patterns less and less predictable. Often there will be droughts followed by huge amounts rain, which makes it very difficult to grow tea.

Farmers might then resort to using cheap chemicals to improve their crop to earn more money, even when long-term use of these chemicals can destroy their soil.

How are people coping with climate change?

Buying Fairtrade products can help make sure a farmer is paid a fair wage. This means they can cover their costs, earn enough money to have a decent standard of living, and invest in their farms to keep their crop healthy, without needing to resort to cheap methods of farming which can further damage the environment.

This support also helps farmers to replace eucalyptus trees - which take up a lot of water - with indigenous trees that are better for the farmers' soil. They can learn to make fuel-efficient stoves which will not only make them a little extra money, but also reduce the carbon footprint of the community - cool!

How can I help prevent climate change?

Small changes in your own home can make a difference, too. Try switching to energy-saving lightbulbs, walking instead of using the car, turning off electrical items when you're not using them, recycling and reducing your food waste.

All these little things can make a difference. You can check out more eco-friendly ideas, in our kids' guide to saving the planet! Plus, check out our cool article about Greta Thunberg, too, to discover how young people are making their voices heard.

You can download information about Fairtrade and climate change for your school, here! www.fairtrade.org.uk/schools.

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What is climate change: facts for kids | National Geographic Kids

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What is climate change (a.k.a. global warming) & why is it happening? We explain how it affects our planet & how we can prevent it...

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Source: Ashley Cooper/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images, VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images

By Sophie Hirsh

Updated

Ever since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a pandemic this week, people all over the world have been practicing social distancing to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. So that means more of us are sitting home, free to scroll through the internet and consume a neverending stream of ominous news reports, op-eds, and even memes about the coronavirus.

1. Luxembourg Makes All Public Transportation Free

2. NO2 Emissions Down in Certain Regions

3. SeaWorld San Diego May Close

4. The Climate Strikes Go Online

5. CO2 Power Sector Emissions Significantly Dropped in 2019

It's important to stay informed - but it's just as important to offset fear by remembering that there are a few good things happening in the world right now, too. So to remind you of that, we rounded up five of this month's positive climate-related news stories.

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Positive Climate Stories From This Month to Remind You It's Going to Be OK

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By Sophie Hirsh Updated Ever since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 as a pandemic this week, people all over the world have been practicing social distancing to help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.

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Climate change affects every corner of our planet - from the poles to the tropics, and from the mountains to the oceans. People and nature worldwide are already feeling the effects: water supplies are shrinking, extreme weather events increasing in frequency and intensity, forests burning, and coral reefs dying.

Governments, companies, cities and communities are coming together to act. We can still escape the worst impacts of climate change, and build a safer future for all.

But we need to do more, and faster. Most importantly, we need to step up efforts to switch from using fossil fuels - the biggest cause of climate change - to clean, renewable energy. And we need to help people and nature adapt to the inevitable changes ahead.

At WWF, we are working to tackle the climate crisis in a variety of ways. From encouraging governments to implement more ambitious climate policies, to supporting the shift to renewable energy, to working with cities, businesses and communities to create a climate-resilient, net-zero future, our work has a global reach and impact.

Our goal is to adaptively halve greenhouse gas emissions through a stark reduction in energy demand, an increase of at least 40% of non-hydro renewable energy in electricity mix and the implementation of nature-based solutions at scale which ensure people and nature resilience to climate change.

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Climate change affects every corner of our planet - from the poles to the tropics, and from the mountains to the oceans. People and nature worldwide are already feeling the effects: water supplies are shrinking, extreme weather events increasing in frequency and intensity, forests burning, and coral reefs dying.