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What causes Climate Change?

Greenhouse gases

Gases such as CO2 and Methane trap the suns heat

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Climate change

Factory farming intensifies climate change, releasing vast volumes of greenhouse gases.

We now know that man-made climate change is real and that it poses a great threat to the planet and its inhabitants. Current data suggest that we need to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in developed countries by at least 80% by 2050 in order to have a chance of staying below an average temperature rise of over 2ºC¹. Factory farming is a major contributor to the climate change challenge, releasing vast volumes of greenhouse gases.

A wide variety of sources of carbon dioxide

Factory farming produces greenhouse gases throughout the 'supply chain'. For example, forest clearance to grow the crops and rear the animals reduces vital carbon 'sinks' and releases gases previously stored in the soil and vegetation.

An energy-hungry industry

Factory farming also requires large amounts of energy in order to function. This isn't just to rear the animals, but also to grow the vast amounts of feed they need. According to a study published by The Royal Society², feed is the dominant energy user, taking around 75% of the total energy required. The rest is needed for factors such as heating, lighting and ventilation.

But carbon dioxide isn't the only issue

It's not just carbon dioxide that's the problem: gases including methane and nitrous oxide, also produced in significant quantities, are released through various sources including animal waste and fertiliser use. Livestock farming produces 37% and 65% of our global methane and nitrous oxide emissions respectively³. Both gases are much more potent than carbon dioxide.

Climate change will make farming harder

Climate change is already harming food production⁴ and these impacts are projected to increase over time, with potentially devastating effects. Higher temperatures, for example, could place further stress on water-scarce regions and make it harder to rear animals and grow food crops. According to the Convention on Biological Diversity⁵ climate change may affect plant growth and production by promoting the spread of pests and diseases, increasing exposure to heat stress and encouraging soil erosion due to stronger winds.

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factors that drive climate change

400 part​s per million.
The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2)​​​​​​​in our atmosphere, as of 2016, is the highest in 3 million years.

2016 ​was warmest year on record.
NASA and NOAA data show that global averages were 1.78 degrees F (0.99 degrees C) warmer than the mid-20th century average, making 2016 the third year in a row with record-setting surface temperatures.

The Amazon is a carbon-storing powerhouse.
In the Amazon, 1% of tree species sequester 50% of the region’s carbon.

11% of the world’s population.
Some 800 million people are currently vulnerable to climate change impacts such as droughts, floods, heat waves, extreme weather events and sea-level rise.

Climate change

Factory farming intensifies climate change, releasing vast volumes of greenhouse gases.

We now know that man-made climate change is real and that it poses a great threat to the planet and its inhabitants. Current data suggest that we need to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in developed countries by at least 80% by 2050 in order to have a chance of staying below an average temperature rise of over 2ºC¹. Factory farming is a major contributor to the climate change challenge, releasing vast volumes of greenhouse gases.

An energy-hungry industry

Factory farming also requires large amounts of energy in order to function. This isn't just to rear the animals, but also to grow the vast amounts of feed they need. According to a study published by The Royal Society, feed is the dominant energy user, taking around 75% of the total energy required. The rest is needed for factors such as heating, lighting and ventilation.

The impact farming has on climate change cannot be ignored, according to the chair of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Fine Gael TD Pat Deering.

Deputy Deering was speaking ahead of tomorrow’s committee meeting, where a discussion on the impacts of climate change on the agriculture sector will continue for a second consecutive week.

Last week, representatives from the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA), the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) and Macra na Feirme appeared before the committee.

Tomorrow, presentations will be given by representatives from Meat Industry Ireland (MII), the Irish Grain Growers’ Group (IGGG) and the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers’ Association (INHFA).

Commenting on the meeting, Deputy Deering said: “Agriculture is highly exposed to the negative effects of climate change.

“The impact of resource stress on food production is one of the key issues facing global food production, as are concerns around greenhouse gas emissions, carbon sequestration and carbon levels in soils.

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FACTORS THAT DRIVE CLIMATE CHANGE
Distance from the sea (Continentality)
The sea affects the climate of a place. Coastal areas are cooler and wetter than inland areas. Clouds form when warm air from inland areas meets cool air from the sea.  The centre of continents are subject to a large range of temperatures.  In the summer, temperatures can be very hot and dry as moisture from the sea evaporates before it reaches the centre of the land mass.
OCEAN CURRENTS
Earth's rotation affects the oceans in a similar manner, setting up currents that flow within the ocean basins. Ocean currents are driven by surface winds, Earth's rotation, and differences in salinity.
Trade winds blow warm surface waters in tropical oceans and seas from east to west. Warm water pools along the west coast of continents, which sets up a temperature gradient across the ocean surface. Under normal conditions, the western Pacific is about 8°C warmer than the eastern Pacific, and this gradient contributes to the formation of clouds and precipitation in Australia, Indonesia, and parts of Africa. Disruption of this temperature gradient creates the event known as El Niño.
GLOBAL CLIMATE
The combination of oceanic and atmospheric circulation drives global climate by redistributing heat and moisture. Areas located near the tropics remain warm and relatively wet throughout the year. In temperate regions, variation in solar input drives seasonal changes. In the Northern Hemisphere where land masses are more concentrated, these seasons can involve pronounced changes in temperature. In the Southern Hemisphere where large land masses are located nearer to the equator and the majority of Earth's surface is covered with water, seasonal cycles revolve around the presence and absence of precipitation rather than major swings in temperature.

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To ​confront climate change — a threat ​facing ​our entire planet — people everywhere must take part in practical, affordable solutions. We’re already seeing the effects of climate change, but thankfully, we’re equipped with the most effective tool to mitigate and adapt to it: nature. Protecting nature today means a better planet for future generations. Share these facts about climate change and help make a difference:​

1. 400 part​s per million.
The concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2)​​​​​​​in our atmosphere, as of 2016, is the highest in 3 million years.

2. 2016 ​was warmest year on record.
NASA and NOAA data show that global averages were 1.78 degrees F (0.99 degrees C) warmer than the mid-20th century average, making 2016 the third year in a row with record-setting surface temperatures.

3. 11% of emissions.
Eleven percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans can be blamed on deforestation – comparable to the emissions from all of the cars and trucks on the planet.

4. The Amazon is a carbon-storing powerhouse.
In the Amazon, 1% of tree species sequester 50% of the region’s carbon.

5. 11% of the world’s population.
Some 800 million people are currently vulnerable to climate change impacts such as droughts, floods, heat waves, extreme weather events and sea-level rise.

6. Coastal ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems are critical.
Just 0.7% of the world’s forests are coastal mangroves, y​​​​​​et they store up to 5 times as much carbon per hectare as tropical forests.

7. Nearly 1 million hectares — lost.
An area of coastal ecosystems larger than New York City is destroyed every year, removing an important buffer from extreme weather for coastal communities and releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

8. Save nature. It’s cheaper.
Saving ecosystems is ​often more cost-effective than human-made interventions. In the Maldives, building a sea wall for coastal protection cost about US$ 2.2 billion. Even after 10 years of maintenance costs, it is still four times cheaper to preserve the natural reef.

9. Nature is an untapped solution.
Tropical forests are incredibly effective at storing carbon – providing up to 30% of the solution towards climate change. Despite this, nature-based solutions only receive 2% of all funding devoted to climate solutions.

10. ​ 194 nations, on board.
In 2016, 194 countries signed the Paris Agreement, agreeing to limit global warming and adapt to climate change, in part through the use of nature-based solutions.

11. Price tag: US$ 140​ billion per year.
This is what it would take to make the changes humanity needs to adapt to a warming world. It may sound like a lot, but it’s less than 0.1% of global GDP.​​​

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There are lots of factors that influence our climate.

Elevation or Altitude effect climate
Normally, climatic conditions become colder as altitude increases. “Life zones” on a high mountain reflect the changes, plants at the base are the same as those in surrounding countryside, but no trees at all can grow above the timberline. Snow crowns the highest elevations.

Prevailing global wind patterns
There are 3 major wind patterns found in the Northern Hemisphere and also 3 in the Southern Hemisphere. These are average conditions and do not essentially reveal conditions on a particular day. As seasons change, the wind patterns shift north or south. So does the inter tropical convergence zone, which moves back and forth across the Equator. Sailors called this zone the doldrums because its winds are normally weak.

Latitude and angles of the suns rays
As the Earth circles the sun, the tilt of its axis causes changes in the angle of which sun’s rays contact the earth and hence changes the daylight hours at different latitudes. Polar regions experience the greatest variation, with long periods of limited or no sunlight in winter and up to 24 hours of daylight in the summer.

Topography
The Topography of an area can greatly influence our climate. Mountain ranges are natural barriers to air movement. In California, winds off the Pacific ocean carry moisture-laden air toward the coast. The Coastal Range allows for some condensation and light precipitation. Inland, the taller Sierra Nevada range rings more significant precipitation in the air. On the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada, sinking air warms from compression, clouds evaporate, and dry conditions prevail.

Effects of Geography
The position of a town, city or place and its distance from mountains and substantial areas of water help determine its prevailing wind patterns and what types of air masses affect it. Coastal areas may enjoy refreshing breezes in summer, when cooler ocean air moves ashore. Places south and east of the Great Lakes can expect “lake effect” snow in winter, when cold air travels over relatively warmer waters.
In spring and summer, people in Tornado Alley in the central United States watch for thunderstorms, these storms are caused where three types of air masses frequently converge: cold and dry from the north, warm and dry from the southwest, and warm and moist from the Gulf of Mexico - these colliding air masses often generate tornado storms.
Surface of the Earth
Just look at any globe or a world map showing land cover, and you will see another important factor which has a influence on climate: the surface of the Earth. The amount of sunlight that is absorbed or reflected by the surface determines how much atmospheric heating occurs. Darker areas, such as heavily vegetated regions, tend to be good absorbers; lighter areas, such as snow and ice-covered regions, tend to be good reflectors. The ocean absorbs and loses heat more slowly than land. Its waters gradually release heat into the atmosphere, which then distributes heat around the globe.

Climate change over time
Cold and warm periods punctuate Earth’s long history. Some were fairly short; others spanned hundreds of thousands of years. In some cold periods, glaciers grew and spread over large regions. In subsequent warm periods, the ice retreated. Each period profoundly affected plant and animal life. The most recent cool period, often called the “Little Ice Age,” ended in western Europe around 1850.
Since the turn of the 20th century, temperatures have been rising steadily throughout the world. But it is not yet clear how much of this global warming is due to natural causes and how much derives from human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and the clearing of forests.

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Factory farming intensifies climate change, releasing vast volumes of greenhouse gases.

We now know that man-made climate change is real and that it poses a great threat to the planet and its inhabitants. Current data suggest that we need to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in developed countries by at least 80% by 2050 in order to have a chance of staying below an average temperature rise of over 2ºC¹. Factory farming is a major contributor to the climate change challenge, releasing vast volumes of greenhouse gases.

A wide variety of sources of carbon dioxide

Factory farming produces greenhouse gases throughout the 'supply chain'. For example, forest clearance to grow the crops and rear the animals reduces vital carbon 'sinks' and releases gases previously stored in the soil and vegetation.

An energy-hungry industry

Factory farming also requires large amounts of energy in order to function. This isn't just to rear the animals, but also to grow the vast amounts of feed they need. According to a study published by The Royal Society², feed is the dominant energy user, taking around 75% of the total energy required. The rest is needed for factors such as heating, lighting and ventilation.

But carbon dioxide isn't the only issue

It's not just carbon dioxide that's the problem: gases including methane and nitrous oxide, also produced in significant quantities, are released through various sources including animal waste and fertiliser use. Livestock farming produces 37% and 65% of our global methane and nitrous oxide emissions respectively³. Both gases are much more potent than carbon dioxide.

Climate change will make farming harder

Climate change is already harming food production⁴ and these impacts are projected to increase over time, with potentially devastating effects. Higher temperatures, for example, could place further stress on water-scarce regions and make it harder to rear animals and grow food crops. According to the Convention on Biological Diversity⁵ climate change may affect plant growth and production by promoting the spread of pests and diseases, increasing exposure to heat stress and encouraging soil erosion due to stronger winds.

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Factors that drive Climate Change

Humans are increasingly influencing the climate and the earth's temperature by burning fossil fuels, cutting down rainforests and farming livestock.

This adds enormous amounts of greenhouse gases to those naturally occurring in the atmosphere, increasing the greenhouse effect and global warming.

Greenhouse gases

Some gases in the Earth's atmosphere act a bit like the glass in a greenhouse, trapping the sun's heat and stopping it from leaking back into space.

Many of these gases occur naturally, but human activity is increasing the concentrations of some of them in the atmosphere, in particular:

carbon dioxide (CO₂)

methane

nitrous oxide

fluorinated gases

CO₂ is the greenhouse gas most commonly produced by human activities and it is responsible for 64% of man-made global warming. Its concentration in the atmosphere is currently 40% higher than it was when industrialisation began.

Rising emissions

Burning coal, oil and gas produces carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.

Cutting down forests (deforestation). Trees help to regulate the climate by absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere. So when they are cut down, that beneficial effect is lost and the carbon stored in the trees is released into the atmosphere,adding to the greenhouse effect.

Increasing livestock farming. Cows and sheep produce large amounts of methane when they digest their food.

Fertilisers containing nitrogen produce nitrous oxide emissions.

Fluorinated gases produce a very strong warming effect, up to 23 000 times greater than CO₂. Thankfully these are released in smaller quantities and are being phased down by EU regulation.

Global warming

The current global average temperature is 0.85ºC higher than it was in the late 19th century. Each of the past three decades has been warmer than any preceding decade since records began in 1850.

The world's leading climate scientists think human activities are almost certainly the main cause of the warming observed since the middle of the 20th  century.