Environment & Health by Andy Tyrrell https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7 Climate Change en-us 2022-02-13 11:07:08 UTC 2025-10-26 07:46:42 UTC hello@padlet.com The Greenhouse Effect 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044457010
The greenhouse effect essentially means that natural and human related emissions of the greenhouse gases prevent the sun's heat from escaping earth's atmosphere. This causes an increase in the global temperature which in turn destabilizes the climate. The effects of this can be seen in the short term through extreme prolonged weather events such as droughts, flooding and strong winds.

The main Greenhouse Gases and their sources:
  • Carbon Dioxide - Burning fossil fuels, Deforestation, Solid waste
  • Methane - Farming and agriculture, production and transport of coal, natural gas, and oil
  • Nitrous Oxide - Agricultural, Land use, Industrial activities, Combustion of fossil fuels and Solid waste
  • Fluorinated Gases - Industrial processes
(EPA, 2021)

"Greenhouse gas concentrations are at their highest levels in 2 million years" (United Nations, 2022)

Greenhouse gas emissions have resulted in a 1.1°C temperature increase since 1800. The problem is getting worse and urgent action is needed to curtail emissions.

]]> 2022-02-13 11:26:56 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044457010 What is Climate Change? 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044457205 "Climate change describes a change in the average conditions — such as temperature and rainfall — in a region over a long period of time" (NASA Climate Kids, 2022).

This means...
Weather patterns are changed by the warming of the earth's atmosphere, leading to extreme weather that threatens human existence.

]]> 2022-02-13 11:27:11 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044457205 Everyday Products Made from Oil 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044501696 The Colorado Oil and Gas Association (2019) displays the above image on their website as a justification for the continued use of fossil fuels.

"Because of the wide variety of products made possible by oil and natural gas, the U.S. consumed approximately 7.3 billion barrels of petroleum in 2017." 

Their acknowledgement of the large volume of oil consumption in America is frightening, especially when it is framed behind a message that aims to skew public opinion of oil and gas extraction and procurement. This paints a clear picture of the economic greed of corporate America which can be applied to other non-renewable energy conglomerates worldwide.]]> 2022-02-13 12:32:09 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044501696 Causes of Climate Change - Human Activity 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044555286 The way we live our lives is contributing to the climate emergency we face today. Both humans and industry have failed to adapt to the need for new approaches to everyday living from transport to food consumption to fashion and beyond. 

Minor changes have been made in recent years but, for the most part, we are still heavily relying on fossil fuels to keep the world turning economically and from a "healthy living" perspective. The reality is that this way of living is not sustainable in the long-term as evidenced by the average increase in global temperature of 0.2°C per decade (European Commission, 2020).

The daily negative human contributions to climate change are: 
  • Burning of fossil fuels
  • Food production/mass consumption of meat
  • Importing of goods - clothing, food
  • Transport using 
  • Deforestation
  • Air travel 

Industries play a large part in blocking changes from being made. This comes from a business mindset where corporations are afraid of financial losses. This feeds into a short term outlook on climate change and undermines the severity of the issue.

]]> 2022-02-13 13:43:42 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044555286 What is Being Done? 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044556054 Paris Agreement
This legislation from 2015 is a "legally binding, global agreement on climate change". The goal of the agreement is to keep global temperature increases to below 2°C. This number was chosen as it correlates to the temperatures that existed before the industrial age. The nations have also indicated their intention to achieve emission neutrality by 2050. Failure to meet the goals between now and 2050 can result in large fines for nations who do not make sufficient changes. The ultimate goal is to get warming to below 1.5°C.
2020 and 2030 Climate Targets
Binding annual GHG emission targets for Member States for the period 2013-2020. The targets concern emissions from transport, buildings, agriculture and waste sectors. The target that Ireland was aiming for in 2020 was a 20% reduction in emissions compared with the 2005 level. The 2030 target is to reduce emissions by 40%.
EU Emissions Trading Scheme
This scheme is currently in its fourth phase and is aimed at airlines, power stations and industrial plants that contribute large amounts of harmful emissions to the atmosphere. It involves a financial incentive to reduce greenhouse gases by putting a yearly cap on the amount that can be emitted. This cap decreases over-time with the goal of significantly reducing emissions.

(Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, 2021)



]]> 2022-02-13 13:44:48 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044556054 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044558053 2022-02-13 13:47:21 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044558053 CO2 Projections 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044559253 2022-02-13 13:48:54 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044559253 Emissions by Sector 2020 - 2030 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044559850 2022-02-13 13:49:42 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044559850 Causes of Climate Change - Natural 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044604089 The United States Environmental Protection Agency (2021) recognises that climate change can be caused by natural processes These naturally occurring processes are:
  • Changes in the Earth’s Orbit and Rotation
  • Variations in Solar Activity
  • Changes in the Earth’s Reflectivity
  • Volcanic Activity
  • Changes in Naturally Occurring Carbon Dioxide Concentrations
Measurements of "ice cores, tree rings, glacier lengths, pollen remains, and ocean sediments, and by studying changes in the earth’s orbit around the sun" (EPA, 2021) have provided scientists with historical records of past climate trends dating back hundreds of years. 

However, since the 1960s humans have overtaken natural causes in terms of influencing global temperatures with trends showing an increasing rise in temperature which can be directly attributed to human activity.

]]> 2022-02-13 14:42:30 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044604089 Are We Meeting the Goals? 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044608680 Ireland have failed to meet our 2020 goal for cutting emissions. We are currently projected to cut emissions by 16.42% by 2030 which is well short of the 40% goal. The EPA (2021) believes the 2030 goal can be achieved but only if all the Climate Action Plan and policies are fully implemented.

The Climate Action Plan is still in its early stages so more time is needed to see if these goals are being met. There is an argument to be made that the 2030 targets are too far away to make a real impact. Lots of projected goals have been missed and it might be too late to reverse the damage if we aim for 2030.

]]> 2022-02-13 14:48:05 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044608680 Let's Do More! 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044610538 Now is the time to make a change. On an individual level we need to show initiative and take it upon ourselves to make lifestyle changes whether that be simple things like buying less imported foods, not shopping online and walking and cycling instead of using the car or selling our cars in order to buy electric and installing solar panels. 

We must advocate and hold politicians and companies responsible if they are failing to act on climate policy or show urgency in making environmentally friendly changes. 

There needs to be more dialogue between policy makers and those in food production, particularly farmers, in order to establish common ground. Change should not be seen as a threat by farmers but in order to avoid the sense of vilification, strategies should be put in place to allow for an adapted, climate friendly production process with subsidies o incentivise.

We, collectively, have the whole world in our hands and we must come together to ensure the next generations are introduce to a environmentally safe and sustainable world. ]]> 2022-02-13 14:50:19 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044610538 Reference List 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044615181
  • Callaghan, M., Schleussner, C.-F., Nath, S., Lejeune, Q., Knutson, T. R., Reichstein, M., Hansen, G., Theokritoff, E., Andrijevic, M., Brecha, R. J., Hegarty, M., Jones, C., Lee, K., Lucas, A., Maanen, N. van, Menke, I., Pfleiderer, P., Yesil, B., & Minx, J. C. (2021). Machine-learning-based evidence and attribution mapping of 100,000 climate impact studies. Nature Climate Change, 11(11), 966–972. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-021-01168-6
  • Citizens Information. (2021). Ireland's targets to reduce air pollution. The Climate Action Plan. https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/environment/air/ireland's_targets_to_reduce_air_pollution.html
  • Climate Action Tracker. (2020). Global update: Paris Agreement Turning Point. https://climateactiontracker.org/publications/global-update-paris-agreement-turning-point/
  • Climate Change Performance Index. (2022). CCPI ranking 2022. https://ccpi.org/ranking/
  • Colorado Oil & Gas Association. (2019). Everyday products made possible by oil and natural gas. https://www.coga.org/factsheets/everyday-products-uses#comments
  • Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. (2021). EU and International Climate Action. https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/428b3c-eu-and-international-climate-action/#
  • Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Projections 2020-2040.  Key Trends – Emissions projections out to 2030, p.8. https://www.epa.ie/publications/monitoring--assessment/climate-change/air-emissions/EPA-Irelands-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions-Projections-report-2020-2040v2.pdf

  • Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Ireland will not meet its 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. Action is needed now to meet 2030 EU targets. https://www.epa.ie/news-releases/news-releases-2021/ireland-will-not-meet-its-2020-greenhouse-gas-emissions-reduction-targets-action-is-needed-now-to-meet-2030-eu-targets.php

  • European Commission. (2020). Causes of climate change. Climate Action. https://ec.europa.eu/clima/climate-change/causes-climate-change_en
  • Iberdrola. (2022). How is climate change affecting the economy and society? https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/impacts-of-climate-change
  • King County. (2019). Climate change impacts in King County. https://kingcounty.gov/services/environment/climate/our-changing-climate/impacts.aspx
  • McGreal, C. (2021). How a powerful US lobby group helps big oil block climate action. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jul/19/big-oil-climate-crisis-lobby-group-api
  • NASA Climate Kids. (2022). What is climate change? Earth Science Communications Team. https://climatekids.nasa.gov/climate-change-meaning/
  • Shafqat, W., Naqvi, S. A., Maqbool, R., Haider, M. S., Jaskani, M. J., & Khan, I. A. (2021). Climate Change and Citrus. In M. S. Khan, & I. A. Khan (Eds.), Citrus - Research, Development and Biotechnology. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.95488
  • United Nations. (2022). Greenhouse gas concentrations are at their highest levels in 2 million years. Climate Action. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change
  • United Nations. (2022). What is climate change? Climate Action. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/what-is-climate-change
  • United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Causes of climate change: Human vs natural. https://www.epa.gov/climatechange-science/causes-climate-change
  • United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Overview of greenhouse gases. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/overview-greenhouse-gases
  • What's Your Impact?. (2020). What is climate change? https://whatsyourimpact.org/climate-change
  • World Wildlife Fund. (2022). Effects of climate change. Impacts. https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/effects-of-climate-change#:~:text=More%20frequent%20and%20intense%20drought,on%20people's%20livelihoods%20and%20communities.&text=As%20climate%20change%20worsens%2C%20dangerous,becoming%20more%20frequent%20or%20severe.
    • ]]>     2022-02-13 14:55:44 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044615181     King County, Washington, USA 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044622906 2022-02-13 15:05:06 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044622906 King County, Washington, USA 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044623553 2022-02-13 15:05:54 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044623553 Consequences of Inaction or Insufficient Change 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044634077 It is important to recognise that climate change is a real problem that is here NOW. We can no longer think of it as something that is years away from becoming a problem. Callaghan et al. (2021) estimate that 85% of the world's population are already affected by climate change.

    Environmental consequences:
    • More frequent and intense drought
    • storms
    • heat waves
    • rising sea levels
    • melting glaciers  
    • warming oceans 
    (World Wildlife Fund, 2022)

    Frozen soil known as permafrost will also begin to melt as a result of higher temperatures. Although methane accounts for a lower proportion of global emissions, it is found in abundance underneath this permafrost and once melting begins this methane will be released into the atmosphere creating an even larger greenhouse effect.

    Climate change will eventually be felt by all of us but unfortunately those who suffer the most will be those who have contributed the least to the problem. We all have a responsibility to address this issue immediately in our daily lives and to advocate for change when when politicians fail to meet environmental goals.
    ]]>     2022-02-13 15:17:51 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044634077     Lobbyists are Disrupting Change 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044645926 2022-02-13 15:31:25 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044645926 Social and Economic Consequences 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044881168 Whole species of plants and animals face extinction if current trends continue.]]> 2022-02-13 19:32:14 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044881168 Ireland's Climate Action Plan 20083537_1 https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044932782
  • Generating 80% of electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind power
  • Increasing the number of electric vehicles (EVs) to around 1 million by 2030, including 1,500 electric buses
  • Increasing the proportion of energy that comes from renewable sources for heating homes and businesses
  • Reducing emissions from the public sector by 51% by 2030 with Green Teams in every public body
  • Increasing land that is farmed organically to 350,000 hectares
  • Reducing the use of chemical nitrogen fertiliser to 325,000 tonnes per year
  • Reducing food waste by 50% by 2030

    • (Citizens Information, 2021)

    ]]>     2022-02-13 20:30:36 UTC https://padlet.com/20083537_1/bynavve4wy1dizv7/wish/2044932782