Environmental scienceLesson 1 of 1 in the course Environmental Health

Climate Change: Environmental and Population Health Impacts and Responses

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Climate change is a major environmental and population health challenge. This lesson introduces the evidence that Earth is warming, explains the human activities driving that warming, and describes why climate change is discussed as a defining feature of the Anthropocene.

Climate change refers to profound and lasting shifts in Earth’s climate patterns and conditions. Observations of air and ocean temperatures, sea levels, and snow and ice patterns show that the planet is warming rapidly. Since the pre-industrial period of 1880–1900, average global temperature has risen at least 1.1°C (2.3°F). Most of this warming has occurred since 1975.

All flashcards

Climate vulnerability
The risk of harm shaped by exposure to climate hazards, sensitivity to harm, and adaptive capacity.
Mitigation
Actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollutants to slow climate change.
Adaptation
Preparing for climate impacts and minimizing their harm while improving the ability to cope.
Solastalgia
Distress related to a familiar place or way of life changing or being lost.
Green infrastructure
Natural or seminatural features used to create sustainable spaces and provide environmental and social benefits.

Quiz questions

  1. By at least how much has average global temperature risen since the 1880–1900 pre-industrial baseline?Answer: 1.1°C
  2. How can ocean acidification affect corals and shellfish?Answer: It makes it harder for them to build skeletons and shells.
  3. Approximately what share of the heat retained by greenhouse gases has the ocean captured?Answer: About 90 percent.
  4. Which health effects are associated with exposure to wildfire smoke?Answer: More respiratory and cardiovascular hospital visits, and worsened asthma and COPD.
  5. What temperature limit does the Paris Agreement aim to keep the increase below, relative to pre-industrial levels?Answer: 2°C

Based on Population Health for Nurses by Jessica Ochs, Sherry L. Roper, Susan M. Schwartz (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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