Climate change and cities

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/climate-change-and-cities

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What makes cities big contributors to climate change?Cities have many people, buildings, and cars that use a lot of energy, which releases greenhouse gases. Building materials like cement also produce CO2.
2. Why do cities get hotter than surrounding areas?The urban heat island effect happens because concrete and asphalt absorb heat and don’t cool as fast as trees and grass. This makes heatwaves feel even hotter in cities.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: The release of gases like carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, trapping heat and driving climate change.
Urban Heat Island Effect: The phenomenon where metropolitan areas are substantially warmer than their surrounding rural areas due to human activities and infrastructure.
Climate Adaptation: Adjusting to actual or expected future climate conditions to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.
Climate Mitigation: Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases, thereby limiting the extent of future climate change.