Climate change

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

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 is climate change?Climate change is when the Earth's temperature gets warmer because of gases that trap heat, like carbon dioxide, released from things like cars, factories, and cutting down trees.
2. Why does burning fossil fuels make the planet hotter?Burning coal, oil, and gas releases gases that act like a blanket around Earth, keeping more heat from escaping into space.

Anthropogenic: Originating from human activity, especially environmental pollution.
Greenhouse Gases (GHGs): Gases in the atmosphere that trap heat, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Mitigation: Actions taken to reduce the extent of climate change, primarily by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Adaptation: Adjusting to actual or expected future climate conditions to reduce harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.