environmental economics
Understanding
Climate
Change
Understanding the Causes, Impacts, and Solutions
of Climate Change
Kashish 22/539 Ridhima 22/527
Tanishqa 22/529 Akshay 22/557
What is
Climate
Change?
Climate change is the long-term alteration of
temperature and typical weather patterns in a place,
largely due to human activities like burning fossil fuels,
which increase greenhouse gas levels and trap heat in
the Earth's atmosphere.
Role of Greenhouse Gases
How It Works: The greenhouse
effect trapping heat in the Earth’s
atmosphere
Main Greenhouse Gases: Carbon
dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and
nitrous oxide (N₂O)
Understanding the Potential
Problem of Global Warming
Increased temperature of the earth’s surface Global Warming Potential (GWP)
caused by accumulating GHGs that absorb the sun’s Measures the heatabsorbing capacity of
radiation. a GHG relative to CO2 over some time
period.
The World is Heating Up—And It
Shows
“2024: Earth’s Hottest Year”
The climate system is responding quickly
to human-driven emissions.
Every fraction of a degree matters.
Global average temperature reached a
record high in 2024.
India: Hottest year since 1901 (+0.65°C
above average).
Source: Copernicus Climate Change Service,
WMO
Summers Are Getting Longer,
Winters Are shrinking
20 YEARS AGO TODAY
JAN FEB MAR JAN FEB MAR
Winters are shrinking,
and when they do arrive,
APR MAY JUN APR MAY JUN
they’re often milder than
before—especially in
JUL AUG SEP JUL AUG SEP
tropical and subtropical
countries like India.
OCT NOV DEC OCT NOV DEC
causes of
climate change
1. Burning Fossil Fuels in which the major sectors are power plants, cars,
airplanes, factories.
2. Deforestation - Beef, soy and palm oil are responsible for 60% of
tropical deforestation.
3. Agriculture and Livestock - Methane (CH₄) from ruminant animals
and Nitrous oxide (N₂O) from fertilizers.
4. Waste and Landfills - Poor waste management (like open burning) contributes to
both GHGs and black carbon. Black carbon is a short-lived climate pollutant that
absorbs sunlight, causing warming effects on the atmosphere. It's a significant
contributor to global warming.
A small group of 100 companies are responsible for approximately 71% of global
emissions, and the super-rich, particularly the top 1%, are disproportionately responsible
for their own personal emissions. Carbon footprints of the top 1% are 1000 times greater
than the bottom 1%
animal farming
nd
2 major reason of climate change
Eating animals is not about “My Life, My Choice”
What’s in your plate affects entire ecosystem. More than 77%
of global soy is fed to
livestock for meat and
dairy production.
Just 7% of soy is used
directly for human food
products.
Ruminant
animals like cows, sheep, and
goats release methane mainly by
belching during digestion (a process
called enteric fermentation).
Methane is about 28 times more
potent than CO₂ .
Predicting the Potential Effects of
Climate Change
🔬 Scientific Models & Climate Simulations
Climate models simulate Earth’s response to rising greenhouse gases.
Based on decades of research, global observations, and atmospheric data.
📊 National Climate Assessment Synthesis Team – 2001 & 2009
Led by U.S. Global Change Research Program.
Assessed potential impacts across multiple sectors.
🌱 Projected Impacts Include: 💡 Key Takeaway:
Forests & Biodiversity: Species migration, habitat loss, disrupted ecosystems. Climate change is not just an
Sea Levels & Coastal Areas: Increased flooding, land erosion, loss of wetlands. environmental issue — it’s a
Water & Air Quality: Changes in rainfall patterns, more air pollutants, drought social, economic, and survival
risk. issue that affects public health,
Agriculture & Health: Crop failures, food insecurity, heat stress, disease spread. food systems, infrastructure,
and global equity.
Impacts of Rising Sea Levels
🌡️ What’s Driving the Rise? ⚠️ Key Economic & Environmental Impacts
Thermal Expansion: 🌿 Loss of Coastal Wetlands
Warmer oceans expand in Natural buffers against storms and flooding disappear
volume Reduces biodiversity and water purification
Melting Glaciers & Ice
Sheets: Adds freshwater
💸 Economic cost: Loss of ecosystem services valued at $23 billion/year
to sea levels
(globally, est.)
🏖️ Accelerated Beach Erosion
📊 Projected Rise by 2100: Destroys property and tourism-based economies
13 to 95 cm (up to 3 feet) ⚠️ Coastal protection and rebuilding can cost millions per mile
Threatens urban
infrastructure, real
estate, and coastal 🌊 Increased Coastal Flooding
ecosystems More frequent flood events in low-lying areas
Strains infrastructure, increases disaster aid, displaces communities
💼 Drives up insurance premiums and depresses local economies
The CO₂ Paradox – A Silver Lining?
🌱 The Possible Upside
Higher CO₂ levels can enhance photosynthesis → faster
plant growth
Colder regions (e.g., Canada, Russia, N. Europe) may
benefit from:
Longer growing seasons
Newly arable land due to thawing permafrost
📈 Short-term gains in crop yields and agricultural output Takeaway
⚠️ But There’s a Catch While CO₂ may offer a short-term agricultural boost
Benefits are uneven — mostly favoring wealthier, high- in some regions, the broader economic impact is
latitude nations negative. Climate change amplifies food insecurity,
Rising temperatures also bring: disrupts trade, and increases the cost of adaptation —
Droughts, extreme weather, and pests especially in vulnerable economies. What looks like a
silver lining today may carry a heavy cost tomorrow.
Crop losses, water stress, and higher adaptation
costs
Impact
Melting Polar
Ice & Glaciers
Flood Risks in Coastal Areas
Impact on Health Risks: Climate-
related diseases
Humans & Impact on Agriculture
Health and Food Security
Solutions
Mitigation
Reducing Emissions: Transitioning to
renewable energy (wind, solar, etc.)
Reforestation and Forest Restoration
Energy Efficiency in Industry and
Transportation
Adaptation
& Individual
Action
Adaptation: Climate-resilient
infrastructure, coastal protection
Individual Actions: Reducing waste,
saving energy, supporting eco-
friendly products
Conclusion
Importance of addressing climate
change now
Encourage the audience to contribute
to protecting the Earth
