Chapter 10.

2
Define impacts of Climate Change:
Effects on human society and our natural environment that are caused by changes in climate, such
as rises in Earth’s global temperature.

What is the IPCC

Stands for Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which is a group of several thousand
climate scientists who have summarised the latest scientific research on climate change.

List and briefly explain the 4 main global impacts of climate change:
- Rising sea levels - Rising of the ocean’s level, causing flooding, more intense storms and lack
of water in some areas of the world

- Impacts on Agriculture - Dry regions, such as Africa, might get less rainfall, making millions
face famine of some sort

- Impact on Ecosystem - Plants and Animals are likely going to migrate north, due to the
incapability of supplying them in their current home. As a result, ecosystems around the
world will change.

- Impacts on Human, Plant and Animal Health - Pest, diseases and disease carriers will travel
to the more warm climates, increasing the spread of harmful things, such as malaria or
yellow fever.

List and briefly explain how changes in the Arctic affect the world:
- Make it easier for ships to travel

- Tree’s can begin growing in the warmer climate

- Albedo effect will be reduced in the tundra

Chapter 10.3
Summarise the possible impacts of climate change in Ontario for:
Temperature and Precipitation - Winter’s would be warmer, with fewer extremely cold days. On the
contrast, summers would be extremely hot. Precipitation patterns would drastically change,
meaning more rain would fall overall, but some areas would become drier.

Lake Levels
Lake levels would go down, decreasing the vegetation and wildlife in the water, and forcing them to
go lower than they normally can.

Disease and Illness

Disease-carrying organisms may increase as the average temperatures rise and the precipitation
patterns change, and go further up the continent.

Forests
Pests can migrate forwards, attacking our trees (which boreal forests alone make up 50% of
Ontario). Forests may also become more carbon sources than sinks

Chapter 10.4
Define Mitigation:
Reducing an unwanted change by deliberate decisions and actions.

Define Kyoto Protocol. What happens to Canada’s commitment to the protocol?

The Kyoto Protocol is a plan within the United Nations for controlling greenhouse gas emissions. It
was originally vague, but after 2008, a new piece of legislation was passed, forcing Canada to cut
emissions by 80% by 2050.

Briefly summarise and list Ontario’s Go Green action plan initiatives.

- Stop burning coal in the last 4 remaining coal-energy stations by 2012
- Targets to reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% by 2050
 - Public transportation plan to encourage more people to use public transport than drive
- Fund green technologies and businesses across Ontario
- Planting of 50 million trees by 2020
- Legislation to fast-track the use of renewable energy sources

Chapter 10.5
What are carbon offset credits?
Purchasing credits in clean energy programs, such as a new wind energy farm or solar farm, to
reduce the burning of fossil fuels, thus decreasing carbon emissions.

Explain what the Ontario Stewardship Rangers program is and what they do?
The Ontario Stewardship Rangers program employs these “rangers” to work on a variety of projects.
These include conducting first research, planting trees, and studying species at risk.