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Global Warming Facts & Worksheets

Global warming is the name given to the gradual warming up of the Earth’s surface

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Global warming is the name given to the gradual warming up of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere. Global warming is happening all around us and has been for hundreds of years. It’s an environmental problem that scientists and governments are rapidly trying to fix, as it will have a great impact on future generations.

See the fact file below for more information on Global Warming or alternatively, you can download our 30-page Global Warming worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

WHAT IS GLOBAL WARMING?

  • Global warming is a long-term increase in temperature near the Earth‘s surface. This is caused by the greenhouse gasses emitted by the combustion of fossil fuels.
  • According to NASA, the term “global warming”, which describes an increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature caused by greenhouse gas emissions, is widely thought to have been coined in 1975 by Columbia University geochemist Wallace Broecker.
  • The Earth’s average global temperature has risen over the last 50 years, and global warming has accelerated in recent years.
  • This interference has significantly disrupted the Earth’s climatic balance by trapping several greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, causing the planet to warm.

CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING

  • The use of fossil fuels primarily contributes to global warming. These fossil fuels are the remains of plants and animals that humans have extracted and converted into fuel. 
  • Moreover, the use of fossil fuels results in the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the Earth’s atmosphere.
  • Manufacturing and industry generate emissions, primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels to generate energy for the production of cement, iron, steel, electronics, plastics, clothing, and other goods. Gases are also produced by mining and other industrial processes.
  • Plants and trees contribute to climate regulation by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releasing it as oxygen, which humans require to survive. 
  • Cutting down forests to make farms or pastures, or for other reasons, causes emissions because trees release the carbon they have been storing when they are cut down. 
  • Because forests absorb CO2, destroying them reduces nature’s capacity to maintain the carbon output out of the atmosphere.
  • Human activities such as deforestation and tree-cutting, on the other hand, have a significant impact on the rapid decline in the number of these life forms.
  • The majority of automobiles, trucks, ships, and planes run on fossil fuels. As a result, transportation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide. 
  • Road vehicles account for the majority of emissions, but emissions from ships and planes are increasing.
  • Houses, infrastructures, establishments, and so on, including power consumption, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Consumption of goods such as clothing, electronics, and plastics also increases emissions.

EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

  • Almost all land areas are experiencing an increase in hot days and heatwaves. 
  • Heat-related illnesses become more common as temperatures rise, making it more difficult to work and move around. 
  • When conditions are hotter, wildfires start more easily and spread more quickly.
  • Temperature changes cause changes in rainfall. As a result, storms become more severe and frequent. Flooding and landslides destroy homes and communities and cost billions of pounds.
  • Water is becoming increasingly scarce in many areas. Droughts cause devastation by causing sand and dust storms that can transport billions of grains of sand across the nearby regions.
  • Furthermore, deserts are growing in size, which reduces available farmland. Many people are now threatened by a lack of water on a regular basis; this also makes it increasingly challenging for farmers to farm livestock and grow produce, limiting the availability of food and increasing food prices.
  • A high percentage of the heat emitted by global warming is absorbed by the ocean. This causes arctic ice to dissolve and sea levels to rise, endangering coastlines and island communities. 
  • The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide as well, keeping it out of the atmosphere. 
  • The survival of animal life on land and sea is jeopardized by global warming. The risks increase as the temperature rises. 
  • Forest fires, severe weather, and infectious diseases and pests are just a few of the many threats. Several species will be able to migrate and thrive, while others will become extinct.
  • Global warming exacerbates the factors that cause and maintain poverty. Floods have the potential to wash away urban slums, wrecking homes and livelihoods, and even working outside in the heat is difficult.
  • Disasters caused by weather issues displace 23 million people each year, putting many more at risk of poverty.

PREVENTION OF GLOBAL WARMING

  • Everyone can help to prevent global warming. We have the ability to influence everything from how we travel to the electricity we use and the food we consume. 
  • A large portion of our electricity and heat is generated using coal, oil, and gas. Reduce your energy consumption by turning down your heating and cooling, switching to LED light bulbs and energy-efficient electric appliances, washing your laundry in cold water, and hanging items to dry rather than using a dryer.
  • The world’s highways are clogged with vehicles, the vast majority of which run on diesel or gasoline. 
  • Instead of driving, make walking or riding a bike a habit because these reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also improving health and fitness.
  • Electronics, clothing, and other items we buy emit carbon dioxide at every stage of production, from raw material extraction to mass production and distributing goods to the market. Buy fewer items, shop secondhand, repair what you can, and recycle to help the environment.

LAWS CONCERNING GLOBAL WARMING

  • The Montreal Protocol of 1987, although not intended to address climate change or global warming, was a historic environmental agreement that served as a model for future climate diplomacy. 
  • Every nation in the world eventually signed the agreement, which obligated them to stop producing ozone-depleting substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
  • The Kyoto Protocol of 1997, which was signed into law by 160 parties to the National Framework Convention on Climate Change, called for a 5-percentage-point reduction in emissions of six greenhouse gases by 38 industrialized countries relative to 1990 emissions levels.
    • There are no financial penalties for this in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol’s non-compliance provisions.
  • According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in order to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions must be cut in half by 2050 compared with 1990 levels. 
  • By 2050, developed countries must cut between 80 and 95 percent of their carbon emissions; advanced developing countries with high emissions, such as China, India, and Brazil, must limit their emission growth.
  • The “Durban Platform for Enhanced Action”, adopted at the United Nations conference in South Africa in December 2011, agreed on a road map to a new regulation by 2015, applicable to all parties to the UN Climate Convention. 

Global Warming Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Global Warming across 30 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Global warming which is the name given to the gradual warming up of the Earth’s surface.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Global Warming Facts
  • Relative Truth
  • The 10 Signs
  • Extreme Global Warming
  • Warming Earth
  • Chemical Fallout
  • Reflection
  • Extreme Weather
  • Word Search
  • Cause and Effect
  • Ozone Hole
  • Appeal
  • Global Review

Frequently Asked Questions

What is global warming?

Global warming is a long-term increase in temperature near the Earth’s surface. This is caused by the greenhouse gasses emitted by the combustion of fossil fuels. According to NASA, the term “global warming”, which describes an increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature caused by greenhouse gas emissions, is widely thought to have been coined in 1975 by Columbia University geochemist Wallace Broecker.

What causes global warming?

The use of fossil fuels primarily contributes to global warming. These fossil fuels are the remains of plants and animals that humans have extracted and converted into fuel. Manufacturing and industry generate emissions, primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels to generate energy for the production of cement, iron, steel, electronics, plastics, clothing, and other goods. Gases are also produced by mining and other industrial processes. Cutting down forests to make farms or pastures, or for other reasons, causes emissions because trees release the carbon they have been storing when they are cut down. Human activities such as deforestation and tree-cutting, on the other hand, have a significant impact on the rapid decline in the number of these life forms. Road vehicles account for the majority of emissions, but emissions from ships and planes are increasing. Houses, infrastructures, establishments, and so on, including power consumption, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Consumption of goods such as clothing, electronics, and plastics also increases emissions.

What can we do to prevent global warming?

Everyone can help to prevent global warming. We have the ability to influence everything from how we travel to the electricity we use and the food we consume. A large portion of our electricity and heat is generated using coal, oil, and gas. Reduce your energy consumption by turning down your heating and cooling, switching to LED light bulbs and energy-efficient electric appliances, washing your laundry in cold water, and hanging items to dry rather than using a dryer. The world’s highways are clogged with vehicles, the vast majority of which run on diesel or gasoline. Instead of driving, make walking or riding a bike a habit because these reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also improving health and fitness. Electronics, clothing, and other items we buy emit carbon dioxide at every stage of production, from raw material extraction to mass production and distributing goods to the market. Buy fewer items, shop secondhand, repair what you can, and recycle to help the environment.

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Link will appear as Global Warming Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, May 12, 2022

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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