Climate Change Definition Ap Human Geography

Climate Change Definition AP Human Geography: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction:

Are you an AP Human Geography student grappling with the complexities of climate change? Understanding climate change isn't just about memorizing scientific jargon; it's about grasping its profound impact on human societies, migration patterns, and geopolitical landscapes. This comprehensive guide dives deep into the definition of climate change within the context of AP Human Geography, exploring its multifaceted effects and the crucial role it plays in shaping our world. We’ll move beyond a simple definition to explore its various manifestations, from rising sea levels and extreme weather events to resource scarcity and forced migration. Get ready to understand climate change not just as an environmental issue, but as a pivotal force driving human geographic patterns and processes.


1. Defining Climate Change in the Context of AP Human Geography:

Climate change, in the simplest terms, refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. However, for AP Human Geography, the definition extends beyond the purely scientific. It's about the human impact on and response to these shifts. This means examining:

Anthropogenic factors: Understanding how human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, are the primary drivers of current climate change. This isn't just about knowing the science; it's about understanding the geographic distribution of these activities and their varying impacts across regions.
Spatial variations: Climate change doesn't affect the globe uniformly. Some regions experience more severe impacts than others, leading to differentiated vulnerabilities and responses. This necessitates understanding the geographic disparities in both the causes and consequences of climate change.
Socio-economic consequences: The effects of climate change are not merely environmental. They have profound socio-economic ramifications, impacting agriculture, water resources, health, and economic stability. Analyzing these impacts geographically is crucial for understanding their uneven distribution and their influence on human migration and conflict.
Political and economic responses: Nations and communities respond to climate change in diverse ways, through mitigation efforts (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation strategies (adjusting to the effects of climate change). Examining these responses geographically reveals patterns of cooperation, conflict, and inequality.


2. Key Manifestations of Climate Change Relevant to AP Human Geography:

Several key manifestations of climate change are central to AP Human Geography:

Rising Sea Levels: The melting of glaciers and thermal expansion of water leads to rising sea levels, threatening coastal communities and infrastructure globally. This impacts population displacement, resource competition, and national security. Understanding the geographic distribution of vulnerable coastal regions is critical.
Extreme Weather Events: Increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes, droughts, floods, and heatwaves are significant consequences of climate change. These events cause widespread damage, displacement, and economic disruption, often disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations in specific geographic locations.
Changes in Agricultural Productivity: Shifting temperature and rainfall patterns affect agricultural yields, leading to food insecurity and economic instability in certain regions. This can trigger conflict over resources and drive migration patterns.
Water Scarcity: Climate change alters precipitation patterns, exacerbating water scarcity in many regions. This impacts agricultural practices, human health, and can lead to interstate conflicts over water resources.
Changes in Disease Vectors: Warmer temperatures can expand the range of disease vectors, such as mosquitoes, increasing the incidence of diseases like malaria and dengue fever in new geographic areas.


3. Climate Change and Human Migration:

Climate change is a significant driver of human migration, forcing people to leave their homes due to sea-level rise, extreme weather events, resource scarcity, and agricultural failure. Understanding these "climate refugees" and their patterns of movement is essential for AP Human Geography. This involves:

Internal Migration: Movement within a country, often from rural areas affected by climate change to urban centers in search of opportunities.
International Migration: Movement across national borders, often from developing countries highly vulnerable to climate change to more developed nations perceived as safer and more prosperous.
Environmental Refugees: A specific category of migrants displaced due to environmental factors, including climate change. The legal and humanitarian aspects of their situation are crucial considerations.


4. Climate Change and Geopolitics:

Climate change is increasingly shaping geopolitical dynamics. Competition for dwindling resources, disputes over territorial boundaries affected by rising sea levels, and the potential for climate-induced conflict are all relevant topics. Understanding the geographic distribution of these conflicts and the roles of different actors (nations, international organizations, NGOs) is key.


5. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies:

Understanding the geographic distribution and effectiveness of different mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) and adaptation (adjusting to climate change impacts) strategies is crucial. This includes analyzing policies, technologies, and community-based initiatives across various regions.


Article Outline: Climate Change and AP Human Geography

Introduction: Defining climate change and its relevance to AP Human Geography.
Chapter 1: Anthropogenic factors driving climate change and their geographic distribution.
Chapter 2: Key manifestations of climate change: rising sea levels, extreme weather, agricultural impacts, water scarcity, and disease vectors.
Chapter 3: Climate change as a driver of human migration: internal and international migration, and the concept of environmental refugees.
Chapter 4: The geopolitical implications of climate change: resource conflicts, territorial disputes, and climate security.
Chapter 5: Mitigation and adaptation strategies: geographic analysis of policies, technologies, and community-based initiatives.
Conclusion: Synthesizing the interconnectedness of climate change and human geography.


(Detailed explanation of each chapter would follow here, expanding on the points already outlined above. Each chapter would be approximately 200-300 words, further enriching the information with examples and geographic specifics.)


Conclusion:

Climate change is not merely an environmental issue; it's a fundamental force reshaping the human landscape. Understanding its geographic manifestations, impacts on human societies, and geopolitical implications is vital for anyone studying AP Human Geography. By grasping the complex interplay between climate change and human activities, you gain a deeper appreciation for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in a rapidly changing world.


FAQs:

1. What is the difference between climate and weather? Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate refers to long-term weather patterns over decades or centuries.
2. What are the primary greenhouse gases? Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases.
3. How does climate change affect agriculture? Changes in temperature and rainfall patterns reduce crop yields, leading to food insecurity.
4. What is the Kyoto Protocol? An international treaty committing nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
5. What is the Paris Agreement? A global agreement setting targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change.
6. What are climate refugees? People displaced from their homes due to climate change-related events.
7. How does climate change impact water resources? It alters precipitation patterns, leading to water scarcity in some areas and increased flooding in others.
8. What are some adaptation strategies to climate change? Building seawalls, developing drought-resistant crops, and improving water management systems.
9. How can individuals contribute to mitigating climate change? Reducing carbon footprint through energy conservation, sustainable transportation, and responsible consumption.


Related Articles:

1. The Impact of Climate Change on Coastal Communities: Explores the specific challenges faced by coastal populations due to rising sea levels and extreme weather events.
2. Climate Change and Food Security: Examines the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and food availability globally.
3. Climate Change Migration: A Geographic Perspective: Analyzes the patterns and drivers of climate-related migration.
4. Climate Change and Geopolitical Instability: Explores the link between climate change and international conflicts over resources and territory.
5. Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Developing Countries: Focuses on the unique challenges and solutions in less developed nations.
6. The Economics of Climate Change Mitigation: Discusses the economic aspects of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
7. Climate Change and Public Health: Examines the impact of climate change on the spread of infectious diseases.
8. Climate Change and Urban Planning: Explores how cities can adapt to the challenges of climate change.
9. International Cooperation on Climate Change: Analyzes the efforts of international organizations to address climate change.


  climate change definition ap human geography: AP Human Geography 2017-2018 Kelly Swanson, 2017-02-07 Presents a study guide that reviews human geography topics covered on the advanced placement test, offers tips on test-taking strategies, and includes full-length practice tests with answers and explanations.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States US Global Change Research Program, 2018-02-06 As global climate change proliferates, so too do the health risks associated with the changing world around us. Called for in the President’s Climate Action Plan and put together by experts from eight different Federal agencies, The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health: A Scientific Assessment is a comprehensive report on these evolving health risks, including: Temperature-related death and illness Air quality deterioration Impacts of extreme events on human health Vector-borne diseases Climate impacts on water-related Illness Food safety, nutrition, and distribution Mental health and well-being This report summarizes scientific data in a concise and accessible fashion for the general public, providing executive summaries, key takeaways, and full-color diagrams and charts. Learn what health risks face you and your family as a result of global climate change and start preparing now with The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Cracking the AP Human Geography Exam, 2014 Edition Princeton Review (Firm), 2013-09-03 Reviews topics covered on the test, offers tips on test-taking strategies, and includes two full-length practice tests with answers and explanations.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Climate Change 2014 Groupe d'experts intergouvernemental sur l'évolution du climat, 2015
  climate change definition ap human geography: Himalayan Glaciers National Research Council, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Committee on Population, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Water Science and Technology Board, Board on Atmospheric Studies and Climate, Committee on Himalayan Glaciers, Hydrology, Climate Change, and Implications for Water Security, 2012-11-29 Scientific evidence shows that most glaciers in South Asia's Hindu Kush Himalayan region are retreating, but the consequences for the region's water supply are unclear, this report finds. The Hindu Kush Himalayan region is the location of several of Asia's great river systems, which provide water for drinking, irrigation, and other uses for about 1.5 billion people. Recent studies show that at lower elevations, glacial retreat is unlikely to cause significant changes in water availability over the next several decades, but other factors, including groundwater depletion and increasing human water use, could have a greater impact. Higher elevation areas could experience altered water flow in some river basins if current rates of glacial retreat continue, but shifts in the location, intensity, and variability of rain and snow due to climate change will likely have a greater impact on regional water supplies. Himalayan Glaciers: Climate Change, Water Resources, and Water Security makes recommendations and sets guidelines for the future of climate change and water security in the Himalayan Region. This report emphasizes that social changes, such as changing patterns of water use and water management decisions, are likely to have at least as much of an impact on water demand as environmental factors do on water supply. Water scarcity will likely affect the rural and urban poor most severely, as these groups have the least capacity to move to new locations as needed. It is predicted that the region will become increasingly urbanized as cities expand to absorb migrants in search of economic opportunities. As living standards and populations rise, water use will likely increase-for example, as more people have diets rich in meat, more water will be needed for agricultural use. The effects of future climate change could further exacerbate water stress. Himalayan Glaciers: Climate Change, Water Resources, and Water Security explains that changes in the availability of water resources could play an increasing role in political tensions, especially if existing water management institutions do not better account for the social, economic, and ecological complexities of the region. To effectively respond to the effects of climate change, water management systems will need to take into account the social, economic, and ecological complexities of the region. This means it will be important to expand research and monitoring programs to gather more detailed, consistent, and accurate data on demographics, water supply, demand, and scarcity.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Cracking the AP Human Geography Exam, 2013 Edition Jon Moore, Princeton Review, 2012-09-04 Reviews topics covered on the test, offers tips on test-taking strategies, and includes two full-length practice tests with answers and explanations.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Cracking the AP Human Geography Exam, 2012 Edition Princeton Review, Jon Moore, 2011-09-06 Reviews topics covered on the test, offers tips on test-taking strategies, and includes two full-length practice tests with answers and explanations.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Cracking the AP human geography exam [electronic resource] Jon Moore, 2009 Reviews topics covered on the test, offers tips on test-taking strategies, and includes two full-length practice tests with answers and explanations.
  climate change definition ap human geography: The Demography of Adaptation to Climate Change George Martine, Daniel Schensul, 2013 A flurry of extreme weather events, together with projections that grow more somber with every new scientific advance, have dramatically highlighted the need to respond more effectively to the threats already upon humankind. In the midst of a rapidly expanding global adaptation agenda, it is of primary importance to get adaptation and its constituent parts right, in order to generate the most appropriate and effective interventions. Adapting to episodes after they occur is no longer sufficient; we increasingly need to anticipate and reduce the suffering and the enormously damaging impacts of potential coming events. This book addresses a major gap in adaptation efforts to date by pointing to the vital role that an understanding of population dynamics and an extensive use of demographic data have in developing pre-emptive and effective adaptation policies and practices. Politics and an oversimplified understanding of demographic dynamics have long kept population issues out of serious discussions in the framework of climate negotiations. Within adaptation actions, however, this is beginning to change, and this volume is intended to provide a framework for taking that change forward, towards better, more evidence-based adaptation. It provides key concepts linking demography and adaptation, data foundations and techniques for analyzing climate vulnerability, as well as case studies where these concepts and analyses illuminate who is vulnerable and how to help build their resilience.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Cracking the AP Human Geography Exam, 2011 Edition Princeton Review, 2010-09 Review of all topics from land use to population pyramids; 2 full-length practice tests with detailed explanations.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Canada’s Top Climate Change Risks The Expert Panel on Climate Change Risks and Adaptation Potential, 2019-07-04 Canada’s Top Climate Change Risks identifies the top risk areas based on the extent and likelihood of the potential damage, and rates the risk areas according to society’s ability to adapt and reduce negative outcomes. These 12 major areas of risk are: agriculture and food, coastal communities, ecosystems, fisheries, forestry, geopolitical dynamics, governance and capacity, human health and wellness, Indigenous ways of life, northern communities, physical infrastructure, and water. The report describes an approach to inform federal risk prioritization and adaptation responses. The Panel outlines a multi-layered method of prioritizing adaptation measures based on an understanding of the risk, adaptation potential, and federal roles and responsibilities.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Cracking the AP Human Geography Exam, 2018 Edition Princeton Review, 2017-10-10 EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO HELP SCORE A PERFECT 5. Equip yourself to ace the AP Human Geography Exam with this comprehensive study guide—including thorough content reviews, targeted strategies for every question type, access to our AP Connect portal online, and 2 full-length practice tests with complete answer explanations. This eBook edition has been optimized for on-screen reading with cross-linked questions, answers, and explanations. Written by the experts at The Princeton Review, Cracking the AP Human Geography Exam arms you to take on the test and achieve your highest possible score. Techniques That Actually Work. • Tried-and-true strategies to help you avoid traps and beat the test • Tips for pacing yourself and guessing logically • Essential tactics to help you work smarter, not harder Everything You Need to Know to Help Achieve a High Score. • Detailed content review for all test topics • Engaging activities to help you critically assess your progress • Useful lists of key terms for every content review chapter • Access to AP Connect, our online portal for helpful pre-college information and exam updates Practice Your Way to Excellence. • 2 full-length practice tests with detailed answer explanations • Detailed maps and charts illustrating trends, theories, and models • Practice drills for every content review chapter
  climate change definition ap human geography: Cracking the AP Human Geography Exam, 2017 Edition Princeton Review, 2016-10-11 EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO HELP SCORE A PERFECT 5. Equip yourself to ace the AP Human Geography Exam with The Princeton Review's comprehensive study guide—including thorough content reviews, targeted strategies for every question type, access to our AP Connect portal online, and 2 full-length practice tests with complete answer explanations. This eBook edition has been optimized for on-screen viewing with cross-linked questions, answers, and explanations. AP Human Geography can be a tough nut to crack, but stellar AP scores are an important part of having a competitive college application at the most selective schools. Written by the experts at The Princeton Review, Cracking the AP Human Geography Exam arms you to take on the test and achieve your highest possible score. Techniques That Actually Work. • Tried-and-true strategies to help you avoid traps and beat the test • Tips for pacing yourself and guessing logically • Essential tactics to help you work smarter, not harder Everything You Need to Know to Help Achieve a High Score. • Comprehensive content reviews for all test topics • Engaging activities to help you critically assess your progress • Access to AP Connect, our online portal for helpful pre-college information and exam updates Practice Your Way to Excellence. • 2 full-length practice tests with detailed answer explanations • Detailed maps and charts illustrating trends, theories, and models • Useful lists of key terms and practice drills for every content review chapter
  climate change definition ap human geography: Cracking the AP Human Geography Exam, 2017 Edition Princeton Review (Firm), 2016-08 Reviews topics covered on the test, offers tips on test-taking strategies, and includes two full-length practice tests with answers and explanations.
  climate change definition ap human geography: The Regional Impacts of Climate Change Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Working Group II., 1998 Cambridge, UK : Cambridge University Press, 1998.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Understanding by Design Grant P. Wiggins, Jay McTighe, 2005 What is understanding and how does it differ from knowledge? How can we determine the big ideas worth understanding? Why is understanding an important teaching goal, and how do we know when students have attained it? How can we create a rigorous and engaging curriculum that focuses on understanding and leads to improved student performance in today's high-stakes, standards-based environment? Authors Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe answer these and many other questions in this second edition of Understanding by Design. Drawing on feedback from thousands of educators around the world who have used the UbD framework since its introduction in 1998, the authors have greatly revised and expanded their original work to guide educators across the K-16 spectrum in the design of curriculum, assessment, and instruction. With an improved UbD Template at its core, the book explains the rationale of backward design and explores in greater depth the meaning of such key ideas as essential questions and transfer tasks. Readers will learn why the familiar coverage- and activity-based approaches to curriculum design fall short, and how a focus on the six facets of understanding can enrich student learning. With an expanded array of practical strategies, tools, and examples from all subject areas, the book demonstrates how the research-based principles of Understanding by Design apply to district frameworks as well as to individual units of curriculum. Combining provocative ideas, thoughtful analysis, and tested approaches, this new edition of Understanding by Design offers teacher-designers a clear path to the creation of curriculum that ensures better learning and a more stimulating experience for students and teachers alike.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2012-05-28 Extreme weather and climate events, interacting with exposed and vulnerable human and natural systems, can lead to disasters. This Special Report explores the social as well as physical dimensions of weather- and climate-related disasters, considering opportunities for managing risks at local to international scales. SREX was approved and accepted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on 18 November 2011 in Kampala, Uganda.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Communities in Action National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Health and Medicine Division, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice, Committee on Community-Based Solutions to Promote Health Equity in the United States, 2017-04-27 In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States U.S. Global Change Research Program, 2009-08-24 Summarizes the science of climate change and impacts on the United States, for the public and policymakers.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Encyclopaedia Britannica Hugh Chisholm, 1910 This eleventh edition was developed during the encyclopaedia's transition from a British to an American publication. Some of its articles were written by the best-known scholars of the time and it is considered to be a landmark encyclopaedia for scholarship and literary style.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Shock Waves Stephane Hallegatte, Mook Bangalore, Laura Bonzanigo, Marianne Fay, Tamaro Kane, Ulf Narloch, Julie Rozenberg, David Treguer, Adrien Vogt-Schilb, 2015-11-23 Ending poverty and stabilizing climate change will be two unprecedented global achievements and two major steps toward sustainable development. But the two objectives cannot be considered in isolation: they need to be jointly tackled through an integrated strategy. This report brings together those two objectives and explores how they can more easily be achieved if considered together. It examines the potential impact of climate change and climate policies on poverty reduction. It also provides guidance on how to create a “win-win†? situation so that climate change policies contribute to poverty reduction and poverty-reduction policies contribute to climate change mitigation and resilience building. The key finding of the report is that climate change represents a significant obstacle to the sustained eradication of poverty, but future impacts on poverty are determined by policy choices: rapid, inclusive, and climate-informed development can prevent most short-term impacts whereas immediate pro-poor, emissions-reduction policies can drastically limit long-term ones.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Attribution of Extreme Weather Events in the Context of Climate Change National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Committee on Extreme Weather Events and Climate Change Attribution, 2016-07-28 As climate has warmed over recent years, a new pattern of more frequent and more intense weather events has unfolded across the globe. Climate models simulate such changes in extreme events, and some of the reasons for the changes are well understood. Warming increases the likelihood of extremely hot days and nights, favors increased atmospheric moisture that may result in more frequent heavy rainfall and snowfall, and leads to evaporation that can exacerbate droughts. Even with evidence of these broad trends, scientists cautioned in the past that individual weather events couldn't be attributed to climate change. Now, with advances in understanding the climate science behind extreme events and the science of extreme event attribution, such blanket statements may not be accurate. The relatively young science of extreme event attribution seeks to tease out the influence of human-cause climate change from other factors, such as natural sources of variability like El Niño, as contributors to individual extreme events. Event attribution can answer questions about how much climate change influenced the probability or intensity of a specific type of weather event. As event attribution capabilities improve, they could help inform choices about assessing and managing risk, and in guiding climate adaptation strategies. This report examines the current state of science of extreme weather attribution, and identifies ways to move the science forward to improve attribution capabilities.
  climate change definition ap human geography: AP Human Geography 2020 and 2021 Study Guide , 2020-04-27 Test Prep Books' AP Human Geography 2020 and 2021 Study Guide: AP Human Geography Review Book and Practice Test Questions [Updated for the New Exam Description] Made by Test Prep Books experts for test takers trying to achieve a great score on the AP Human Geography exam. This comprehensive study guide includes: Quick Overview Find out what's inside this guide! Test-Taking Strategies Learn the best tips to help overcome your exam! Introduction Get a thorough breakdown of what the test is and what's on it! Thinking Geographically Population and Migration Patterns and Processes Cultural Patters and Processes Political Patters and Processes Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes Cities and Urban Land-Use Processes Industrial and Economic Development Patterns and Processes Free Response Questions Practice Questions Practice makes perfect! Detailed Answer Explanations Figure out where you went wrong and how to improve! Disclaimer: *AP(R) and Advanced Placement(R) are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this product. Studying can be hard. We get it. That's why we created this guide with these great features and benefits: Comprehensive Review: Each section of the test has a comprehensive review created by Test Prep Books that goes into detail to cover all of the content likely to appear on the test. Practice Test Questions: We want to give you the best practice you can find. That's why the Test Prep Books practice questions are as close as you can get to the actual AP Human Geography test. Answer Explanations: Every single problem is followed by an answer explanation. We know it's frustrating to miss a question and not understand why. The answer explanations will help you learn from your mistakes. That way, you can avoid missing it again in the future. Test-Taking Strategies: A test taker has to understand the material that is being covered and be familiar with the latest test taking strategies. These strategies are necessary to properly use the time provided. They also help test takers complete the test without making any errors. Test Prep Books has provided the top test-taking tips. Customer Service: We love taking care of our test takers. We make sure that you interact with a real human being when you email your comments or concerns. Anyone planning to take this exam should take advantage of this Test Prep Books study guide. Purchase it today to receive access to: AP Human Geography review materials AP Human Geography practice tests Test-taking strategies
  climate change definition ap human geography: Global Trends 2040 National Intelligence Council, 2021-03 The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic marks the most significant, singular global disruption since World War II, with health, economic, political, and security implications that will ripple for years to come. -Global Trends 2040 (2021) Global Trends 2040-A More Contested World (2021), released by the US National Intelligence Council, is the latest report in its series of reports starting in 1997 about megatrends and the world's future. This report, strongly influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, paints a bleak picture of the future and describes a contested, fragmented and turbulent world. It specifically discusses the four main trends that will shape tomorrow's world: - Demographics-by 2040, 1.4 billion people will be added mostly in Africa and South Asia. - Economics-increased government debt and concentrated economic power will escalate problems for the poor and middleclass. - Climate-a hotter world will increase water, food, and health insecurity. - Technology-the emergence of new technologies could both solve and cause problems for human life. Students of trends, policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, journalists and anyone eager for a glimpse into the next decades, will find this report, with colored graphs, essential reading.
  climate change definition ap human geography: A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change Interagency Working Group on Climate Change and Health (U.S.), 2010
  climate change definition ap human geography: Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples in the United States Julie Koppel Maldonado, Benedict Colombi, Rajul Pandya, 2014-04-05 With a long history and deep connection to the Earth’s resources, indigenous peoples have an intimate understanding and ability to observe the impacts linked to climate change. Traditional ecological knowledge and tribal experience play a key role in developing future scientific solutions for adaptation to the impacts. The book explores climate-related issues for indigenous communities in the United States, including loss of traditional knowledge, forests and ecosystems, food security and traditional foods, as well as water, Arctic sea ice loss, permafrost thaw and relocation. The book also highlights how tribal communities and programs are responding to the changing environments. Fifty authors from tribal communities, academia, government agencies and NGOs contributed to the book. Previously published in Climatic Change, Volume 120, Issue 3, 2013.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Psychology and Climate Change Susan Clayton, Christie Manning, 2018-06-05 Psychology and Climate Change: Human Perceptions, Impacts, and Responses organizes and summarizes recent psychological research that relates to the issue of climate change. The book covers topics such as how people perceive and respond to climate change, how people understand and communicate about the issue, how it impacts individuals and communities, particularly vulnerable communities, and how individuals and communities can best prepare for and mitigate negative climate change impacts. It addresses the topic at multiple scales, from individuals to close social networks and communities. Further, it considers the role of social diversity in shaping vulnerability and reactions to climate change. Psychology and Climate Change describes the implications of psychological processes such as perceptions and motivations (e.g., risk perception, motivated cognition, denial), emotional responses, group identities, mental health and well-being, sense of place, and behavior (mitigation and adaptation). The book strives to engage diverse stakeholders, from multiple disciplines in addition to psychology, and at every level of decision making - individual, community, national, and international, to understand the ways in which human capabilities and tendencies can and should shape policy and action to address the urgent and very real issue of climate change. - Examines the role of knowledge, norms, experience, and social context in climate change awareness and action - Considers the role of identity threat, identity-based motivation, and belonging - Presents a conceptual framework for classifying individual and household behavior - Develops a model to explain environmentally sustainable behavior - Draws on what we know about participation in collective action - Describes ways to improve the effectiveness of climate change communication efforts - Discusses the difference between acute climate change events and slowly-emerging changes on our mental health - Addresses psychological stress and injury related to global climate change from an intersectional justice perspective - Promotes individual and community resilience
  climate change definition ap human geography: Climate Change and Cities Cynthia Rosenzweig, William D. Solecki, Patricia Romero-Lankao, Shagun Mehrotra, Shobhakar Dhakal, Somayya Ali Ibrahim, 2018-03-29 Climate Change and Cities bridges science-to-action for climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in cities around the world.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Climate Change 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Working Group 2, 2007
  climate change definition ap human geography: The Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 2022-04-30 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for assessing the science related to climate change. It provides policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of human-induced climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. This IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate is the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the observed and projected changes to the ocean and cryosphere and their associated impacts and risks, with a focus on resilience, risk management response options, and adaptation measures, considering both their potential and limitations. It brings together knowledge on physical and biogeochemical changes, the interplay with ecosystem changes, and the implications for human communities. It serves policymakers, decision makers, stakeholders, and all interested parties with unbiased, up-to-date, policy-relevant information. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Climate Impacts on Energy Systems Jane O. Ebinger, 2011 While the energy sector is a primary target of efforts to arrest and reverse the growth of greenhouse gas emissions and lower the carbon footprint of development, it is also expected to be increasingly affected by unavoidable climate consequences from the damage already induced in the biosphere. Energy services and resources, as well as seasonal demand, will be increasingly affected by changing trends, increasing variability, greater extremes and large inter-annual variations in climate parameters in some regions. All evidence suggests that adaptation is not an optional add-on but an essential reckoning on par with other business risks. Existing energy infrastructure, new infrastructure and future planning need to consider emerging climate conditions and impacts on design, construction, operation, and maintenance. Integrated risk-based planning processes will be critical to address the climate change impacts and harmonize actions within and across sectors. Also, awareness, knowledge, and capacity impede mainstreaming of climate adaptation into the energy sector. However, the formal knowledge base is still nascent?information needs are complex and to a certain extent regionally and sector specific. This report provides an up-to-date compendium of what is known about weather variability and projected climate trends and their impacts on energy service provision and demand. It discusses emerging practices and tools for managing these impacts and integrating climate considerations into planning processes and operational practices in an environment of uncertainty. It focuses on energy sector adaptation, rather than mitigation which is not discussed in this report. This report draws largely on available scientific and peer-reviewed literature in the public domain and takes the perspective of the developing world to the extent possible.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Review of the Draft Fourth National Climate Assessment National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Board on Environmental Change and Society, Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Committee to Review the Draft Fourth National Climate Assessment, 2018-06-18 Climate change poses many challenges that affect society and the natural world. With these challenges, however, come opportunities to respond. By taking steps to adapt to and mitigate climate change, the risks to society and the impacts of continued climate change can be lessened. The National Climate Assessment, coordinated by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, is a mandated report intended to inform response decisions. Required to be developed every four years, these reports provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date evaluation of climate change impacts available for the United States, making them a unique and important climate change document. The draft Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA4) report reviewed here addresses a wide range of topics of high importance to the United States and society more broadly, extending from human health and community well-being, to the built environment, to businesses and economies, to ecosystems and natural resources. This report evaluates the draft NCA4 to determine if it meets the requirements of the federal mandate, whether it provides accurate information grounded in the scientific literature, and whether it effectively communicates climate science, impacts, and responses for general audiences including the public, decision makers, and other stakeholders.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Coastal Wetlands Gerardo M.E. Perillo, Eric Wolanski, Donald R. Cahoon, Mark M. Brinson, 2009-01-18 Coastal wetlands are under a great deal of pressure from the dual forces of rising sea level and the intervention of human populations both along the estuary and in the river catchment. Direct impacts include the destruction or degradation of wetlands from land reclamation and infrastructures. Indirect impacts derive from the discharge of pollutants, changes in river flows and sediment supplies, land clearing, and dam operations. As sea level rises, coastal wetlands in most areas of the world migrate landward to occupy former uplands. The competition of these lands from human development is intensifying, making the landward migration impossible in many cases. This book provides an understanding of the functioning of coastal ecosystems and the ecological services that they provide, and suggestions for their management. In this book a CD is included containing color figures of wetlands and estuaries in different parts of the world. - Includes a CD containing color figures of wetlands and estuaries in different parts of the world.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Migration, Environment and Climate Change Frank Laczko, Christine Aghazarm, 2009 Gradual and sudden environmental changes are resulting in substantial human movement and displacement, and the scale of such flows, both internal and cross-border, is expected to rise with unprecedented impacts on lives and livelihoods. Despite the potential challenge, there has been a lack of strategic thinking about this policy area partly due to a lack of data and empirical research on this topic. Adequately planning for and managing environmentallyinduced migration will be critical for human security. The papers in this volume were first presented at the Research Workshop on Migration and the Environment: Developing a Global Research Agenda held in Munich, Germany in April 2008. One of the key objectives on the Munich workshop was to address the need for more sound empirical research and identify priority areas of research for policy makers in the field of migration and the environment.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Invasive Species in Forests and Rangelands of the United States Therese M. Poland, Toral Patel-Weynand, Deborah M. Finch, Chelcy Ford Miniat, Deborah C. Hayes, Vanessa M. Lopez, 2021-02-01 This open access book describes the serious threat of invasive species to native ecosystems. Invasive species have caused and will continue to cause enormous ecological and economic damage with ever increasing world trade. This multi-disciplinary book, written by over 100 national experts, presents the latest research on a wide range of natural science and social science fields that explore the ecology, impacts, and practical tools for management of invasive species. It covers species of all taxonomic groups from insects and pathogens, to plants, vertebrates, and aquatic organisms that impact a diversity of habitats in forests, rangelands and grasslands of the United States. It is well-illustrated, provides summaries of the most important invasive species and issues impacting all regions of the country, and includes a comprehensive primary reference list for each topic. This scientific synthesis provides the cultural, economic, scientific and social context for addressing environmental challenges posed by invasive species and will be a valuable resource for scholars, policy makers, natural resource managers and practitioners.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Greenhouse Gas Sinks Dave Reay, 2007 In this first comprehensive handbook of the earth's sinks for greenhouse gases, leading researchers from around the world provide an expert synthesis of current understanding and uncertainties. It will be a valuable resource for students, researchers and practitioners in conservation, ecology and environmental studies.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Biodiversity and Climate Change Thomas E. Lovejoy, Lee Jay Hannah, 2019-01-01 An essential, up-to-date look at the critical interactions between biological diversity and climate change that will serve as an immediate call to action The physical and biological impacts of climate change are dramatic and broad-ranging. People who care about the planet and manage natural resources urgently need a synthesis of our rapidly growing understanding of these issues. In this all-new sequel to the 2005 volume Climate Change and Biodiversity, leading experts in the field summarize observed changes, assess what the future holds, and offer suggested responses. From extinction risk to ocean acidification, from the future of the Amazon to changes in ecosystem services, and from geoengineering to the power of ecosystem restoration, this book captures the sweep of climate change transformation of the biosphere.
  climate change definition ap human geography: The Cultural Landscape James M. Rubenstein, Robert Edward Nunley, 1998-09
  climate change definition ap human geography: America's Climate Choices National Research Council, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Committee on America's Climate Choices, 2011-06-11 Climate change is occurring. It is very likely caused by the emission of greenhouse gases from human activities, and poses significant risks for a range of human and natural systems. And these emissions continue to increase, which will result in further change and greater risks. America's Climate Choices makes the case that the environmental, economic, and humanitarian risks posed by climate change indicate a pressing need for substantial action now to limit the magnitude of climate change and to prepare for adapting to its impacts. Although there is some uncertainty about future risk, acting now will reduce the risks posed by climate change and the pressure to make larger, more rapid, and potentially more expensive reductions later. Most actions taken to reduce vulnerability to climate change impacts are common sense investments that will offer protection against natural climate variations and extreme events. In addition, crucial investment decisions made now about equipment and infrastructure can lock in commitments to greenhouse gas emissions for decades to come. Finally, while it may be possible to scale back or reverse many responses to climate change, it is difficult or impossible to undo climate change, once manifested. Current efforts of local, state, and private-sector actors are important, but not likely to yield progress comparable to what could be achieved with the addition of strong federal policies that establish coherent national goals and incentives, and that promote strong U.S. engagement in international-level response efforts. The inherent complexities and uncertainties of climate change are best met by applying an iterative risk management framework and making efforts to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions; prepare for adapting to impacts; invest in scientific research, technology development, and information systems; and facilitate engagement between scientific and technical experts and the many types of stakeholders making America's climate choices.
  climate change definition ap human geography: Human Geography Jerome Donald Fellmann, Arthur Getis, Judith Getis, 2001