Table Of ContentS I M P L Y
CLIMATE CHANGE
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CONSULTANT
Professor Frans Berkhout is the
Executive Dean of the Faculty of
Social Science & Public Policy and
Senior Editor Miezan van Zyl Professor of Environment, Society,
US Editor Karyn Gerhard and Climate at King’s College London.
Senior Designer Mik Gates
Project Art Editor Jessica Tapolcai
CONTRIBUTORS
Editor Michael Clark
Managing Editor Angeles Gavira Clive Gifford is a Royal Society
Managing Art Editor Michael Duffy award-winning writer and journalist
Production Editor Gillian Reid who has written and contributed
Senior Production Controller Laura Andrews
to many popular-science and
Jacket Design Development Manager
Sophia M.T.T. technology books.
Jacket Designer Akiko Kato
Associate Publishing Director Liz Wheeler Daniel Hooke studied climate change
Art Director Karen Self
at University College London, with
Publishing Director Jonathan Metcalf
a particular interest in climate models
First American Edition, 2021 and climates of the past. He has
Published in the United States by DK Publishing
1450 Broadway, Suite 801, New York, NY 10018 contributed to a range of climate
change books for children and adults.
Copyright © 2021 Dorling Kindersley Limited
DK, a Division of Penguin Random House LLC
21 22 23 24 25 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Adam Levy is a science journalist
001–325074–Nov/2021 and climate YouTuber who holds a
All rights reserved. PhD in atmospheric physics from
Without limiting the rights under the copyright the University of Oxford.
reserved above, no part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means
(electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise), without the prior written
permission of the copyright owner.
Published in Great Britain by
Dorling Kindersley Limited
A catalog record for this book
is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978-0-7440-4445-4
DK books are available at special discounts when
purchased in bulk for sales promotions, premiums,
fund-raising, or educational use. For details, contact:
DK Publishing Special Markets,
1450 Broadway, Suite 801, New York, NY 10018
[email protected]
Printed and bound in Dubai
www.dk.com
This book was made with Forest
Stewardship Council ™ certified
paper—one small step in DK’s
commitment to a sustainable future.
For more information go to
www.dk.com/our-green-pledge
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CONSULTANT CONTENTS
Professor Frans Berkhout is the
Executive Dean of the Faculty of
Social Science & Public Policy and
Senior Editor Miezan van Zyl Professor of Environment, Society, WHAT IS
US Editor Karyn Gerhard and Climate at King’s College London.
Senior Designer Mik Gates CARBON?
Project Art Editor Jessica Tapolcai
CONTRIBUTORS
Editor Michael Clark
Managing Editor Angeles Gavira Clive Gifford is a Royal Society
Managing Art Editor Michael Duffy award-winning writer and journalist 28 FUEL TO THE FIRE
Production Editor Gillian Reid who has written and contributed Fossil fuels
Senior Production Controller Laura Andrews
Jacket Design Development Manager to many popular-science and 30 NOTHING NEW
Sophia M.T.T. technology books. 7 INTRODUCTION UNDER THE SUN
Jacket Designer Akiko Kato The carbon cycle
WHAT IS CLIMATE
Associate Publishing Director Liz Wheeler Daniel Hooke studied climate change
Art Director Karen Self 31 CHARTING THE RISE
at University College London, with
Publishing Director Jonathan Metcalf CHANGE? The Keeling Curve
a particular interest in climate models
First American Edition, 2021 and climates of the past. He has 32 A STRONG CONSENSUS
1P4u5b0li sBhreoda dinw tahye, SUuniittee d8 0S1t,a Nteesw b yY oDrKk ,P NuYb l1is0h0in1g8 contributed to a range of climate 10 WEATHER VS. CLIMATE Are changes made by humans?
change books for children and adults. Climate and weather 33 MIND YOUR STEP
Copyright © 2021 Dorling Kindersley Limited
Carbon footprints
DK, a Division of Penguin Random House LLC
12 TOO HOT TO HANDLE
21 22 23 24 25 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Adam Levy is a science journalist
001–325074–Nov/2021 and climate YouTuber who holds a The greenhouse effect 34 WHAT’S YOUR BUDGET?
Carbon budgets
All rights reserved. PhD in atmospheric physics from 13 SOMETHING IN THE AIR
Without limiting the rights under the copyright the University of Oxford. Greenhouse gases 35 A DEGREE OF CONCERN
reserved above, no part of this publication may be The 3.6° limit
reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval 14 HOTTER AND HOTTER
system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means Climate through time 36 STEPS TO NET ZERO
(electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
The net-zero target
or otherwise), without the prior written 15 DISTORTED CLIMATES
permission of the copyright owner.
Published in Great Britain by Natural cycles
Dorling Kindersley Limited
16 A DELICATE BALANCE
A catalog record for this book The climate system
is available from the Library of Congress.
ISBN 978-0-7440-4445-4 17 OUT OF THIN AIR
The atmosphere
DK books are available at special discounts when
purchased in bulk for sales promotions, premiums, 18 GO WITH THE FLOW
fund-raising, or educational use. For details, contact:
DK Publishing Special Markets, Ocean currents POPULATION
1450 Broadway, Suite 801, New York, NY 10018
[email protected] 20 SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL
Tipping points
Printed and bound in Dubai 40 HOW IT ALL BEGAN
21 VICIOUS CYCLES The Industrial Revolution
Feedback loops
42 THE SHAPE OF
www.dk.com
22 GATHERING INTEL THINGS TO COME
This book was made with Forest Collecting climate data Population shifts
Stewardship Council ™ certified
paper—one small step in DK’s 23 WINDOWS INTO THE PAST 43 GROWING PAINS
commitment to a sustainable future. Ice cores Rise of megacities
For more information go to
www.dk.com/our-green-pledge 24 RUNNING SIMULATIONS 44 A RIPE OLD AGE
Climate models Longer life expectancies
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63 IN A TAILSPIN
Flying
64 HEAVY INDUSTRY
Industrial emissions
66 THROWAWAY FASHION
Fast fashion
67 WASTEFUL WORLD
FOOD AND
Mountains of waste
RESOURCES
48 THE COST OF FOOD
Intensive farming techniques
50 MAKE IT GROW
Fertilizer boom
51 TOXINS IN OUR FOOD CHAIN
Legacy of pesticides
52 CUTTING DOWN DEFENSES EFFECTS ON THE
Deforestation
ATMOSPHERE
53 PLENTY LESS FISH IN THE SEA
Overfishing
54 TAKING OVER 70 CAN’T STAND THE HEAT
Invasive species A warmer world
56 NO NUTRITION 71 WE CAUSED THE CRISIS
Wasted food Changing our climate
57 WATER FOOTPRINT 72 IT IS ALL CONNECTED
Water consumption Climate health
74 UNCERTAINTY OF SEASONS
Season creep
75 RAISING THE
INTENSITY LEVELS
Extreme weather
76 EXTREME STORMS
Tropical storms
RISING 77 KILLING SHOWERS
Acid rain
CONSUMPTION
78 TOO MUCH LIGHT
Light pollution
60 CHEAP AND DIRTY ENERGY 80 TOXIC AIR
Coal-burning energy Air pollution
62 ROAD TO DESTRUCTION 81 HOLE IN THE SKY
Driving Depletion of the ozone layer
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63 IN A TAILSPIN 98 WHEN ALL THE
Flying ICE HAS MELTED
Future coastlines
64 HEAVY INDUSTRY
Industrial emissions 100 SEA CHANGE
Warming oceans
66 THROWAWAY FASHION
Fast fashion 101 DANGEROUS HEAT
Marine heatwaves
67 WASTEFUL WORLD
FOOD AND EFFECTS ON LAND
Mountains of waste 102 ENDANGERED ECOSYSTEM
Dying oceans
RESOURCES
84 FIRE RISK 103 DISTURBING CHEMISTRY
Wildfires Ocean acidification
48 THE COST OF FOOD 85 TURNING TO DUST 104 REEFS UNDER THREAT
Intensive farming techniques Drought and desertification Coral bleaching
50 MAKE IT GROW 86 FACING EXTINCTION 105 PLASTIC SOUP
Fertilizer boom A decrease in biodiversity Plastic pollution
51 TOXINS IN OUR FOOD CHAIN
87 NO PLACE TO CALL HOME
Legacy of pesticides
Habitat loss
52 CUTTING DOWN DEFENSES EFFECTS ON THE
88 MELTING ICE
Deforestation Glaciers in retreat
ATMOSPHERE
53 PLENTY LESS FISH IN THE SEA 89 THE DOOMSDAY GLACIER
Overfishing Antarctica
54 TAKING OVER 70 CAN’T STAND THE HEAT 90 AT MELTING POINT
Invasive species A warmer world Greenland
56 NO NUTRITION 71 WE CAUSED THE CRISIS 91 ARCTIC SUMMER
Wasted food Changing our climate Loss of Arctic sea ice
57 WATER FOOTPRINT 72 IT IS ALL CONNECTED 92 THE BIG THAW
Water consumption Climate health Melting permafrost
74 UNCERTAINTY OF SEASONS
HUMAN COST
Season creep
75 RAISING THE
INTENSITY LEVELS 108 THE HARDEST HIT
Extreme weather Climate inequalities
76 EXTREME STORMS 109 DISPLACED BY DISASTERS
Tropical storms Climate migrants
RISING 77 KILLING SHOWERS EFFECTS ON 110 THE SPREAD OF DISEASE
Acid rain Infectious diseases
CONSUMPTION THE OCEANS
78 TOO MUCH LIGHT 111 LESS FOOD IN OUR FUTURE
Light pollution Malnutrition
60 CHEAP AND DIRTY ENERGY 80 TOXIC AIR 96 SURGING SEAS 112 THE STRUGGLE FOR FOOD
Coal-burning energy Air pollution Rising sea levels Food security
62 ROAD TO DESTRUCTION 81 HOLE IN THE SKY 97 DROWNING ISLANDS 113 THIRSTY WORLD
Driving Depletion of the ozone layer Impact of rising sea levels Freshwater scarcity
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134 SEA ENERGY
Wave power
135 HIGHS AND LOWS
Tidal energy
136 GROWING TREES
Reforestation and afforestation
137 NURTURING NATURE
Restoring nature
LARGE-SCALE
138 FIGHTING THE RISE
SOLUTIONS Adapting to rising sea levels
139 BEFORE THE STORM
Preparing for tropical storms
116 A UNITED FRONT
Climate accords 140 FIGHTING THE FLAMES
Fighting wildfires
117 BALANCING THE SCALES
Climate justice
118 LOW-CARBON GROWTH
CHANGE ON A
Separating the economy
from emissions
PERSONAL SCALE
119 DEEP STORAGE
Carbon capture
120 DEFINING SAFE BOUNDARIES 144 CHANGE FROM
The Planetary Boundaries THE GROUND UP
framework Think globally, act locally
122 CLOSING THE LOOP 146 MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD
Circular economies Climate activism
124 CLEANING UP 148 FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES
OUR TECHNOLOGIES Activists under threat
Rise of clean technology
149 STOP BURNING OUR FUTURE
126 GREEN BY DESIGN Youth movements
Greater efficiencies
150 ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
128 A NEW WAVE OF INNOVATION Collective change
Renewable revolution
152 CHANGING MINDSETS
129 GREEN ENERGY FROM THE SUN Changing how we travel
Solar energy
153 EATING GREEN
130 FISSION FOR ENERGY
Sustainable diets
Nuclear power
154 DRIVING ELECTRIC
131 GOING UNDERGROUND
Electric cars
Geothermal power
155 TRAVELING TOGETHER
132 ENERGY FROM THE AIR
Public transportation
Wind power
133 FALLING WATER
Hydroelectric dams 156 INDEX
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134 SEA ENERGY
Wave power
CLIMATE CHANGE
135 HIGHS AND LOWS
Tidal energy
136 GROWING TREES Earth’s climate has changed many times during its 4.54 billion-year
Reforestation and afforestation history. Differing factors triggered these past changes, from
137 NURTURING NATURE alterations in the sun’s intensity and variations in Earth’s orbital
Restoring nature
LARGE-SCALE path to volcanic activity and meteorite impact. Most of these
138 FIGHTING THE RISE
climate changes took tens of thousands or millions of years to
SOLUTIONS Adapting to rising sea levels
occur and some had a profound impact on the planet.
139 BEFORE THE STORM
The current climate change we are experiencing is different from
Preparing for tropical storms
116 A UNITED FRONT
those that went before. After decades of denial and skepticism, the
Climate accords 140 FIGHTING THE FLAMES
Fighting wildfires mounting body of evidence gathered by science is overwhelming.
117 BALANCING THE SCALES
Climate justice The planet is both warming at an unparalleled rate, and human
118 LOW-CARBON GROWTH activity, rather than natural phenomena, is the primary cause.
CHANGE ON A
Separating the economy
Within the past two centuries, industrialization, unprecedented
from emissions
PERSONAL SCALE population and economic growth, urbanization, deforestation,
119 DEEP STORAGE
and pollution have wrought extraordinary changes on the land,
Carbon capture
120 DEFINING SAFE BOUNDARIES 144 CHANGE FROM oceans, and atmosphere of our planet. The principal driver of
The Planetary Boundaries THE GROUND UP current climate change is the increased emission of greenhouse
framework Think globally, act locally
gases responsible for producing an accelerated greenhouse
122 CLOSING THE LOOP 146 MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD
effect within the atmosphere. Climate change’s consequences
Circular economies Climate activism
are multiple, complex, and diverse, with an array of repercussions
124 CLEANING UP 148 FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIVES
OUR TECHNOLOGIES Activists under threat felt to varying degrees across different parts of the planet.
Rise of clean technology Understanding the scale and scope of present and future
149 STOP BURNING OUR FUTURE
126 GREEN BY DESIGN Youth movements impacts is part of the investigation into the interconnected nature
Greater efficiencies
150 ALL IN THIS TOGETHER of human activity with the planet and its resources and processes.
128 A NEW WAVE OF INNOVATION Collective change
This vital endeavor is highlighting just how much climate change
Renewable revolution
152 CHANGING MINDSETS will touch all aspects of human life and society, and how solutions,
129 GREEN ENERGY FROM THE SUN Changing how we travel
Solar energy mitigating actions, and adaptation strategies are needed to
153 EATING GREEN
130 FISSION FOR ENERGY manage and live with a changing climate, now and in the future.
Sustainable diets
Nuclear power
154 DRIVING ELECTRIC
131 GOING UNDERGROUND
Electric cars
Geothermal power
155 TRAVELING TOGETHER
132 ENERGY FROM THE AIR
Public transportation
Wind power
133 FALLING WATER
Hydroelectric dams 156 INDEX
INTRODUCTION 7
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w h a t i s
c l i m a t e
c h a n g e ?
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