FAQ
This section provides answers to frequently asked questions about climate change.
In each of the three first sections ("The physical science basis on climate change", "Climate change impacts, and adaptations and vulnerabilities" and "Mitigation of climate change"), FAQs 1 to 3 were prepared by the editorial team of www.greenfacts.org. Each answer represents a summary of a detailed text, directly sourced from IPCC "Fourth Assessment Report (AR4)", produced in 2007 by a large international panel of scientists. In addition, FAQs 4 to 22 of the section "The physical science basis on climate change" are directly sourced from the Working Group I report "Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis" of IPCC "Fourth Assessment Report (AR4)".
All other FAQs were prepared by the EEA.
- FAQ — 15 Nov 2011
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Climate change in 226 words
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What makes the climate change?
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How is the climate going to change in the future?
- What are the projected changes for the 21st century and on the longer term?
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What impacts of climate change have already been observed?
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How is climate changing and how has it changed in the past?
- What changes have been observed so far in climate? What is causing the present-day changes in climate?
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What actions can be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
- What are the costs, the co-benefits and the longer term implications of mitigation actions? How can changes in lifestyle and behaviour patterns contribute? How can different sectors reduce emissions? Which actions have been taken in Europe to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
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How do people adapt to climate change?
- What are the current adaptation strategies? What makes populations vulnerable to climate change? What are the relative roles of mitigation and adaptation?
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What impacts are expected in the future?
- What impacts are expected on natural systems, on human populations, in specific regions? What is their magnitude? What are the projected impacts of extreme climate events?
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What is the greenhouse effect?
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How do human activities contribute to climate change and how do they compare with natural influences?
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What are the current trends in global greenhouse gas emissions?
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What factors determine Earth’s climate?
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What is the relationship between climate change and weather?
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How can governments create incentives for mitigation?
- What are the implications of different policy instruments? How is climate change mitigation linked to sustainable development?
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Are the increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases during the industrial era caused by human activities?
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What caused the Ice Ages and other important climate changes before the industrial era?
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How are temperatures on Earth changing?
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Is the amount of snow and ice on the Earth decreasing?
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How is precipitation changing?
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Has there been a change in extreme events like heat waves, droughts, floods and hurricanes?
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Is the current climate change unusual compared to earlier changes in Earth’s history?
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Are extreme events, like heat waves, droughts or floods, expected to change as the Earth’s climate changes?
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Is sea level rising?
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How reliable are the models used to make projections of future climate change?
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Can the warming of the 20th century be explained by natural variability?
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How likely are major or abrupt climate changes, such as loss of ice sheets or changes in global ocean circulation?
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Do projected changes in climate vary from region to region?
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Can individual extreme events be explained by greenhouse warming?
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What are the current trends in greenhouse gas emissions in my country?
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How much emission reductions has my country achieved?
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If emissions of greenhouse gases are reduced, how quickly do their concentrations in the atmosphere decrease?
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Will my country meet its Kyoto target?
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What are the current trends in greenhouse gas emissions in Europe?
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What is Europe doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
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What are the Kyoto mechanisms?
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What are the EU Kyoto targets?
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What is the EU emission trading scheme?
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What are base-year emissions?
- What is the base year? How can it be used to track performance towards targets for Member States, EU-15 and EU-27?
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What is the EC's GHG inventory report?
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What is the scope of the EC GHG inventory report?
- Which geographical area is covered? What is the time period covered? Which gases are covered? Which sectors are covered?
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What is the GHG trends and projections report?
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What is the scope of the GHG Trends and projections report?
- Which geographical area is covered? What is the time period covered? Which gases are covered? Which sectors are covered?
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For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/climate/faq or scan the QR code.
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