The Causes and Effects of Climate Change

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock

The causes and effects of climate change – and what you can do to help prevent it.

Pre-listening vocabulary

• excess: too much of something
• greenhouse gas: a gas that traps heat from the sun
• atmosphere: the layer of gas that surrounds the Earth
• drought: a long period of time without rain
• ecosystem: an area where certain plants and animals live and interact

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

The Causes and Effects of Climate Change

Climate change is a major problem in the world today. Scientists believe that climate change is mainly by an excess of greenhouse gases, like methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide. Humans put these into the atmosphere with our activities. The excess of atmospheric carbon dioxide is caused by burning fossil fuels, which we use to our cars. Climate change is expected to cause many in the future, such as droughts, strong storms, and the loss of ecosystems. Scientists predict that the Arctic ice will be completely melted by 2050. However, there are lots of ways to help prevent this. Using less energy, taking public transportation often and eating meat less are all easy ways to climate change.

Comprehension questions

1. The gas that is put into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels is

methane

carbon dioxide

nitrous oxide

Correct! Wrong!

The gas that is put into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels is carbon dioxide.

2. Scientists predict that by 2050,

there will be an extreme drought

the Earth will be too hot to live on

the Arctic ice will be completely melted

Correct! Wrong!

Scientists predict that by 2050, the Arctic ice will be completely melted.

3. One easy way to prevent climate change is

eating less meat

eating more meat

driving shorter distances

Correct! Wrong!

One easy way to prevent climate change is eating less meat.

Discussion/essay questions

1. As mentioned above, some of the best ways to help prevent climate change are using less energy, taking public transportation and eating meat less. Have you made any of these changes in your life? What else do you do to help prevent climate change?

Transcript

Climate change is a major problem in the world today. Scientists believe that climate change is mainly caused by an excess of greenhouse gases, like methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide. Humans put these into the atmosphere with our everyday activities. The excess of atmospheric carbon dioxide is caused by burning fossil fuels, which we use to power our cars. Climate change is expected to cause many issues in the future, such as droughts, strong storms, and the loss of ecosystems. Scientists predict that the Arctic ice will be completely melted by 2050. However, there are lots of simple ways to help prevent this. Using less energy, taking public transportation often and eating meat less are all easy ways to fight climate change.

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Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub

© EnglishClub.com

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61 comments

• Eunice fajardo says:
  

  It’s very interesting, I learned a lot

• loor jennifer says:
  

  Burning fossil fuels leads to carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming

• CERVANTES ESCALANTE BRITANY DE JESUS says:
  

  actvidad de hoy 3C Cervantes Britany

• Danna zavala says:
  

  me gusto mucho la actividad

• Antoinette Hannoun says:
  

  In my opinions the human being is the main cause to climate change to the worst

• Ana Pilla says:
  

  I guess we should always learn more about the environment, because we willl know how to take care of our planet!

• matheus soares says:
  

  Really, we need to think more about the environment

• litzy quiroz says:
  

  good

• Génesis Carolina Baque Merino says:
  

  English homework

• Hoa says:
  

  I love our Earth and I usually protect my planet by saving water and electricity, recycle waste from kitchen and distinguish it.

• Bella crew says:
  

  I thought that they will give me a score ._.

• amran says:
  

  In my opinion, climate change caused by human greed. especially in some developed countries. they exaggerated in our nature exploration. even though we have to live side by side with our nature.

• Abderahmane says:
  

  Many thanks for the listening activity
  Really,an interesting topic

• Thenagaran says:
  

  I like your lesson

• Ghulam says:
  

  Climate change is mainly caused by excess of greenhouse gases,like methane, carbon dioxide,and nitrous oxide.

• Ghulam says:
  

  Clime Change all about pollution.

• Alba luz says:
  

  Challenging article! I use to recycle, not to waste much Water, Walk, and I eat less meat and more vegetables.

• Vanessa says:
  

  The lesson allow us to understand the main cause of the climate change and what to expect from now on if we don´t make some changes in our life style.

• Abdul Rehman Gul says:
  

  .

• Pepe says:
  

  Porque todo el mundo comenta e ingles menos yo

• TThanhhh says:
  

  Thanks a lots. What’s a good lesson! <3

• TThanhhh says:
  

  Thanks a lots. What’s a good lesson <3

• sebastian says:
  

  The changes that we implement are to eliminate the use of plastic bulbs and on the other hand, one of the things that could be changed is the use of fuels for cars and to implement and dominate the electrical energy in automobiles and public transport.

• Nina says:
  

  These are very interesting lessons because of climate change that people care about what they need to continue living.

• Lin says:
  

  I think this article points out what’s our environment like at present, introduces
  some useful ways how to protect environment by ourselves in daily life. Also,saving water, useless plastic bags, useless air conditioning, useless disposable tableware, etc.

• Nahar says:
  

  it’s very good article but I hope to follow up the Scientists advice to avoids the climate change

• Marta says:
  

  I use less energy in my house.

• SIOMARA DE CÁSSIA MIRANDA says:
  

  This is a very useful article to teach children, teenagers and adults as well! Thanks for sharing!

• Natasha says:
  

  Christy, you raised a really important question at this point. I think planting trees and creating green areas in open spaces in cities and towns will also help to prevent climate change.

• mojgan says:
  

  Hi , The article was warning and and educative , when i think that my children should live in a world with so much problems i dread that . we are responsible because our incorrect use of God’s blessings caused different issues for Earth and our ignorance is increasing human being life problems on this planet . Thank you for your useful article , please share us this information with , because i think every body after reading this article can’t be indifferent to this global problem and after this time i promise to take my share in prevent climate change.

• Nicolas says:
  

  Thanks for sharing. It is huge and current subject which must stay in our mind daily.
  Climate change and pollution are tow linked fights.
  Around me, I see a lot of change of mindset and taking into account this issue.
  These are small acts of people, but together it is a good effect for our planet and by the way for mankind.

• David Martín says:
  

  – I always commute by bus or on foot, in order to not use my car.
  – I turn on as few lights I can
  – I reuse all I can and I recycle almost everything that’s recyclable
  – I don’t waste water, I try to use as less as possible.
  – I try to avoid plastic, for example when I buy at the supermarket.
  – I eat less meat, but I still could do something more. I need more time to get used to this habit.

• Facundo says:
  

  Great Lesson, thanks a lot!!!

• enrique says:
  

  Thank you for the exercise. It helps to improve my listening and writing skills.

• Alina says:
  

  quite interesting and challenging, thanks!

• Nolg22 says:
  

  We all are concerned
  We all wait and hope that the governments are going to take important decisions
  If the citizens are not ready, our leaders can take take all the decisions they want ; but if the people are not ready, receptive, convinced The leaders’s decisions will not be applied
  We must each of us to do dayly something about everything like (food, drinking, our behavior about plastic bags, using personnal car, or not
  using excess water)
  We have for habit to hope that others person will begin before .
  But we have to begin and after the others will follow
  ” Don’t throw away anything but pick up what the others have thrown”
  That must be the quote we could follow

• Angela says:
  

  We must be reponsible and avoid all the damage we do to our planet, it is the only one we have to live in

• Bijan says:
  

  Hi Jaksyn,

  First, thank you for this week’s lesson.

  Second, I could understand the lesson without seeing the text because you have spoken slowly and clearly, but the lesson is so long.

  Third, I could answer the question one of comprehension in the first time, but for answering the question two and three, I had to listen to the lesson several times until I found the answers, so the lesson is more difficult than the last week.

  In addition, I could fill in the blanks all words except the word “fight”.

  Fourth, oh! Jaksyn!

  We all hear and read on the news each moment about The Climate Change, but it looks like the leaders of countries don’t have any desire for resolving this matter.
  The climate change are threatening our lives, but it looks like no one is aware of it.

  Teacher Jaksyn,
  Thank you for choosing this important subject for your students.

  Best wishes and have a nice time,
  Bijan
  from the Persian Gulf

• Aliva Jannat says:
  

  I’m Pretty gald to that I’m done part of this group

• Toya says:
  

  Good lesson and good ideas 💡 Thank you.

• Haifa says:
  

  Thank you , its helpful

• lax says:
  

  This topic is a grate message for worlds human beings

• laxmi says:
  

  This is a great message for worlds human begings.

• Jaksyn Peacock says:
  

  Hi Violet,

  I agree! We should definitely all try to use less plastic.

• Violet says:
  

  I think we should use things are natural materials instead of plastic

• Ana says:
  

  Important topic and good exercise

• Meh says:
  

  This a good story

• Marguie says:
  

  I strongly agree with the idea that this everybody’s obligation,and i strongly believe as an educator that we must make new generations understand they can make the difference and we adults campaign for “cleaning what we have polluted”.

• Abirahman says:
  

  everybody are responsible the climate change in the world. fantastic topic, many thanks.

• Christy says:
  

  I think this topic requires more sensitization and should be treated with utmost urgency because it’s a global issue that we can’t continue to neglect. All hands must be on deck to fight climate change. I’m open to be part of any organization/group to achieve this. Thanks

• Jaksyn Peacock says:
  

  Hi Christy,

  I completely agree. This issue needs to be taken more seriously.

• Christy says:
  

  I think this topic requires more sensitization and should be treated with utmost urgency because it’s a global issue that we can’t continue to neglect. All hands must be on deck to fight climate change. I’m open to be part of any organization/group to achieve this.

• Mohamed says:
  

  Great text!Thanks a lot!

• Tracey says:
  

  A beautiful lesson for an elementary class. Hope to use in one of my lessons soon.

• khawaja Nawaz says:
  

  Elementary for me!

• Dimitar Hristov says:
  

  Nobody can stop China,India and united states about this issue

• Marcelo says:
  

  I certainly believe thar we could do much more to help prevent climate change as things you mentions above. But first of all is to have the desire of change, Without this mentality we can’t even begin to do it.

• Stefano says:
  

  I think that nowadays is a little difficult to change our behavior in order to avoid climate change issues. The rhythm of daily life is very accelerate and does not permit to reduce this speed. Today life is all:”I want it now! “. Nobody is available to reduce this crazy speed and really enjoy the life. Everyone run, but they don’t know which is their final destination.
  Bye.
  Stefano

• Jaksyn Peacock says:
  

  Hi Michael,

  Meat farming is one of the biggest sources of methane, which is a harmful greenhouse gas.

• michael says:
  

  why the suggestion is eating leass meat?

• guy lwamba says:
  

  I like your lessons