Carbon footprints and the greenhouse effect
 Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap the Sun’s energy and warm the Earth, acting much like the walls of a greenhouse. This ‘greenhouse effect’ makes our planet warm enough to support life. As more greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are released into the air from burning fossil fuels, rice paddies, landfill sites and cattle they could cause global warming. Most scientists agree that the mean global temperature has risen by at least 0.6 °C during the past century. Recent predictions suggested that global temperatures may rise between 1.4 °C and 5.8 °C by 2100.
Climate change is affecting the natural world. The distribution of some species appears to be changing and so does their behaviour, for example bears have stopped hibernating in the mountains of northern Spain.
In this unit students consider the factors that contribute to the greenhouse effect, the possible effects of global warming and how their activities may be contributing to the increasing carbon dioxide levels. They also consider what they can do to reduce their carbon footprint.
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