Climate Change and Adaptation

Topic Overview

What It Is
Climate change refers to the long-term alteration of global weather patterns, driven by greenhouse gas emissions. It manifests in rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and disrupted ecosystems.

Why It Matters

• Personal: It affects daily life through extreme weather, rising costs, and health impacts.
• Professional: Businesses face risks like supply chain disruptions and regulatory challenges.
• Societal: Climate change exacerbates inequality, impacts biodiversity, and threatens global stability.

Reflective Exercise

Goal: Identify how climate change affects your life, work, or community.

• Personal: How has climate change impacted your lifestyle, finances, or local environment?
  • Example: “I’ve noticed rising energy costs and increased flooding in my area.”
• Professional: How does climate change affect your workplace or industry?
  • Example: “My company struggles with supply chain disruptions due to extreme weather.”
• Societal: What policies or initiatives in your community address climate change?
  • Example: “There’s little action in my town to promote renewable energy.”

Action Task: Create Your Listing

Use the Add Listing Form to post your first listing. Follow these steps:

1. Listing Details

1. Title:
   • Write a short, compelling title.
   • Example: “Reducing Energy Costs Through Community Solar Panels”
2. Ambition Areas:
   • Select one or more: Environmental Ambitions, Economic Ambitions, Community Ambitions.
3. What’s the Ask?:
   • Clearly state what you want to achieve.
   • Example: “We need volunteers and funding to establish a community solar program that lowers energy costs.”
4. Activity Info:
   • Briefly describe the activity.
   • Example: “This initiative focuses on installing solar panels on community buildings, benefiting 500 households.”
5. The Story & Why This Matters:
   • Share the background and significance of your listing.
   • Example: “Rising energy costs are affecting low-income families in our community. By creating a solar panel cooperative, we can reduce costs, promote sustainability, and foster collaboration.”

2. Help Needed

1. List specific types of support you require:
   • Volunteers, Donations, Expertise in Solar Energy.
2. Optional: Add additional needs like publicity, networking, or strategic advice.

3. Potential & Next Steps

1. Future State:
   • Describe what success looks like.
   • Example: “A fully operational community solar program that saves residents 40% on energy bills.”
2. Call to Action:
   • Explain how users can get involved.
   • Example: “Sign up as a volunteer, donate to support this initiative, or help us promote the program.”

Case Study Example

Topic: Urban Heat Islands

• Problem: Cities with excessive concrete absorb more heat, worsening climate effects.
• Solution: A community in India implemented rooftop gardens and tree planting programs, reducing temperatures by 5°C.

Your Task: Use this case as inspiration to craft your own climate-related listing.

Key Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson, you will:

• Understand the impact of climate change on personal, professional, and societal levels.
• Articulate a climate-related problem, frustration, idea, or solution.
• Successfully create and post a listing using the Add Listing Form.

Next Steps

1. Publish your listing.
2. Share it with your network and the Ideas-Shared community.
3. Continue to follow the 7-Step Process until your realise the outcomes you want.