It Is Complicated, But We’ll Guide You

Let’s face it: climate change is a complicated issue. It can be confusing to wrap your mind around all the data and information that’s out there, including the misconceptions.
  

This month, MSCR has teamed up with the Civil Service College to guide you on your climate change learning journey. You can expect to learn why the climate is changing, what impacts we are experiencing now and are expecting to occur, and the solutions that could help the Cayman Islands become more resilient.
 

At the end of this challenge, we hope that you will feel informed and prepared to take climate action in your own unique way. Keep reading to get some important context before you start your journey of learning about climate change.

The Climate Has Always Changed

On Earth, there are unique conditions that allow life to survive. These conditions emerge through relationships between different parts of the planetary system that interact over time and space.

For example, the sun and the moon rise and fall every day, which provides energy and induces sleep. The seasons change every year, producing new life but also causing the gradual aging and deterioration of plants, animals, and people.

Other cycles occur over much longer periods of time, causing conditions to appear to be relatively stable from the perspective of a few human lifetimes. The transition between an ice age to a warm period, for instance, has happened repeatedly every hundred thousand years or so for the past one million years.

These drastic changes in our climate system have altered entire ecosystems and human civilisations of the past.

Carbon Dioxide Is a Key Player

One common thread amongst these drastic changes in the climate system has been carbon dioxide. The critical role that carbon dioxide has played (and is continuing to play now), in rapidly warming the atmosphere and oceans, has become clear through observation of Earth’s climate system.

Carbon dioxide (or CO₂) is called a ‘greenhouse gas’ (or GHG) because of the molecule’s natural ability to trap heat near Earth’s surface, providing a cozy blanket for its inhabitants. Without it, the planet would be much colder.

CO₂ is naturally released into the atmosphere when organic matter is broken down, either naturally through decomposition, or through human activities. There has been an increase in CO₂ in our atmosphere caused by the burning of fossil fuels like coal and oil for energy, and the clearing of forests for agriculture and development.

We’ve Accelerated the Changes  

The large-scale burning of fossil fuels and subsequent deforestation began in the mid 1700’s. This era was called the Industrial Revolution. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, CO₂ levels remained about the same for almost 6,000 years. Fast forward to today, levels have increased by about 50% in a little over 250 years. CO₂ levels are now at the highest point that they have ever been in human history.

But CO₂ is not the only GHG warming our atmosphere. Methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and a host of man-made ‘F-gases’ are other major culprits. These gases are released from industrial processes that churn out the everyday goods and services we consume worldwide. They occur in smaller quantities than CO₂, but trap more heat in the Earth’s atmosphere.

Now, It’s Time to Adapt

Whether we agree on the causes of climate change, one thing is for certain: our climate is changing and it’s changing quickly.

That means that in your lifetime, you will bear witness to the rapid transformation of our climate. You may notice changes in temperature and rainfall patterns, rising sea levels, and damaging storms.

For example, data from the Cayman Islands National Weather Service show that the average air temperature has increased by about 2°C between 1971 and 2022. Days and nights are getting warmer, and will continue to do so by at least the same rate, if not more, for several decades. Among other things, this will lead to stronger storms in our future.

You may also experience the physical, financial, or emotional impacts of these changes. Everyone will be affected by climate change in some way at some point. That’s why we must adapt to these new circumstances that are rapidly emerging.

So, where can you start?

Begin Your Learning Journey

The first step is to get informed about climate change. This month’s Climate Change Learning Challenge (7^th May-31^st May) was created to help you do just that.

Through a series of short, interesting videos and interactive activities, you will learn:

· what climate change is (and what it’s not);

· how it’s impacting us;

· about the solutions; and

· how you can make a difference.

This Learning Challenge is also a contest with prizes. We hope you’ll join us!