Global Warming Web

Global_Warming_Broch 27/02/06 15:51 Page 1
GLOBALWARMING
INFORMATION PACK
FOR SCHOOLS IN BELGIUM
WELCOME
TO THIS INFORMATION PACK ABOUT
GLOBAL WARMING
Global warming, or climate change, is causing concern

around the world. This booklet will give you an idea of what
it is all about, as well as information and ideas for projects
that you can do at home or at school.
Most importantly, this booklet will give you advice and tips
on what you can do to help stop global warming. Your
planet desperately needs your help and, hopefully, by
reading this booklet you will realise what you can do to help
make a difference.
At the end of the booklet you can find some key vocabulary
in French and Dutch to help you understand the text and
learn English. Children in the UK are also worried about
global warming. If you want to find a link school in the UK
then look on this website: www.globalgateway.org
GLOBAL WARMING INFORMATION PACK FOR SCHOOLS IN BELGIUM
In this booklet you will find out what causes global warming,
why it’s a problem and what you can do about it.
CONTENTS
HERE IS WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER
WHEN READING THIS BOOKLET
Section 1
What causes global warming? – find out about the
greenhouse effect
Section 2
What’s happening to greenhouse gases? – look at the gases
that cause global warming
Section 3
What could happen around the world? – find out how all this
affects you and others
Section 4
Does anybody care? – see what’s happening around the world
to stop things getting worse
Section 5
How you can do your bit to help – see what you can do to
make a difference
Section 6
The UK and Belgium working together
Section 7
Glossary of useful words
1
SECTION 1
WHAT CAUSES GLOBAL

WARMING?
OUR PLANET IS WARMING UP!
Over the last 100 years or so the average temperature on Earth has
gone up by 0.7°C. It doesn’t sound much but people are very
worried. This change in temperature is called global warming.
If global warming carries on, many plants and animals living
today on Earth, including us, could have problems surviving.
It could also mean more droughts and floods.
Global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect. You may

have heard of the greenhouse effect but do you know what
it is? It’s what keeps our planet at a nice comfortable
temperature and the best way to explain how it works is
to look at a greenhouse.
WHY IS IT HOT INSIDE A GREENHOUSE?
Have you ever noticed that it’s warmer inside a

greenhouse than outside?
This is because rays of sunlight pass through the glass of the

greenhouse and are soaked up by the plants and soil.
The plants and soil warm up and give out heat. Although the
greenhouse glass lets sunlight in, it doesn’t let all the heat
out so some of the heat is trapped inside the greenhouse
and it warms up.
To see what’s happening, have a look at this diagram.
Think about the windows in your home or classroom.

Can you see that glass lets sunlight in and stops heat
leaving?
2
WHAT’S THIS GOT TO DO WITH OUR PLANET?
The atmosphere is made up of gases around the Earth where we

live. Some of these are called greenhouse gases.
The atmosphere is a bit like the glass of a greenhouse.
It lets sunlight pass through easily but stops some of the heat
getting out.
So when the rays of sunlight hit the Earth, it warms up.

The Earth gives out heat but not all of it escapes into outer
space. Some of it gets trapped close to the Earth and
this warms up the air around us.
The diagram shows what’s happening.
Without the greenhouse gases, the Earth would be

about 33°C colder. It would not be warm enough for
plants and animals to survive. The way that greenhouse
gases keep the atmosphere at a nice temperature is called
the greenhouse effect.
Let’s find out more about these

greenhouse gases
3
SECTION 2
WHAT’S HAPPENING
TO GREENHOUSE
GASES?
Carbon dioxide is the most important greenhouse gas released
into the atmosphere by the activities of human beings but
there are many others with long, complicated names like
methane, nitrous oxide, perflurocarbons, hydroflurocarbons
and sulphur hexafluoride.
This section will focus on carbon dioxide, which is an

invisible gas and is all around us.
Plants need it to survive and animals, like us, breathe it

out. Over the past 10,000 years the amount of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere has been about the same.
The amount made has been balanced by the amount used,
but this balance is changing.
MORE BEING MADE
An important way that carbon dioxide is made is by burning

y fuels like coals, gas and wood. Cars that run on petrol and
ar
r
Lib
diesel also make carbon dioxide.

ot o
— Science Ph
In the last 100 years humans have been making far

more carbon dioxide than ever before and so far more
carbon dioxide is entering the atmosphere.
on d
in B
The main reason for this is that our way of life has
art
changed. In the past there were fewer power stations

M
burning coal to make electricity and people used horses

instead of cars.
4
Big changes over the last 100 years have upset the
balance so the amount in the atmosphere is going up
and up all the time. The amount of other greenhouse gases,
such as methane, is going up too.
This all means that less heat can escape and more is being
trapped. Since about 1900 the Earth’s temperature has
increased by about 0.7°C. This may not sound like a lot but
even tiny changes can make a big difference.
Let’s see what all this means

to our world
5
SECTION 3
WHAT COULD
HAPPEN AROUND
THE WORLD?
No one knows for sure what will happen in the future.
But we can look at what has happened in the past.
We can also use very complicated calculations and

computer programmes or models to match past
climates and predict future climates.
The changes in the list opposite may happen around

the world over the next 100 years if we do nothing to
reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, and other
greenhouse gases, being made.
OBSERVED AND PREDICTED GLOBAL

TEMPERATURE CHANGE
6
The average temperature around the world may go up by

between 1.4°C and 5.8°C over the next 100 years. This may not
sound like very much but the average temperature during the
last ice age, when mammoths lived on the Earth, was only
5°C less than it is today!
What is more worrying is that the increase in

temperature is taking place at a much faster
rate than we think has ever happened
before.
Tryg
ve

Boslstad
The level of the sea could rise by 50cm
or more by the 2080s. This will mean
that as many as 90 million people
around the world could have their
homes flooded every year. This is a lot if
you think that about 10 million people
live in Belgium.
Rainforests may start to die as it gets warmer and

give out more carbon dioxide, making it even warmer.
Lui
Many people in places like Asia and Africa may not

C. Ma s
be able to grow the crops they need to survive so

there could be more famines.
rigi – Still
Already, the Arctic has started to warm quickly and

P
the sea ice that floats on the Arctic ocean is melting

i ctur
rapidly. This is already having a big impact on the

es
animals such as polar bears that live there, and on the

lives of local people.
7
SECTION 3 WHAT COULD HAPPEN AROUND THE WORLD
In many countries, the amount of rainfall may change so

about 3 billion people (nearly half the world population) could
have more problems getting enough water for drinking,
cooking washing and for watering their crops.
Diseases, like malaria, that thrive in hot temperatures

may spread to more places in the world as the temperature
goes up.
Most of the countries where the effects will be worse are very poor
and already have problems with drought and famine.
In Belgium, we may not be as badly affected as many places in

the world but there could still be problems.
Western Europe will get warmer. The terrible hot summer of

2003 killed about 30,000 people in Western Europe. Such
summers will become more and more common during this
century and may become ‘normal’ in your lifetimes.
Many animals and plants may not be able to cope

with the rising temperature. They may move north as
it will be cooler there than in the south. There might
not be room there for all of them so some might not
survive.
8
Can you think of any other possible effects?

You can make a list here:
Remember that these things will only happen if we keep on

making more and more greenhouse gases. Luckily people are
doing their bit to stop this from happening.
Now let’s find out if anybody cares!
9
SECTION 4
DOES ANYBODY
CARE?
So far it’s been all bad news but there is good news too!
Unlike many things that happen to our climate, such as
hurricanes and tidal waves, global warming is something
we can try and stop.
You now know that the main cause of global warming

is too many greenhouse gases being made.
Governments around the world have agreed to reduce
the amount of greenhouse gases made each year, by
doing various things.
Some of these are listed below.
One
They are looking at different ways of making electricity.
Scientists have found ways to make sure that no energy

is wasted when gas and coal is burnt to make electricity.
This means that no more carbon dioxide is produced than
necessary.
Another way is to make electricity

in ways that don’t use coal or
gas and so carbon dioxide
isn’t made at all. Some
examples of this are using
Still Pi
the sun (this is called

ctures
solar power) and using

the wind (like in
windmills).
10
Two
They are also looking at ways to make sure we don’t waste
electricity.
They are encouraging businesses to use less electricity.
They are giving people advice on how they can reduce the
amount of electricity used in their homes. Read on to find out
how you can save electricity around your home.
Three
They are trying to cut down on the amount of carbon dioxide
produced by cars.
Cars are being made which will use less petrol than before
and give out less carbon dioxide.
Governments are also trying to improve buses and trains

so more people use them rather than cars.
Reducing the amount of carbon dioxide we make is not

something that Governments can do alone. They need the
help of the people who run power stations, businesses,
people who make cars and, most importantly, people like
you.
Come on! Let’s find out what you can do!
11
SECTION 5
HOW YOU CAN DO

YOUR BIT TO HELP
WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT IT?
L
P
—E
You really can make a difference. It is very important that

son
everyone in Belgium starts doing their bit and acting now

tte MacPer
so that we can cut down the amount of greenhouse

gases we make. If we wait, or hope that other people
are making an effort, it may be too late and global
Charlo
warming may change our world forever!
A large amount of carbon dioxide is made when coal and

gas is burnt to produce electricity and when petrol is used
to run cars. If you save energy by cutting down the amount of
electricity and petrol you and your family use, you will cut down
the amount of carbon dioxide made. Some ways to save energy
are simple, like turning off a light when you don’t need it. Other
ways are not so clear, for example recycling drinks cans won’t
save energy in your own home but it will save lots of energy
at the can factory.
There are many ways to save energy and some are

listed here. It needn’t take much time and won’t cost
you any money – in fact it should save quite a lot.
DOING YOUR BIT AT HOME
If you save electricity around the home you will be cutting

down the amount of carbon dioxide made, and cutting down on
the bills too.
Why not turn off lights when you don’t need them?
Switch off TVs, computers and hi-fis completely when you’re

not using them. If you leave them on standby they still use
about half the amount of electricity as when they’re on!
12
Ask your parents if they have M

thought of using efficient
ar
t in
light bulbs. Energy efficient
Bo
n
light bulbs last 8 times
d—
longer and use a
Science Phot
quarter of the energy of
ordinary light bulbs.
When you use the coffee o L ibr

ary
maker, just use the water

you need – try not to fill it up
if you don’t need to.
If you turn down your central heating by just 1°C you

could save your family money on fuel bills in addition
to helping our environment.
Let food cool down before putting it in the fridge or

freezer and try not to leave the fridge or freezer door
open.
Ask your parents to always wash a full load in the

washing machine and use a lower washing
temperature. A half load uses the same amount of
electricity as a full load.
When your parents are buying new electrical

appliances like washing machines, ask them to choose
the ones that use the least electricity.
13
SECTION 5 HOW YOU CAN ‘DO YOUR BIT’ TO HELP
Ask your parents if they are doing anything to insulate your

home (this means stopping heat escaping) like having
insulation in the loft or in your walls. This can cut down on the
amount of electricity needed to heat your home. For example
putting in loft insulation could save 20% of heating costs.
Water has to be cleaned before it arrives at your home and

this uses electricity so try not to waste it. Showers use less
water than baths. Also stop taps dripping and try not to leave
them running when you clean your teeth.
Recycle bottles, cans, paper and plastics. When you go

shopping look out for the symbol which means that the
product can be recycled or contains recycled material. If you
have a garden, ask your parents if they will start a compost
heap.
DOING YOUR BIT WHEN YOU TRAVEL
The best ways to cut the amount of carbon dioxide made by cars
is to cut the number of car journeys we make and to buy cars that
use fuel more efficiently. Unfortunately more and more people use
their cars when they used to walk or cycle. This means that as
well as increasing the greenhouse effect, we are getting more
unhealthy.
Here are some tips:
Walk or cycle whenever you can.
Try to persuade your parents to catch a bus or train rather than

going by car. If they do have to drive to work tell them it’s better
to share lifts.
14
Try to persuade your parents to get their car tuned regularly - it

will mean that the car uses less petrol which will save your
parents money and cut down the amount of carbon dioxide
made.
If your parents are buying a new car encourage them to

ask about fuel-efficient cars, or to buy one that gives
out lower carbon dioxide emissions.
Did you know that cycling or walking briskly for half

an hour a day can halve the risk of heart attack?
If you can’t walk or cycle to school try to share car

journeys with friends.
In the UK at 0850, nearly 1 in 5 cars on the road are

taking children to school. Do you think that this is the same in
Belgium?
DOING YOUR BIT IN SCHOOL
School is another place where you can make a difference. As well

as reducing the electricity your school uses, you could start energy
saving schemes with your class.
Here are some ideas that you could look into. Remember that not
all schools are the same so different energy saving schemes will
work in different schools.
Turn off lights, computers and other electrical equipment when

the classroom is empty.
Ask your teacher if the school uses energy saving light bulbs
and if it doesn’t, ask why not.
15
SECTION 5 HOW YOU CAN ‘DO YOUR BIT’ TO HELP
Try not to waste paper. Paper comes from trees so the more
paper you use the more trees have to be cut down. Also
electricity is used to turn wood into paper so if you waste
paper you’ll be wasting electricity. Try to use recycled paper if
possible and use both sides of the paper in your note books.
Did you know that recycling one tonne of paper saves 15

average sized trees as well as the surrounding habitat and
wildlife?
Does your school have a travel plan?
If your school doesn’t have a travel plan find out how your
class mates, and maybe children from other classes,
s
age
travel to school.
nmental Im
Perhaps a few people from different classes are

travelling from the same area at the same time but in
Enviro
separate cars.
They might want to share lifts. Perhaps some of your

classmates want to walk to school but don’t want to walk
on their own - maybe they could walk
with someone else.
eth Carter
Elizab
16
Why don’t you try to make a chart like the one below showing how
your class travels to school?
This should give you an idea of what you can do and there are
many more ways that you can do your bit to make a difference to
help stop global warming.
Your planet needs your help! Get into the habit of saving energy
every day and spread the word before it’s too late.
I bet you didn’t know just how much you

could do to help stop global warming?
The UK and Belgium will both be affected

by climate change. Let’s find out how they
are working together to try and stop it
17
SECTION 6
THE UK AND BELGIUM

WORKING TOGETHER
Most UK and Belgian cooperation on climate change is within the
context of the European Union (EU), where we work with the other
Member States to try and reduce our emissions.
In 2002 the countries of the EU ratified the ‘Kyoto Protocol’ on

climate change. This treaty, signed in Japan in 1997, commits
those nations taking part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by
an average of 6% from 1990 levels by 2012. The EU has to make
an average of an 8% reduction over the period 2008-2012, with the
UK cutting by 12% and Belgium by 7.5%.
These figures may not sound very much, but they will be quite
difficult for some countries to achieve. This is because some ways
of reducing emissions such as generating electricity by wind
instead of by coal, take time to build and develop (people have to
buy land, get permission to build wind farms, raise money, build
them etc). But as this booklet has shown, there are many simple
things you can do now that will help instantly.
The countries of the EU have also set up a ‘trading scheme’ where

companies can buy and sell reductions in carbon dioxide
emissions and so help lower the cost of reducing emissions. For
example, if a UK company finds it very cheap and easy to reduce
carbon dioxide output, but a Belgian company finds it difficult, the
UK company can sell some of its reductions to the Belgian
company so that the Belgian company can meet its targets. Such
schemes help companies to budget for tackling emissions in just
the same way as they budget for materials or wages.
In this way, the Kyoto Protocol is really just a first step which will
help countries get into good habits and get used to lowering
emissions. The hard work will come later in any agreement that
follows Kyoto. The UK and Belgium are already discussing a treaty
to follow Kyoto with other countries.
18
The British Embassy in Belgium has been working hard to spread

the word about climate change.
We organised an evening, on 6 September 2005, to consider the

effects of climate change in the presence of HRH Prince Laurent of
Belgium. An expert came over from the UK to explain climate
change and many Belgian government representatives, journalists
and academics were able to come together with British people to
discuss this important issue.
We also translated a short film on climate change called

northsoutheastwest into French and Dutch. This has been shown
in a number of universities in Belgium, and at the Royal Museum
for Central Africa in Tervuren, and has led to lectures, debates and
discussions.
If you are interested in finding out more about climate change

then you could look on the following websites:
www.climatechallenge.gov.uk
www.northsoutheastwest.org
If you are interested in linking with another school in the UK

then please see:
www.globalgateway.org
If you want to find out more about the British Embassy in

Brussels then please see:
www.britishembassy.gov.uk/belgium
19
SECTION 7
Why don’t you try explaining what you

have learned to your parents?
Here are some words to help you:
English French Dutch
temperature température temperatuur
global warming réchauffement de la terre opwarming van de aarde
drought sécheresse droogte
flood inondation overstroming
greenhouse effect effet de serre broeikaseffect
atmosphere atmosphère atmosfeer
gases gaz gassen
sunlight lumière de soleil zonlicht
heat chaleur hitte
Outer space l’espace de ruimte
Earth la terre de aarde
Carbon dioxide (CO2) dioxyde de carbone koolstofdioxide
balance équilibre evenwicht
Man-made produit par l’homme geproduceerd door de mens
fuel combustible brandstof
Power station centrale électrique elektriciteitscentrale
coal charbon kolen
electricity électricité elektriciteit
Sea level niveau de la mer zeeniveau
rainforest forêt équatoriale regenwoud
crops récolte gewassen
famine famine hongersnood
rainfall pluie regen
disease maladie ziekte
malaria malaria malaria
hurricane ouragan orkaan
Tidal wave raz-de-marée vloedgolf
Solar power énergie solaire zonne-energie
Wind power énergie éolienne windenergie
recycling recyclage recycleren
Light bulb ampoule gloeilamp
insulation isolation isolatie
compost compost compost
emission émission emissie
efficiency efficacité efficiëntie
To ratify ratifier goedkeuren
To budget budgétiser budgetteren
20
Produced by the British Embassy, Brussels, 2006

Based on a publication by the Department for
Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra)
published in 2000 and reprinted in 2001

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Global_Warming_Broch 27/02/06 15:51 Page 1

Global warming, or climate change, is causing concern

GLOBAL WARMING INFORMATION PACK FOR SCHOOLS IN BELGIUM

WHAT CAUSES GLOBAL

Global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect. You may

WHY IS IT HOT INSIDE A GREENHOUSE?

Have you ever noticed that it’s warmer inside a

This is because rays of sunlight pass through the glass of the

To see what’s happening, have a look at this diagram.

Think about the windows in your home or classroom.

GLOBAL WARMING INFORMATION PACK FOR SCHOOLS IN BELGIUM

WHAT’S THIS GOT TO DO WITH OUR PLANET?

The atmosphere is made up of gases around the Earth where we

So when the rays of sunlight hit the Earth, it warms up.

The diagram shows what’s happening.

Without the greenhouse gases, the Earth would be

Let’s find out more about these

This section will focus on carbon dioxide, which is an

Plants need it to survive and animals, like us, breathe it

MORE BEING MADE

An important way that carbon dioxide is made is by burning

diesel also make carbon dioxide.

In the last 100 years humans have been making far

changed. In the past there were fewer power stations

burning coal to make electricity and people used horses

GLOBAL WARMING INFORMATION PACK FOR SCHOOLS IN BELGIUM

Let’s see what all this means

We can also use very complicated calculations and

The changes in the list opposite may happen around

OBSERVED AND PREDICTED GLOBAL

GLOBAL WARMING INFORMATION PACK FOR SCHOOLS IN BELGIUM

The average temperature around the world may go up by

What is more worrying is that the increase in

Rainforests may start to die as it gets warmer and

Many people in places like Asia and Africa may not

be able to grow the crops they need to survive so

Already, the Arctic has started to warm quickly and

the sea ice that floats on the Arctic ocean is melting

rapidly. This is already having a big impact on the

animals such as polar bears that live there, and on the

SECTION 3 WHAT COULD HAPPEN AROUND THE WORLD

In many countries, the amount of rainfall may change so

Diseases, like malaria, that thrive in hot temperatures

In Belgium, we may not be as badly affected as many places in

Western Europe will get warmer. The terrible hot summer of

Many animals and plants may not be able to cope

GLOBAL WARMING INFORMATION PACK FOR SCHOOLS IN BELGIUM

Can you think of any other possible effects?

Remember that these things will only happen if we keep on

Now let’s find out if anybody cares!

You now know that the main cause of global warming

Some of these are listed below.

Scientists have found ways to make sure that no energy

Another way is to make electricity

the sun (this is called

solar power) and using

GLOBAL WARMING INFORMATION PACK FOR SCHOOLS IN BELGIUM

They are encouraging businesses to use less electricity.

Governments are also trying to improve buses and trains

Reducing the amount of carbon dioxide we make is not

Come on! Let’s find out what you can do!

HOW YOU CAN DO

You really can make a difference. It is very important that