So, what is climate change?
Over the last century or so, the world’s climate (or weather pattern) has been changing quicker than ever. Many people, including scientists, are concerned about this. When the whole Earth’s climate changes in a short space of time, it has a big impact on the health of Earth’s plants and animals and leads to things like:
- Rising sea levels
- Shrinking mountain glaciers
- Ice melting at a faster rate than usual in Greenland, Antarctica and the Arctic
- Changes in flower and plant blooming times
Scientists agree that climate change in the last century has been because of humans. When we do things like burn fuel to power factories, cars and buses we create greenhouse gases. These gases go into the Earth’s atmosphere and stop heat from escaping, keeping the earth warm like a greenhouse keeps plants warm.
How do we know climate change is happening? Check it all out here!
But how is it affecting people?
In plays, these personal conflicts are ones that characters act in / try to solve.
- Some parts of the world are experiencing devastating changes to the environment, including from natural disasters. The homes and livelihoods of people in these situations have been hugely affected, forcing them to move.
- In winter in the UK, there was severe flooding mainly across the midlands and Yorkshire. Shopkeepers had to protect their stock and units, as did some people with their houses, moving precious items like photographs upstairs. This is just a small example of the kind of impact unexpected weather can have.
- More people are switching to vegetarian / vegan diets. That could cause a family argument if whoever’s cooking doesn’t want to cater to this, or can’t.
- Planning applications for wind turbines or nuclear power stations or airplane runways have received negative responses from locals.
- Protesters think politicians are ignoring an important issue. Their marches and demonstrations are intended to be disrupting, so that people pay them attention. As these movements get bigger, it can be hard to make sure everyone’s on the same page. During the Extinction Rebellion (XR) protests last year, there was a case of protestors climbing on top of trains in London to stop them moving, which XR did not support.
- Similarly, certain roads in London have become restricted zones, changing commutes, where only certain vehicles can travel to avoid traffic pollution.
Can you imagine your character in any of these situations?
What makes these situations a problem for your character specifically?
If there’s a family argument, are they afraid of conflict? etc.
Can you imagine a scene based around one of these situations?
Extinction Rebellion Website:
Greta Thunberg – School strike for climate – save the world by changing the rules: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAmmUIEsN9A
Finnegan Harries – A Creative Approach to Climate Change:
Marjan Van Aubel – The Beautiful Future of Solar Power:
Dear Future Generations: Sorry
Climate Change: A Poem
Climate Change (according to a kid):
What is climate change? A really simple guide.