Video: Adaptation against climate change

﻿My name's Miss McComb, and today we're going to be looking at some of the ways in which we can adapt to help us cope with those horrible, terrible effects of climate change. Before we begin, please make sure that you have a pen and paper, so you can take some notes and complete the tasks through today's lesson. And please make sure that you remove any distractions that might interfere with your learning. Before we begin, please write down the title of today's lesson and underline it, adaptation against climate change. Please press pause if you need to do so. So now that we have our title, we're ready to start today's lesson. Let's go. So let's start by taking a look at what adaptation actually means. Let's read through the definition. Adaptation are actions taken to adjust to natural events, such as climate change to reduce potential damage, limit the impacts, take advantage of opportunities or cope with the consequences. So essentially what we're saying is that, we know that climate change exists and climate change has lots of effects such as extreme weather events, a change in global temperatures and a rising of sea levels. So what we do, we think of strategies that we can use to help us adapt to those changes. So let's have a look at the task on the screen, study the image and suggest how climate change could affect agricultural systems. So studying the image, we can see a farmer getting ready to irrigate his crops, using his water tank. So using your previous learning of the impact of climate change, I would like you to write a list of just two ways, in how climate change could affect agricultural systems. So when you're ready to complete the task, please press pause, and then once you have your two items on your list, press play, and we'll have a look to see how well you've done. So did you get, rainfall patterns will change. So you might have said, rainfall levels will be lower, and if the lower then of course crops will struggle to grow. Or you might've mentioned that temperature levels will change. So in some areas as well as being drier, the temperature is also increasing, which makes it very difficult for both cattle and for crops. Extreme weather events, such as heat waves and droughts may occur more often. So they might happen in more places around the world, but then also be more frequent. And finally, you may have mentioned that there might be an increase in pests and diseases, which will affect crop growth. So well done to you. If there's anything that you think you'll like to add on to your list, then please take a moment to add the impact of agricultural change onto your list. So now we're going to have a look at how we can actually adapt to cope with climate change. And we're going to begin, by looking at the change in agricultural systems. So think of the ways that farming and farmers can adapt. So firstly, we'll start by looking at what we call drip irrigation. So in the image, we can see a farmer irrigating his crops, through what we call drip irrigation. So the water pipes that we can see will gradually and slowly drip drops of water, onto the seeds or the crops themselves. So this reduces waste in water because it drips the water onto the seeds or onto the crops. Then we have what we call the shade trees. Now we know that on a hot day to sit in the shade, we might take cover under a tree. So shade trees are used to help provide shelter from the sun and the heat to smaller crops and seedlings. They also provide protection from the wind. And finally we have drought resistant crops. So in some regions where temperatures have changed and rain levels have reduced, biotechnology has been used to create new varieties of crops, which are more resistant to extreme weather events, such as droughts, and they can continue to grow with less water. An example of how this has been successful is in Kenya, where they have developed maize crops, which are more tolerant to droughts and it has increased their yields by 15%. So now let's take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of changes in agricultural systems. So what I'd like you to do is to draw out a copy of the table on your screen, using a pencil and a ruler. So you need three columns with headings, adaptation strategy, advantages and disadvantages. And underneath, you will need three different rows. And please make sure that you leave plenty of space because you are going to be writing, in those boxes. We will look at during the lesson later, managing water supply and reducing the risk from rising sea levels. So for now, we're just focusing on the change in agricultural systems. If you need to press pause to complete your table then please press pause now. Okay, so we're going to use the examples on the next slide to help us complete the table. So here we have four examples of either an advantage or disadvantage of changing agricultural systems. Now these are some new examples that we haven't yet mentioned in today's lesson. And I really want you to read through them and think carefully about whether or not, you think it is an advantage or a disadvantage. So here is an example of how you will complete the table. So in my advantage column, I have my first example that farmers can be educated in using water harvesting techniques, so like the drip irrigation strategy that we looked at earlier on. So now that we have used option two, we don't need to include that. I would like you to use the other three options and put them in the right column, advantage or disadvantage. So when you're ready, press pause. And when you think you're done and want to see the answers, then please press play. Well done. So did you get them correct? So in the advantage column, we have, the farmers can be educated, in using water harvesting techniques, and that new crops can be grown in warm climates, e.g. peaches in the UK. So here we can take advantage of the increase in temperature and grow new types of crops. In the disadvantages, we have the use of drought resistant crops, can be very expensive. And the cost of food may increase with some varieties no longer being available. So well done to you. Great work. We're now going to have a look at how we can adapt to climate change by managing water supply. So we know that as population's increasing, and our weather patterns are changing, we will receive in many areas, a reduction in rainfall, which means that water supplies maybe become fairly low. So we need to manage them. And these are the three ways in which we can do that. So the first is collecting rainwater. So using a barrel or what we call a water boot, we can collect rainwater as it falls. Then we can use that rainwater for other things, such as on our gardens or for our crops. Then we have water metres. Now water metres can be fitted to homes and businesses, and it makes people more aware of how much water they use. And they're more likely to reduce their usage, as the more water they use, the higher their water bill will be. However, in wealthier countries where people don't really care how much their water bills are, they will continue to use as much water as they want. And finally, we have the recycling of grey water. So this means we can take water that's already been used and use it again. Less water therefore is extracted from water supplies, such as rivers, lakes and wells, which makes it more sustainable. So we reuse water that has already been used. So now going back to our table, we've already completed the advantages and disadvantages for the change in agricultural systems. And we're now going to add in the advantages and disadvantages for managing water supply. So here are our four options. So again, you need to read through each four and decide whether you think, it is an advantage or a disadvantage and place it in the correct column. As soon as you're ready to begin, press pause, and then once you're finished and want to read the answers, please press play. So well done. Did you get them all in the correct column? So for managing water supply, here are two advantages. That water metres in people's homes will discourage people from wasting water. So if they have pay for the water they use, they're less likely to waste it because it will cost them more money. And recycling grey water, means that more clean water will be available. So we're reusing water that's already been used, which means there'll be more fresh clean water that we can use for something else. The two disadvantages, if there is little rainwater, it'll be difficult to collect enough to use. So especially in areas where rainfall levels have reduced. If there's no rain water, then we can't collect it. And a second disadvantage, is that water metre usage, may not have an impact in wealthier countries. So again, wealthy people, they don't care if their water bills are high, if they want to use water, they'll use as much as they like. So well done to you. Almost there. And our final set of adaptation methods, on how we reduce the risk from rising sea levels. So we know that in some areas of the world, like in Bangladesh or in the Maldives that sea levels are arising and causing more flooding. So we can use different strategies to help protect ourselves from rising sea levels. The first method is what we call a flood barrier. Now the Thames Barrier in London, is a flood defence mechanism that protects London from flooding. It's one of the largest movable barriers in the entire world, and it's been in operation since 1982. It's a movable barrier that's designed to prevent, the floodplains of Greater London from flooding, in the event of exceptionally high tides and storm surges. We then have our sea defences. So in the image, we can see a sea wall. So the sea wall has been built to hold back the seawater. So if sea levels are arising and getting higher, the sea wall will protect the roads, the houses and the buildings, behind the sea wall. And finally, we have our houses that are built on stilts. So in some places where sea levels are arising, rather than moving away to somewhere new, houses can be built on stilts, so we lift them up to protect them from the rise of the seawater levels. So here is an example from the Maldives, in the Indian ocean that is suffering from rising sea levels. So in the picture, we can see the capital of the Maldives, Male, and they have built a three metre sea wall, around the capital to protect it from the rising sea levels. In other areas, they use sandbags. On some of the smaller islands, they've built their homes on stilts and they've started to restore coastal mangroves. So now moving on to the last row of our table, reducing the risk from rising sea levels. Here are our four options, which either advantages or disadvantages of reducing the risk from rising sea levels. So once again, you need to read through each four option and decide whether you think it's an advantage or a disadvantage. Press pause when you're ready to complete your table and then press play once you've finished. Well done. So let's have a look at the final set of examples. Did you get them all correct? So reducing the risk from rising sea levels, the advantages that sea walls can hold back the sea water. Houses can be built on stills to reduce the flood risk. The disadvantages, flip barriers are very expensive. So in developing countries, they may choose not to use flood barriers because of the high cost. And predictions may not be accurate. So in the future, where we've predicted that sea levels may rise by 50 centimetres or 70 centimetres, those predictions might not be 100% accurate. So well done for completing your table task, to identify the advantages and disadvantages of all of our adaptation strategies. So now moving on to the main task of today's lesson, explain how changes in agricultural systems can be used to help reduce the impacts of climate change. So if we look at success criteria, there are three points that we need to make sure we include in our answer. So at number one, we identify an example of the adaptation strategy. Two, say how they help produce the impact of climate change. And three, use named examples from places studied e.g. drought resistant crops in Gambia. And always try to use facts and figures where possible, in your answer. So here is the model answer that will help us achieve four marks. So firstly, we start off by identifying the adaptation strategy. Changing agricultural systems can be used to help produce the effects of climate change. Now here, I get my first mark. We then go on to give the example. So we develop and make it clear how changing agricultural systems, can be used to help reduce the effect of climate change. For example, new crop types can be planted, but more suitable to the new climate conditions, such as growing grapes in the south of England. Now I've got my second mark. And I will continue to develop further to gain another mark. This would help to ensure that farmers can continue to make money by moving away from crops, which may struggle to survive in the warmer climate. So a really good example, that's been developed and double developed to get a full three marks. Or we could talk about, the use of drip irrigation. So an example of a change in agricultural systems, is the use of drip irrigation methods in Senegal. Here, farmers are educated on how to use this method to reduce the amount of water being used in crops. So we get our second mark because we've developed, the example given of drip irrigation, which helps conserve water in warmer months when rainfall levels are lower. So finally we get our third mark because we double developed to explain how it will help to save and conserve water, in the warmer months when rainfall levels are lower. Now for your question, you're going to explain how managing water supply and reducing the risk of rising sea levels, can help produce the impact of climate change. So we've already looked at the change in agricultural systems. So I would like you to focus, on the two other adaptation methods, managing water supply, and reducing the risk of rising sea levels. So once again, look at the success criteria. Number one, identify an example or examples of adaptation strategies. Two, say how they reduce the impacts of climate change. And three, use named examples from places studied e.g. the Thames Barrier. And always try to use your facts and figures, where possible in your answer. So as soon as you're ready to complete your final task in today's lesson, please press pause. And once you've finished, press play and we'll have a look and know the model answer. Okay, so let's go through and review your answer. As we do, give yourself lots of ticks where you've given a correct example and where you've developed the example even further. And if there's anything that we go through together but you haven't managed to include in your answer, then please just make a note of it, underneath your work. So we'll start with managing water supply. It can be used to help produce the effect of climate change. So we have our first mark because we've identified managing water supply, as the example. We then will pick up our other marks by developing and explaining how. For example, installing water metres into people's homes, may help discourage them from using too much or wasting water as they will have higher water rates. There's my second mark, because I've explained the use of water metres. This means that more water can be conserved, during summer months, when rainfall levels lower. So my third and final mark there is because I've mentioned that by using the water metres, we will conserve water during the summer months when rainfall levels are lower. Now we move on to a second adaptation strategy, reducing the risk from rising sea levels, which can be achieved through adaptation strategies, such as building a sea wall or using other defences. So there's my first mark, from introducing the example of reducing the risk from rising sea levels. And as before, we'll pick up our other marks, by giving examples and developing even further. So in Male, the capital of the Maldives, a three metre sea wall has been constructed around the city to protect buildings from rising sea levels. In other areas of the Maldive islands, sandbags are used and homes are being built on stills to help protect them from flooding. So a really good example of a location that is at risk of rising sea levels and what they've done to help protect themselves. So we have the three metre sea wall, around the capital, Male, we have the use of sandbags and homes have been built on stilts. So well done for completing your answer. That was a really tricky question. And I know that you will have given some super examples and included some place specific like the Maldives. So if you haven't yet, please read through your answer, read the model answer on the screen and award where you would get some marks. Anything that you haven't included, please make sure that you do. It's very important that you make a note of it underneath. So well done. So that brings us to the end of today's lesson, on adaptation against climate change. So today we've learned about the ways in which, we can adapt against climate change, So we can change our agricultural systems by growing new crops in warmer climates, by using drip irrigation methods to conserve water. We've also looked at managing water levels by collecting rainwater or recycling grey water. So we reuse water, that helps reduce the use of fresh clean water from rivers, lakes and wells. And then finally we've looked at how you reduce the risk of rising sea levels, through flood barriers, sea walls or building houses on stilts. So before we go, please make sure that you read through everything that you've written in today's lesson and make a note of the top three things that you're going to take away. So well done from me, for working incredibly hard, achieving today's lesson. Enjoy the rest of your day and don't work too hard. That's all from me for now. Bye.

Exit Quiz: Adaptation against climate change

Lesson summary: Adaptation against climate change

In this lesson we will be studying the ways in which we can adapt to climate change to help reduce the effects. We will be focusing on changing agricultural systems, reducing the risk from rising sea levels and managing water supply.

Geography

Y11 Geography

Key Stage 4

Year 11

Please read through and answer each question on the adaptation strategies used against climate change.

Geography

Adaptation against climate change

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Adaptation against climate change

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Adaptation against climate change

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Lesson summary: Adaptation against climate change

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