Chemistry presentation – Script

[Slide 1 – Introduction]
Sharvie: Good morning/afternoon everyone, I’m Sharvie, (Everyone introduces
themselves) And today, we are going to present about the topic: climate change.
Climate change is a reality that touches every corner of our planet, it affects it
every community, and every future. It’s no longer just a small threat, it’s real,
and it’s rising faster than ever before. From rising sea levels, to unpredictable
weather, the signs can’t be mistaken. But this presentation isn’t just about the
problems, it’s about understanding it, by exploring the consequences, and
finding ways to overcome this issue. Let’s dive in!

[Slide 2 – What is Global Warming?]

Rakini: Let’s understand what is this problem first. Global warming is the slow
increase in Earth’s average surface temperature, due to human activities that
release heat trapping gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. It’s the main
reason of climate change, affecting weather, ecosystems, and sea levels around
the world.
Since the Industrial Revolution, the global annual temperature has increased in
total by a little more than 1 degree Celsius, between 1850 and 1980, it rose on
average by 0.07 degrees Celsius every 10 years. Since 1981, however, the rate
of increase has more than doubled: For the last 40 years, we've seen the global
annual temperature rise by 0.2 degrees Celsius, per decade.
And the result? A planet that has never been hotter. The 10 most recent years are
the warmest years on record. And the warmer it gets, the more probable it
becomes that we trigger climate tipping points (such as rapid glacier melt or
thawing permafrost) that can transform natural ecosystems into entirely
different places and lead to more warming. But now, what all causes all this?

[Slide 3 – What is causing Global Warming?]

Hubert: The causes are mostly because of human activity, Because Global
warming happens when gases like carbon dioxide (CO₂) build up in the
atmosphere and trap heat. These gases come mostly from things people do—
like driving cars, using electricity from coal or gas, and running factories. The
sun’s energy reaches Earth, warms the surface, and then bounces back into the
air as heat. But greenhouse gases stop that heat from escaping, making the
planet warmer over time.
Earth’s climate has always changed naturally—over thousands of years, it’s
gone through ice ages and warm periods. But today’s warming is happening
much faster, and it’s mostly caused by human activities. Burning fossil fuels
like coal, oil, gasoline, and natural gas releases huge amounts of CO₂ and other
greenhouse gases. This is known as the greenhouse effect, and it’s the main
reason our planet is heating up.
In the United States, the biggest sources of these gases are transportation (like
cars, trucks, and planes), electricity production (especially from coal and gas),
and industrial work (like making steel or cement). These activities are part of
everyday life, but they’re also changing the climate in ways that affect weather,
sea levels, and ecosystems all around the world.

[Slide 4 – Consequences of Global Warming]

Hassan: The consequences of global Warming can be overwhelming. Every
year, scientists discover more ways that global warming is harming people and
the planet. It affects nearly everything. Our jobs, health, food, and daily life. Hot
weather is making it dangerous for workers. Allergies, asthma, and diseases are
getting worse because of more air pollution, more pollen, and more bugs like
ticks and mosquitoes. Some communities are being forced to leave their homes
because of wildfires, floods, or rising seas. Melting ice is changing landscapes
from mountains to coastlines.
While climate change affects everyone, some people suffer more than others.
Indigenous groups, people of color, and low-income communities are often hit
the hardest. This is partly because of unfair systems in housing, healthcare, and
jobs that make them more exposed to climate risks—even though they’ve
contributed the least to the problem.
[Slide 5 – Rising sea levels]
Sharvie: Climate change causes sea levels to rise mainly through melting land
ice and thermal expansion. As temperatures increase, glaciers and ice sheets
melt, adding more water to the oceans. At the same time, warmer ocean water
expands, taking up more space. These two effects together led to a steady rise in
sea level, threatening coastal areas and marine ecosystems around the world.
Between 1993 and 2018, global sea levels rose steadily, and scientists have
figured out two main reasons for this increase: added water and thermal
expansion. Added water mostly comes from the melting glaciers and ice sheets,
which flow into the oceans as the planet warms. Thermal expansion happens
when ocean water heats up and expands, taking up more space even without
adding new water. Together, these two factors explain most of the rise in sea
level. Satellite data confirms this, showing a total increase of about 8
centimeters over the 25-year time period. The graph clearly shows that human-
driven global warming through rising temperatures and melting ice is the main
force behind these changes.

[Slide 6 – Extreme weather]

Rakini: Climate change makes extreme weather worse by heating up the planet.
When the Earth gets warmer, it adds more energy to the air and oceans. This
causes heatwaves to last longer, storms to get stronger, and rain to fall harder.
Some places get more floods, while others have more droughts. Warmer air also
helps spread bugs like mosquitoes and makes allergies worse. All of this means
that weather is becoming more dangerous and less predictable because of
Climate change. But, how dangerous can it be? Well...
Between 1998 and 2017, some countries were hit especially hard by extreme
weather, leading to high numbers of deaths. Myanmar had the highest average,
with about 14 deaths per 100,000 people each year. Other places like Dominica,
Honduras, Puerto Rico, and Nicaragua also had high fatality rates, ranging from
3 to 5 deaths per 100,000. Countries such as Haiti, Mozambique, and Russia
saw similar impacts, while even places like France and Italy had noticeable
numbers. This shows that extreme weather—like storms, floods, and
heatwaves—can be deadly, especially in areas that are more exposed or have
fewer resources to protect people.
[Slide 7 – The impact on ecosystems]
Sharvie: Our ecosystems are also getting damaged, with Caribbean coral reefs
turning white because the ocean is getting too warm, the Aral Sea shrinking
because too much water has been taken away. In Alaska, kelp forests are
changing as ocean temperatures rise. In the Arctic, warmer weather is letting
new forests grow where there used to be frozen tundra. These changes are
mostly caused by climate change, pollution, cutting down too many trees, and
using natural resources too much.

[Slide 8 – What can we do?]

Hubert: Now, what are the actions we can do as individuals, to battle climate
change? We can:
Save energy at home - Much of our electricity and heat are powered by coal, oil
and gas.
Change your home's source of energy – to more clean sources.
Walk, bike or take public transport
Switch to an electric vehicle – to travel without the worry of CO2 emissions
from your car.
Consider your travel – drive less, drive smart.
Reduce, reuse, repair and recycle – follow the 3 R’s.
Eat more vegetables – its healthier for you, and the planet.
Throw away less food – to reduce food waste.

[Outro]
Sharvie: To wrap everything up, climate change is a big problem that affects all
of us. It’s changing our weather, harming nature, and putting people at risk. But
we can still make a difference. By learning more, making smart choices, and
working together, we can help protect our planet and build a better future. Every
small action counts, so let’s be part of the solution.
[Thank you slide.]