Climate change
The climate is changing constantly: volcano eruptions and forest fires have a big influence on the CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Until 1950, natural causes were the most influential factors on climate change. After 1950, the course of the average world temperature can only be explained by accounting for human influences.
The average world temperature rises due to the increase in greenhouse gasses, but there are also other effects of climate change: changes in precipitation patterns and more extreme weather. The Netherlands is likely to experience more precipitation in winter, and less precipitation in summer combined with more, longer, and more intensive heat waves and a rising sea level.
Wageningen University & Research does not only study this change, but also investigates the causes and develops new technologies to deal with the consequences of climate change.
Climate and soils
Soils play an important role in the carbon cycle. The total carbon content in the soil (1500 Gton) is twice as large as the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Much of this carbon is stored in peat soils. Small changes in this stock can therefore have a big influence on the emissions of CO2.
Climate and forests
There are more than 3 trillion trees on earth, that means there are about 422 trees per person. However, the total number of trees has almost been halved since the start of human civilization. Ecosystems with a long lifespan, like forests, are more vulnerable to the relatively quick changes of climate change.
Climate and water
Climate change may have profound effects and predicting them is far from easy. More extreme weather conditions are expected in the future, while more than half of the world’s population lives in areas susceptible to the effects of climate change.
Climate-Smart Agriculture
Agriculture emits greenhouse gasses and therefore contributes to climate change, but agriculture and food security are also threatened by climate change. The growth of the world population and increase of income levels has resulted in a increased demand for food. Yet, this demand is increasing faster than ever before because the number of middle and high income people in the world is growing rapidly. Climate-Smart Agriculture addresses on the one hand the reduction of the environmental and climate impact of agricultural activity and on the other hand the development of food production methods and crops that are well adapted to changing weather conditions.
Urban climate
A green environment is essential for a resilient climate and a sustainable environment in the city. It reduces air pollution, provides water storage, dampens noise and cools in warm periods. For example, the cooling of hot air in the city can be done by the strategic construction of open areas. In this dossier you can find news, background and results of research on urban climate.
Causes of climate change
Climate change is caused by an increase of greenhouse gasses. Greenhouse gasses do not only consist of CO2, but also of methane (CH4), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (03), and water vapour. These gasses originate from different processes: CO2 is created during combustion (for example in a combustion engine) and methane is for example created during digestion (for example by livestock).
More information about the causes of climate change
Consequences of climate change
The most well-known effects of climate change is global warming. However, there are also other effects: animals in nature change their rhythm which could cause mismatches. Countries will have to deal with new diseases, for example vector borne diseases which are spread through insects which spread further north. New diseases could not only affect humans, but also food security as farmers will have to deal with new exotic diseases due to climate change.
More information about the consequences of climate change
Top 30 articles about climate change
Wageningen University & Research Library selected 30 titles about climate change. Or visit the small exhibition in the Forum Library.
Or read Elsevier's Virtual Special Issue of Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability.
Overview tailor-made Wageningen Climate Solutions
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Video: What is essential for transparency under the Paris Agreement?
On Thursday, 10 November 2016, the event “What is essential for transparency under the Paris Agreement?” took place at the Marrakech Climate Change Conference (COP22). This video by IISD Reporting Services highlights the role of different actors and rules for transparency and accountability related to forests and land use mitigation and adaptation. Prof Martin Herold and Niki de Sy, both from Wageningen University, participated in the discussions. They also published a policy brief with CIFOR that was presented at this event.
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Activities
Green Climate Solutions
The Environmental Sciences Group cooperates on innovations for climate resilience in the 'Green Climate Solutions' programme.