Global warming
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This page is about the current warming of the Earth's climate system. "Climate change" can also refer to climate trends at any point in earth's history. For other uses see Global warming (disambiguation)
Global mean land-ocean
temperature change from 1880 to 2014, relative to the 1951–1980 mean.
The black line is the annual mean and the red line is the 5-year running mean. The green bars show uncertainty estimates. Source: NASA GISS.
The map shows the 10-year
average (2000–2009) global mean temperature anomaly relative to the
1951–1980 mean. The largest temperature increases are in the Arctic and
the Antarctic Peninsula. Source: NASA Earth Observatory[1]
Fossil fuel related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions compared to five of the IPCC's "SRES" emissions scenarios. The dips are related to global recessions. Image source: Skeptical Science.
Scientific understanding of global warming has been increasing. In its fifth assessment (AR5) in 2014 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that scientists were more than 95% certain that most of global warming is caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases and other human (anthropogenic) activities.[6][7][8] Climate model projections summarized in AR5 indicated that during the 21st century the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 0.3 to 1.7 °C (0.5 to 3.1 °F) for their lowest emissions scenario using stringent mitigation and 2.6 to 4.8 °C (4.7 to 8.6 °F) for their highest.[9] These findings have been recognized by the national science academies of the major industrialized nations.[10][b]
Future climate change and associated impacts will be different from region to region around the globe.[12][13] The effects of an increase in global temperature include a rise in sea levels and a change in the amount and pattern of precipitation, as well as a probable expansion of subtropical deserts.[14] Warming is expected to be strongest in the Arctic, with the continuing retreat of glaciers, permafrost and sea ice. Other likely effects of the warming include more frequent extreme weather events including heat waves, droughts, heavy rainfall, and heavy snowfall;[15] ocean acidification; and species extinctions due to shifting temperature regimes. Effects significant to humans include the threat to food security from decreasing crop yields and the loss of habitat from inundation.[16][17]
Possible responses to global warming include mitigation by emissions reduction, adaptation to its effects, building systems resilient to its effects, and possible future climate engineering. Most countries are parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),[18] whose ultimate objective is to prevent dangerous anthropogenic climate change.[19] The UNFCCC have adopted a range of policies designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions[20][21][22][23] and to assist in adaptation to global warming.[20][23][24][25] Parties to the UNFCCC have agreed that deep cuts in emissions are required,[26] and that future global warming should be limited to below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) relative to the pre-industrial level.[26][c]
GREEN SCHOOLThe Green School (Bali) is a private and international pre-kindergarten to high school located along the Ayung River [1] near Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.[2] The school’s ecologically-sustainable design and focus on sustainability education for young students have been widely reported,[3][4] although the school has also been criticised for its steep fees and lack of Indonesian students.[5]
The school was founded by John and Cynthia Hardy in September 2008 with 98 students.[5] The Hardys reportedly conceived of Green School in 2006 after reading Alan Wagstaff’s Three Springs concept document for an educational village community,[6] but have also attributed the inspiration to the Al Gore documentary, An Inconvenient Truth.[5]
By 2010, the school had 245 students [aged 3–16],[3] and 2011 initial enrolment was over 300.[5] Most of its students are foreigners— in 2012 Indonesians made up only 20% of the intake.[5] In 2014, enrolment had increased to 400 students, only 15% of them Indonesian, with 34 on scholarships.
Contents
Ecological Design
Despite early intentions to live off the grid, as of 2014 the school's 70+ buildings are not off the grid[2] but use some renewable energy sources including micro-hydro power[7] from a “hydroelectric vortex”,[5] and solar power. Transportation to the campus is by private car with some car pooling.[8]The campus is designed around the principles of an organic permaculture system,[7] and the students cultivate an organic garden as part of their learning activities.[7] Buildings are constructed primarily from renewable resources including bamboo, local grass, and traditional mud walls.[7] The campus has been reported as an example of the large-scale building potential of bamboo architecture,[9][10] especially “The Heart of the School”, a 60-meter long[10] stilt-structure constructed with 2500 bamboo poles.[11] The school also utilizes renewable building materials for some of its other needs,[12] although senior students are required to use laptops.[13]
Curriculum
The school reportedly "prepares students to be stewards of the environment, teaching them to be critical and creative thinkers, who champion the sustainability of the world and the environment."[6]The curriculum has changed since its inception. Despite initial intentions to offer a British curriculum, including IGCSEs, and offer the International Baccalaureate by 2012,[14] Green School failed to achieve IB accreditation. In 2014, the structure is the Three Frame Day which includes the Integral Frame, the Instructional Frame, and the Experiential Frame. Subjects include English, mathematics and science, including ecology, the environment and sustainability, as well as the creative arts, global awareness and environmental management.
