Paper 1 Preparation » Climate Change Questions

What you'll learn this session

Study time: 30 minutes

The causes of climate change (natural and human)
The impacts of climate change globally
Mitigation and adaptation strategies
How to answer Paper 1 climate change questions effectively
Key case studies and examples to support your answers

Understanding Climate Change for Paper 1

Climate change is a frequent topic in Paper 1 of the Cambridge iGCSE Geography exam. Questions typically ask you to explain causes, impacts and responses to climate change at different scales. This guide will help you prepare for these questions with the knowledge and exam techniques you need.

Key Definitions:

Climate change: Long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns, particularly since the 1800s due to human activities.
Global warming: The long-term heating of Earth's climate system observed since the pre-industrial period.
Greenhouse effect: The process where gases in Earth's atmosphere trap the Sun's heat, making Earth warmer.
Carbon footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by human activities.

🌐 Natural Causes of Climate Change

Orbital changes: Earth's orbit around the sun changes slightly over thousands of years, affecting how much solar energy we receive.

Solar output: The sun's energy output varies in cycles, influencing Earth's temperature.

Volcanic eruptions: Large eruptions release particles that can block sunlight and temporarily cool the planet.

🏭 Human Causes of Climate Change

Burning fossil fuels: Releases CO₂ into the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect.

Deforestation: Reduces the number of trees absorbing CO₂ and releases stored carbon.

Agriculture: Livestock produce methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Rice paddies also release methane.

Industrial processes: Manufacturing cement and other products releases significant greenhouse gases.

Global Impacts of Climate Change

Climate change affects different regions in various ways. Paper 1 often asks about these impacts and may require you to categorise them as environmental, social, or economic.

🌿 Environmental Impacts

Rising sea levels
Melting ice caps and glaciers
More extreme weather events
Changing rainfall patterns
Ocean acidification
Loss of biodiversity

👥 Social Impacts

Food and water insecurity
Health issues (heat stress, disease spread)
Climate refugees
Conflicts over resources
Loss of cultural heritage in coastal areas

💰 Economic Impacts

Damage to infrastructure from extreme weather
Reduced agricultural yields
Tourism changes
Increased costs for adaptation
Insurance costs rising

Case Study Focus: Maldives and Sea Level Rise

The Maldives is a low-lying island nation in the Indian Ocean with an average height of just 1.5 metres above sea level. Rising sea levels threaten to make it uninhabitable by 2100.

Impacts include:

80% of islands less than 1m above sea level
Coastal erosion affecting 90% of islands
Saltwater intrusion damaging freshwater supplies
Damage to coral reefs affecting tourism and fishing
Government has purchased land in other countries as a contingency

Responding to Climate Change

Paper 1 questions often ask about how we can respond to climate change. Responses fall into two categories:

🛡 Mitigation Strategies

Actions that reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions:

Renewable energy: Solar, wind, hydroelectric power
Energy efficiency: Better insulation, efficient appliances
Carbon capture: Technology to remove CO₂ from emissions
Reforestation: Planting trees to absorb carbon
Sustainable transport: Electric vehicles, public transport
International agreements: Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol

🛠 Adaptation Strategies

Actions that help cope with climate change impacts:

Sea defences: Sea walls, flood barriers
Drought-resistant crops: Plants that need less water
Water conservation: Efficient irrigation, rainwater harvesting
Early warning systems: For extreme weather events
Floating architecture: Buildings designed to rise with floods
Managed retreat: Planned relocation from high-risk areas

Case Study Focus: The Netherlands' Adaptation

The Netherlands has 26% of its land below sea level, making it highly vulnerable to sea level rise.

Key adaptation strategies include:

The Delta Works: A series of dams, sluices and storm surge barriers
"Room for the River" project: Creating space for rivers to flood safely
Floating homes in Amsterdam and Rotterdam
Sand Motor: A man-made peninsula that uses natural processes to distribute sand along the coast
Innovative "climate-proof" urban planning

Answering Paper 1 Climate Change Questions

Climate change questions in Paper 1 typically follow these formats:

❓ Question Types

Short answer: Define key terms or briefly explain concepts (1-2 marks)
Description: Outline patterns or trends from graphs/data (2-4 marks)
Explanation: Explain causes or impacts of climate change (4-6 marks)
Evaluation: Assess effectiveness of strategies or compare approaches (6-8 marks)

💡 Exam Techniques

PEE structure: Point, Evidence, Explanation
Case studies: Always include specific examples
Command words: Pay attention to describe/explain/evaluate
Scales: Consider local, national and global impacts
Balance: Cover environmental, social and economic aspects

Sample Answer Structure

For a 6-mark question like "Explain how climate change affects coastal areas":

📝 Model Answer Framework

Point 1: Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities.

Evidence: In the Maldives, 80% of the land is less than 1m above sea level and experiencing coastal erosion.

Explanation: This causes saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies, damaging agriculture and forcing people to relocate.

Point 2: Increased storm intensity damages coastal infrastructure.

Evidence: Hurricane Sandy caused $70 billion in damage to New York and New Jersey in 2012.

Explanation: More powerful storms linked to warmer oceans overwhelm existing coastal defences and damage buildings.

Point 3: Ocean acidification harms marine ecosystems.

Evidence: The Great Barrier Reef has experienced multiple bleaching events since 2016.

Explanation: This threatens tourism economies and fishing industries that depend on healthy coral reefs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Confusing weather (short-term) with climate (long-term patterns)
Not distinguishing between natural and human causes
Focusing only on temperature rise and ignoring other impacts
Writing general statements without specific examples or case studies
Mixing up mitigation (reducing causes) and adaptation (dealing with impacts)
Not linking impacts to specific locations or communities

Revision Tips

For climate change questions, always remember:

Learn at least two detailed case studies (one LEDC, one MEDC)
Memorise key statistics and figures to support your points
Practise drawing and interpreting climate graphs
Understand the difference between short-term and long-term impacts
Be able to evaluate the effectiveness of different strategies
Link climate change to other topics (e.g., ecosystems, population, resources)

🧠 Test Your Knowledge!