---
title: "Global warming and international efforts"
subject: "Technology, Environment and Society"
chapter: 6
key: "semester_7/technology_environment_and_society:global-warming-international"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/global-warming-international
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Global warming and international efforts

Technology, Environment and Society · Chapter 6: Climate Change

- Asked in: 2076 Asoj, 4 marks
- Video: [International Climate Agreements: Crash Course Climate & Energy #10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5YvjG4lTpQ) — CrashCourse
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/global-warming-international
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/chapter-6

## Question

Explain what is global warming? Write down international efforts to mitigate it.

## Short answer

Global warming is the long-term rise in Earth’s average surface temperature due to increased greenhouse gases from human activities. International efforts include IPCC science assessments, the UNFCCC, the Kyoto Protocol’s binding targets, the Paris Agreement’s NDCs to limit warming to 1.5–2 °C, and the phasedown of HFCs under the Kigali Amendment.

## Answer

**Global warming** is the long-term rise in the average temperature of the Earth's surface and lower atmosphere, mainly due to the increase of **greenhouse gases** (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, CFCs) from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation and agriculture. These gases trap infrared heat radiated by the Earth (**enhanced greenhouse effect**). The Earth has warmed about 1.1 °C since pre-industrial times.

```text
 Sunlight --> Earth surface --> heat (IR) out
                                   |
              GHG layer traps part, re-emits down
                                   |
                         warmer lower atmosphere
```

**Effects:** melting glaciers and polar ice, sea-level rise, heat waves, erratic rainfall, floods and droughts, and loss of biodiversity.

#### International efforts to mitigate global warming
1. **IPCC (1988)** – scientific assessment of climate change.
2. **UNFCCC (1992)** – global framework; annual COP meetings.
3. **Kyoto Protocol (1997)** – binding emission cuts for developed countries; carbon trading and CDM.
4. **Paris Agreement (2015)** – NDCs from all countries; keep warming well below 2 °C, aim for 1.5 °C.
5. **Montreal Protocol (1987) / Kigali Amendment (2016)** – phase out CFCs and phase down HFCs.
6. **REDD+** – forest conservation incentives.
7. **Climate finance** – Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, Loss and Damage Fund.
8. **Recent COPs** – Glasgow (coal phase-down, methane pledge), Dubai COP28 (transition away from fossil fuels).

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Global warming is best described as:
   A. The depletion of the ozone layer
   B. A seasonal rise in temperature every summer
   C. The long-term rise in Earth's average surface and lower-atmosphere temperature due to increased greenhouse gases
   D. A decrease in sea level
   Answer: C. Global warming is the long-term temperature rise mainly from human-increased greenhouse gases such as CO2 and CH4. (Key point: Definition of global warming)

2. How do greenhouse gases cause warming?
   A. They block sunlight from reaching the Earth
   B. They create new heat in the atmosphere
   C. They trap infrared heat radiated by the Earth and re-emit part of it downward
   D. They reflect all heat into space
   Answer: C. Sunlight passes in, but GHGs trap outgoing infrared heat and send part back, warming the lower atmosphere. (Key point: Enhanced greenhouse effect)

3. What do the Montreal Protocol (1987) and Kigali Amendment (2016) do?
   A. Set NDCs for all countries
   B. Phase out CFCs and HFCs
   C. Create the Green Climate Fund
   D. Form the IPCC
   Answer: B. Montreal phases out CFCs, and Kigali extends the control to HFCs. (Key point: Montreal Protocol)

4. What is the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement?
   A. Keep warming below 5 °C
   B. Keep warming well below 2 °C and aim for 1.5 °C
   C. Return to pre-1900 levels by 2030
   D. Allow 3 °C by 2050
   Answer: B. The Paris Agreement aims to hold warming well below 2 °C and pursue 1.5 °C. (Key point: Paris goal)

## Related in Technology, Environment and Society

- [Short note: International efforts to mitigate climate change](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Ainternational-efforts-note) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6
- [Are international climate efforts enough?](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Ainternational-efforts-enough) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6
- [Climate change gases, mitigation and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-gases-international-efforts) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6
- [Human-induced climate change and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Ahuman-induced-cc-international) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6
- [Climate, weather and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aclimate-weather-international) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6
- [Climate change impacts in Nepal and international efforts](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-impacts-nepal-international) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6

## Related in other subjects

- [Global warming: causes, consequences, remedies](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fengineering_chemistry%3Aglobal-warming) — Engineering Chemistry, chapter 3, asked 2×
- [Global warming and greenhouse gases](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aglobal-warming-ghg-climate) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 4
- [Global warming: meaning, causes, consequences](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fengineering_chemistry%3Aglobal-warming-causes-consequences) — Engineering Chemistry, chapter 3
- [Short note: Global warming](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fengineering_chemistry%3Aglobal-warming-note) — Engineering Chemistry, chapter 3