---
title: "Short note: Human induced climate change"
subject: "Technology, Environment and Society"
chapter: 6
key: "semester_7/technology_environment_and_society:human-induced-cc-note"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/human-induced-cc-note
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Short note: Human induced climate change

Technology, Environment and Society · Chapter 6: Climate Change

- Asked in: 2080 Bhadra, 4 marks
- 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/human-induced-cc-note
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/technology_environment_and_society/chapter-6

## Question

Write a short note on human induced climate change.

## Short answer

Human-induced climate change is long-term change caused by greenhouse gas emissions and land-use change, with about 1.1 °C warming since pre-industrial times. Causes include fossil fuel burning, deforestation, agriculture, industry, waste and black carbon. Impacts include glacier melt, GLOFs, sea-level rise, erratic monsoon, floods, droughts, food insecurity and biodiversity loss; controls include renewable energy, efficiency, forests and the Paris Agreement.

## Answer

**Human-induced (anthropogenic) climate change** is the long-term change in the Earth's climate caused by human activities that increase the concentration of **greenhouse gases (GHGs)** and change land surfaces, beyond natural climate variability. According to the IPCC it is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the planet – by about 1.1 °C since pre-industrial times.

#### Mechanism
GHGs (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, CFCs) let sunlight through but absorb the heat radiated from the Earth, warming the lower atmosphere. Human activities strengthen this natural effect – the **enhanced greenhouse effect**. Atmospheric CO₂ has risen from about 280 ppm before industrialisation to over 420 ppm today.

#### Human causes
1. **Burning fossil fuels** for electricity, industry and transport – the largest source of CO₂.
2. **Deforestation and land-use change** – releases stored carbon and removes sinks.
3. **Agriculture** – methane from livestock and paddy fields; N₂O from fertilisers.
4. **Industry** – cement, steel, chemicals; HFCs from cooling.
5. **Waste** – methane from landfills and sewage.
6. **Black carbon** from diesel, brick kilns, cook stoves.
7. **Urbanisation** – heat islands, high energy use.

#### Impacts
Global warming, glacier melt and GLOF risk in the Himalaya, sea-level rise, irregular monsoon, floods and droughts, food insecurity, spread of diseases and loss of biodiversity.

#### Control
Renewable energy, energy efficiency, forest conservation, sustainable agriculture, and international agreements such as the Paris Agreement.

## Check yourself

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

1. How do GHGs warm the lower atmosphere?
   A. They let sunlight through but absorb heat radiated from Earth
   B. They block sunlight
   C. They cool the surface
   D. They create ozone
   Answer: A. The greenhouse effect traps outgoing heat. (Key point: Mechanism)

2. Atmospheric CO2 has risen from about:
   A. 280 ppm to over 420 ppm
   B. 100 to 150 ppm
   C. 420 to 280 ppm
   D. 50 to 100 ppm
   Answer: A. From about 280 ppm pre-industrial to over 420 ppm today. (Key point: CO2 rise)

3. The largest source of CO2 from human activity is:
   A. Burning fossil fuels
   B. Cement alone
   C. Landfills
   D. Livestock
   Answer: A. Fossil fuel burning for electricity, industry and transport is the largest source. (Key point: Largest source)

4. IPCC says human influence has warmed the planet by about:
   A. 1.1 °C since pre-industrial times
   B. 0.1 °C
   C. 5 °C
   D. 10 °C
   Answer: A. About 1.1 °C since pre-industrial times. (Key point: Warming)

## Related in Technology, Environment and Society

- [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 change as threat to civilization](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aclimate-change-threat-civilization) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 3
- [Short note: Causes and impacts of climate change](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aclimate-change-causes-impacts) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6, asked 2×
- [Short note: Climate change](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aclimate-change-note) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 6, asked 2×
- [Climate change threat, impact and mitigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Acc-threat-impact-mitigation) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 3
- [Relation of air pollution and climate change](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aair-pollution-climate-change) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 5

## Related in other subjects

- [Biogas routes and climate change](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Abiogas-routes-climate-change) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 3
- [Climate change and renewable mitigation](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aclimate-change-renewables-mitigation) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 4
- [APA and MLA: newspaper article (Clinton on Climate Change)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fcommunication_english%3Aapa-mla-harris-clinton-climate) — Communication English, chapter 4