Climate change resources: Key Stage Five

At the core of A Level geography lies an understanding of process – both physical mechanisms such as overland flow and human movements like migration. The operation of these processes is dependent upon environmental factors.

Climate change is an increasingly important factor that helps determine the rates at which these all-important processes operate. And they are what shape our physical and human geography here in the UK - our weather, our landforms, our plants, animals and soils - as well as our cities, businesses and people.

The significance of climate change makes it a factor that can – and should – be incorporated into any geographical discussion. The purpose of these resources is to show how climate change has become an important factor controlling the operation of all of the processes that A Level students study during their course.

Uncertainty over the rate at which climate change will occur means that students need to tread carefully when making sweeping assertions about the scale of predicted changes. Most importantly, there is an important distinction to be made between the changes that we know will certainly now occur - and those additional changes that COULD occur if nothing more is done to stabilise, and ultimately reduce, levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

If we work together to tackle climate change, then hopefully today’s A Level students will grow old in a world which is different – but not too different!