Workshop Material Incoming Seminar SAP 08-26-2021 Michael Schär - CEFR Descriptors for levels A1 to C2 - Movetia

Incoming Seminar SAP
                     08-26-2021
                   Michael Schär

          Workshop Material

            CEFR Descriptors for levels A1 to C2
Practical Exercise : Illustrations concerning Global Warming
        Practical Exercise : Texts on Global Warming

CEFR Descriptors for levels A1 to C2

Images concerning Global Warming
Image A

Image B

Image C

Image D

Cartoons F1 to F6

Texts on Global Warming
Text A : Scientific Definition

Global warming, also referred to as climate change, is the observed century-scale rise in the average
temperature of the Earth's climate system and its related effects.[1][2] Multiple lines of scientific
evidence show that the climate system is warming.[3][4][5] Many of the observed changes since the
1950s are unprecedented in the instrumental temperature record which extends back to the mid-
19th century, and in paleoclimate proxy records covering thousands of years.[6]

In 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report concluded
that "It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed
warming since the mid-20th century."[7] The largest human influence has been the emission of
greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Climate model projections
summarized in the report 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) in the lowest emissions scenario, and 2.6 to 4.8 °C
(4.7 to 8.6 °F) in the highest emissions scenario.[8] These findings have been recognized by the
national science academies of the major industrialized nations[9][a] and are not disputed by any
scientific body of national or international standing.[11]

Future climate change and associated impacts will differ from region to region around the
globe.[12][13] Anticipated effects include warming global temperature, rising sea levels, changing
precipitation, and expansion of deserts in the subtropics.[14] Warming is expected to be greater over
land than over the oceans and greatest in the Arctic, with the continuing retreat of glaciers,
permafrost and sea ice. Other likely changes include more frequent extreme weather events such as
heat waves, droughts, heavy rainfall with floods 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 abandonment of populated areas due to
rising sea levels.[16][17] Because the climate system has a large "inertia" and greenhouse gases will
remain in the atmosphere for a long time, many of these effects will persist for not only decades or
centuries, but for tens of thousands of years to come.[18]

Possible societal 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),[19]
whose ultimate objective is to prevent dangerous anthropogenic climate change.[20] Parties to the
UNFCCC have agreed that deep cuts in emissions are required[21] and that global warming should be
limited to well below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) compared to pre-industrial levels,[b] with efforts made to limit
warming to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F).[23]

Public reactions to global warming and concern about its effects are also increasing. A global 2015
Pew Research Center report showed that a median of 54% of all respondents asked consider it "a
very serious problem". Significant regional differences exist, with Americans and Chinese (whose
economies are responsible for the greatest annual CO2 emissions) among the least concerned.[24]

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming - 07-27-2017

Text B : Student’s Essay

One of the greatest environmental problems in our time we are facing is global warming. Many
researchers believe that excessive emissions of carbon dioxide, as well as other greenhouse gases
have a heating impact on the environment and that is very harmful to human existence. Many
problems might result from global warming and one of the utmost problems is increasing sea level.
This could lead to the flooding of lower lying coastal areas and also cities. Some countries might even
vanish completely in near future. Global warming also changes the weather patterns. Many areas of
the earth are experiencing severe weather conditions, drought, floods, and other uncommon
weather conditions.

Carbon dioxide (C02) is a major constituent of the environment. It is causing a warming effect on the
earth’s surface area. It increases the evaporation of water into the atmosphere. Since water vapor
itself is a greenhouse gas, this causes a lot more warming. The heating causes more water vapor to
be evaporated. The C02 level is expected to grow in the long term because of continuing burning of
fossil fuels. Other gases, for example, C02, Sulphur, CFCs, and Methane are also responsible for
global warming. Population growth, technological advancement, industrialization, urbanization, and
deforestation also are increasing the production of these gases.

Huge population growth is responsible for global warming in many ways. We are utilizing the
technologies, burning fossil fuels, coal, lubricate, and gas. A big portion of carbon emission is related
to the burning of gasoline in internal-combustion motor of automobiles. Besides, Sulphur cluster gas
has the destructive impact on environmental pollution and liable for 30% of global warming. When
we cook food, we produce a huge amount of C02.

To conclude, global warming is a serious problem, we have to take proper initiatives to save this
mother earth. We have to stop producing more C02. We can do this by reducing the use of oil, coal
and gas and we should concentrate on using renewable energy. Additionally, we can plant more
trees because trees are very helpful to soak up C02 and at the same time trees generate more
Oxygen. When we generate electricity, we produce a huge amount of C02 simultaneously. We have
to use less energy and electricity. We have to avoid producing a great amount of C02, Sulphur, CFCs,
and Methane gases as they are harmful to the environment.

Source: http://www.global-warming-essay.com – 07/27/2017

Text C : Poem

I miss when I could drop down on all fours
and flick the ground away from under me.
I miss the wire I ran into the earth.
I miss when I was the bloom on the sea
and we slept forever under the warm clouds
till something twitched with design
and woke the clock. So we arose and went.

Last night when the waters rose again
I rowed out to the beeless glade
and lay down on the grass. My sister
taught me to watch the stars this way
lest I think that heaven was up, or heaven,
lest I forget the stars are also below us
where they sink and sail into the dark like cinders.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jun/03/a-climate-change-poem-for-
today-nostalgia-by-don-paterson - 07-27-2017

Eco Fiction Book Covers D1 to D4

Source: https://www.freewordcentre.com/explore/12-works-of-climate-fiction-everyone-should-
read - 07-27-2017