LINKS
A list of links relating to each module. We will be continuously updating this section.
BIODIVERSITY
World Wildlife Fund
https://www.wwf.eu/what_we_do/biodiversity/
Calculate your environmental footprint
https://footprint.wwf.org.uk/#/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK_vRtHJZu4
Earth Overshoot Day
Earth Overshoot Day – the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what earth can regenerate in that year. In 2020, it fell on August 22nd but it changes every year. It used to be much later in the year but due to accelerated use of resources, it’s earlier and earlier each year. The website contains resource material for students and teachers. Why not organise an event around Earth Overshoot Day and join the global movement to ‘Move the day’www.overshootday.org
National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) – great source of information on Ireland’s biodiversity. Resources on All Ireland Pollinator Plan, how to create your own plan and other citizen science projects http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/
Environmental Protection Agency https://www.epa.ie/
National Parks and Wildlife Service https://www.npws.ie/
Marine Institute https://www.marine.ie/Home/home
Inland Fisheries Ireland https://www.fisheriesireland.ie/
Heritage Council https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/our-work-with-others
BirdWatch Ireland https://birdwatchireland.ie/
Bat Conservation Ireland https://www.batconservationireland.org/
Irish Whale and Dolphin Group https://iwdg.ie/
Butterfly Conservation Ireland https://butterflyconservation.ie/wp/
Woodlands of Ireland https://www.woodlandsofireland.com/
Irish Peatland Conservation Council http://www.ipcc.ie/
Invasive Species Ireland http://invasivespeciesireland.com/
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Waste – UN Statistics on Marine Pollution
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/Ocean_Factsheet_Pollution.pdf
Waste – Focus on Microplastics
According to a United Nations’ report, washing a single synthetic garment can release more than 1900 individual fibres (microplastics) into rivers and oceans.
Humans could consume about 114 plastic microfibers in each meal simply from household dust that settles on their plates.
https://www.ecowatch.com/plastic-consumption-food-dust-2556502607.html
The Right to Repair
Tech companies are standing in the way of stronger green electronics standards in the US, according to a report (2017).
Apple commits to be 100% carbon neutral by 2030
Biomimicry – How it works
https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/evolution/biomimicry2.htm
CLIMATE CHANGE – THE SCIENCE
UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 5th Assessment
AR5 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2014
Earth’s climate zones
Earth’s surface exhibits numerous climate zones due to differences in physical factors such as angle relative to the sun’s rays, proximity to oceans, and prevailing wind direction. A good description of our various climate zones is given at https://sciencing.com/info-8521357-main-characteristics-earths-climate-zone.html
The rise and rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide
Scripps Institution of Oceanography operates the observatory on the summit of Mauna Loa, Hawai’i and maintains a live link to that ongoing measurement of CO2 in our atmosphere.
https://sioweb.ucsd.edu/programs/keelingcurve/
Biome and habitat shifts
A useful resource for beginning to explore specific impacts of a warming climate on ocean habitats and marine resources.
https://wwf.panda.org/our_work/our_focus/oceans_practice/problems/climate_change/
Real-time Climate Data
The University of Maine ‘Climate Reanalyzer’ is a superb online tool enabling users to peruse current and past meteorological data. Students can use this website simply to check the forecast for where they live or (using the tools under ‘Climate Models & Data’) to explore trends in temperature, precipitation, humidity, etc. anywhere in the world.