Abstract

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established by the United Nations and World Meteorological Organization, has determined with a 90% confidence interval that humans have very likely contributed to a net warming of the Earth due to an increase in the emissions of greenhouse gases, aerosols, and land use changes. This warming has caused glacial melting to accelerate and subsequently sea level is now a very tangible issue. In addition, extreme precipitation events are happening more often in certain geographic regions. The last few decades have seen tremendous efforts focused on the collection and distribution of scientific data to better understand trends and future projections/scenarios of climate change and how society must adapt to those changes. As science concerning global climate change advances, societal awareness and understanding of the issue appears to be lagging behind. Does the public have a solid understanding of the mechanisms and consequences of climate change? Depending on the type of government, public views can significantly influence the government to develop better climate policies. Therefore, public voice is vital in influencing political decisions concerning climate change. Clear communication of scientific knowledge can empower people to safely steer future generations out of harm’s way - sharing and understanding fosters more of the same possibility. This case study discusses one of the interactive classroom activities which facilitated the active engagement of students in a discussion of local issues and potential avenues to adapt to climate change. Because climate change affects everything on our planet, animal farms on Delmarva represent one of the many economically and socially critical variables that must be protected through preemptive adaptations. Conversely, farm operations affect the rate of climate change, as well as the surrounding environment. With modern management practices and technology, farming effects on the environment and climate can be drastically reduced. On the other hand, if operations are not managed properly they can also have a negative impact on the environment and climate. Through suggestions and the adoption of modern practices, animal farming can become sustainable and environmentally friendly. The earth’s climate is inherently dynamic, but with the adoption of sustainable farming practices on a global scale the rate of climate change may be decelerated.

Keywords: Delmarva; Climate change; Mitigation; Sustainable practice; Nitrogenous waste; Animal farming; Composting