Top 10 Climate Science Concepts Every GARP SCR Candidate Must Master

Kateryna Myrko
Jul 17
4 min read

Top 10 Climate Science Concepts Every SCR Candidate Must Master

Candidates preparing for the GARP SCR exam must develop a deep understanding of fundamental climate science concepts. Mastery of these topics not only ensures success on exam questions but also equips professionals to assess and manage climate-related risks in the financial sector.

1. Climate Change vs. Weather Climate Science Concepts , GARP SCR

Definition and DistinctionClimate change represents long‑term shifts in weather patterns—typically over 30‑year periods—affecting variables like temperature, precipitation, and humidity. In contrast, weather describes the atmospheric conditions at a specific place and time. An analogy: weather is the outcome of a single dice roll, while climate is the statistical distribution from many rolls .

Why It Matters Climate Science Concepts , GARP SCR

Understanding this distinction is crucial for interpreting data trends versus day‑to‑day variability. Exam questions may test your ability to differentiate statistical climate analyses from immediate weather observations.

2. Modern Climate Trends

Key ObservationsSince the late 19th century, the planet has warmed by approximately 1.2 °C, with the warmest recorded years including 2016, 2019–20, and 2022. Warming is uneven: landmasses and the Northern Hemisphere have heated faster than oceans and the tropics. Sea ice has declined, ocean heat content (especially in the top 2 km) has risen, and sea levels are climbing due to both ice melt and thermal expansion .

Mastery Tip

Be ready to cite specific temperature or sea‑level metrics and explain the physical drivers behind these trends when solving scenario‑based problems.

3. Paleoclimate and Measurement Methods

Historical ContextEarth’s climate has fluctuated over millions of years, from warmer “ice‑free” periods to ice ages. The Holocene peaked around 7,000 years ago, dipped during the Little Ice Age, then resumed rising .Proxy Techniques

Tree Rings: Annual growth layers reveal past temperature and precipitation.
Corals: Skeleton chemistry reflects ocean conditions.
Speleothems (cave formations): Indicate regional climate over hundreds of thousands of years.
Ice Cores: Chemical layers in Greenland and Antarctica record climate up to a million years back.
Ocean Sediment Cores: Reveal tens of millions of years of climate data through mud composition
Study Strategy
Memorize each proxy’s temporal coverage and key strengths/limitations for comparative questions.

4. Earth’s Energy Balance and Radiative Forcing

FundamentalsIncoming solar radiation averages ~340 W/m², with ~30% reflected back to space. To maintain equilibrium, Earth must emit an equal infrared flux. Greenhouse gases absorb and re‑emit infrared, trapping heat and shifting this balance—known as radiative forcing .

Application

Questions often ask you to quantify how changes in greenhouse gas concentrations alter radiative forcing and surface temperatures. Practice diagramming the energy budget and calculating forcing for different gas scenarios.

5. Major Greenhouse Gases and Aerosols

Greenhouse Gases:

CO₂: Lifetime ~500 years; GWP=1; ~56% of radiative forcing.
CH₄: Lifetime ~11.8 years; GWP≈29; ~15% of forcing.
N₂O: Lifetime ~109 years; GWP≈273; ~5% of forcing.
Halocarbons & O₃: Varying lifetimes and GWPs, together ~23% of forcing.
Aerosols: Sulfates cool the planet by reflecting sunlight; black carbon absorbs heat and affects cloud formation .
Exam Focus
Be prepared to rank gases by lifetime or forcing contribution and discuss aerosol–climate interactions.

6. Anthropogenic vs. Natural Drivers

Human Contributions:

Radiative Forcing Changes: Fossil fuel combustion raises CO₂ (heating), while aerosols (cooling) partially offset this, yielding net warming.
Water Vapor Feedback: As temperatures climb, air holds more water vapor, amplifying warming.
CO₂ Emissions: Isotopic analysis links rising concentrations to fossil fuels .
Natural Mechanisms:
Tectonics & Orbital Variations: Operate over millions of years—too slow for recent warming.
Solar Output: Little change in recent centuries.
Unforced Variability: Phenomena like El Niño are cyclical and cannot explain long‑term trends .
Preparation Tip
Contrast time scales of natural drivers with rapid anthropogenic changes for attribution questions.

7. Environmental Impacts

Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs):Scenarios from SSP1 (sustainable) to SSP5 (high‑emissions) project temperature increases of 2 °C to 5.5 °C by century’s end. Warming is amplified on land and at high latitudes.Key Changes:

Precipitation: Uneven shifts—increased intensity of downpours, longer droughts.
Sea Level & Acidification: Sea levels rise; oceans absorb CO₂, harming marine life.
Albedo & Polar Amplification: Melting ice reduces reflectivity, accelerating warming.
Extreme Events: More frequent/intense heatwaves, floods, storms .
Exam Angle
Expect scenario‑based items asking you to map hazards to geographic or temporal scales.

8. Socioeconomic Impacts

Infrastructure & Agriculture: Rising seas and shifting climate zones threaten crops; adaptation costs include relocating or fortifying farmland.

Health & Productivity: Higher temperatures cause heat‑related illnesses and reduce labor output; changing insect ranges affect disease and pollination.

Economic & Political Stability: Resource scarcity may spark conflicts over water or land; tourism/winter industries face revenue losses.

Ecosystem Services & Tipping Points: Loss of coastal wetlands and potential abrupt changes (e.g., ice sheet collapse) pose cascading risks .

Study Advice

Link physical hazards to socioeconomic consequences in practice problems.

9. Climate Change Adaptation (and Maladaptation)

Adaptation Strategies:

Physical: Seawalls, flood barriers, building codes.
Procedural: Early warning systems, land‑use planning.
Equity & Governance:Governments must allocate resources fairly; wealth disparities can exacerbate vulnerabilities.
Maladaptation:Well‑intended measures (e.g., levees) may shift risks elsewhere or encourage risky development.
Agricultural Adaptation: Switching to drought‑resistant crops or efficient irrigation demonstrates individual adaptation efforts .
Prep Tip
Distinguish beneficial measures from maladaptive outcomes when evaluating case studies.

10. Mitigation via Energy Sources

Mitigation Definition:Reducing greenhouse gas outputs by replacing fossil fuels with low‑carbon alternatives.

Carbon Intensity:Coal > oil > natural gas; methane leakage remains a concern .

Renewable Energy:

Solar/Wind: Scalable but intermittent.
Hydroelectric: Reliable, with geographic limits.
Nuclear: Low carbon, high cost and safety concerns.
Complementary Technologies:
CCUS: Enables continued fossil use with capture; economically challenging.
BESS: Smooths supply/demand mismatches; long‑term storage under development.
Electrification: Powering transport and industry with clean electricity (e.g., hydrogen) .
Exam Strategy
Be ready to discuss trade‑offs among mitigation technologies and their deployment challenges.

A robust grasp of these ten concepts—grounded in fact sheet details—will position you to excel on the GARP SCR exam and in real‑world climate risk analyses. Be sure to supplement reading with practice questions, diagramming exercises, and scenario drills to solidify your understanding.

Good luck with your preparation!

If you're looking for more practice questions and study resources to boost your chances of passing the GARP Sustainability and Climate Change 2025 exam, check out our comprehensive study materials below!