Climate Change

Front 1

What is global warming and global climate change?

Back 1

Global warming is the increase in global temperatures over a long period of time. Global climate change refers to the variation in the global climate or climatic patterns in the long term.

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How has the global climate changed?

Back 2

Since the 1800s, the earth has experienced significant but irregular temperature increases of between 0.3 and 0.6°C. There is an upward trend in temperature changes. Mean global temperatures rose faster between 1980 and 2000, increasing by about 0.4°C in 20 years.

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How do human activities lead to global warming?

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Human activities have led the enhanced greenhouse effect where the concentration of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons and water vapour) in the atmosphere has increased.

Human activities, also known as anthropogenic factors, such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and changing land use have increased the concentration of greenhouse gases.

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Burning of Fossil Fuels

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The major fossil fuels are oil, coal and natural gas. The burning of fossil fuels produces a large amount of energy that is important for human activities. The energy produced is used for industries, transportation, and domestic and commercial activities. Due to their high carbon content, fossil fuels contribute to the increase in greenhouse gases by producing large amounts of carbon dioxide when burnt.

The world’s usage of fossil fuels has increased in recent years due to an increase in demand for energy. This releases billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. (In 2010, global carbon dioxide emissions totalled 30.6 billion tonnes, which was a 5.6% increase from 2009.)

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Deforestation

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Deforestation is the loss of forests due to the removal or clearance of trees in forested areas. Trees are felled for wood to make products such as paper and building materials. Trees are also removed to clear the area for mining activities, the grazing of animals, the planting of crops and the construction of infrastructure.

Forests absorb billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide every year via photosynthesis, thus taking in a significant amount of global greenhouse gas emissions. With deforestation, there are fewer trees and other plants to absorb carbon dioxide, leading to an increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Deforestation is the second largest contributor of greenhouse gases.

The greatest overall loss of forests occurs in South America. Southeast Asia experiences the second highest rate of deforestation. Great losses in forests also occur in Australia and Africa. For many of these places, the need for development includes agricultural and commercial activities such as cattle ranching, commercial logging.

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Changing Land Use

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As population increases, the demand for agricultural and industrial land also increases. Land is also converted to urban or built-up areas as more people choose to live in cities. The change in land uses contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

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Industries

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Industries refer to the production of goods and services within a country. Secondary industries, which are industrial economic activities, such as manufacturing, involve the burning of fossil fuels that result in greenhouse gas emissions.

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Urbanization

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Urbanisation is the process by which as increasing number of people live in urban areas such as cities or towns. Large amounts of fossil fuels are burnt to provide energy for household activities in urban areas. These activities include heating, cooling, cooking lighting. The high concentration of cars buses and other forms of transportation in urban areas also contribute to the amount of greenhouse gases emitted in these areas. In addition, building infrastructure and producing construction materials also release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

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How does climate change affect people?

Back 9

Rise in Sea Level

Increase in Severity and Frequency of Tropical Storms

Spread of Diseases

Changes in Food Production

Front 10

Rise in Sea Level

Back 10

Sea levels have changed over millions of years due to climate change. However, there has been as steady increase in sea levels recorded since the late 1800s until today. The main causes of a rising sea level is a result of higher temperatures. The first cause is the melting of glaciers and in Greenland and Antarctica, where the resultant meltwater causes a rise in the sea level. Secondly, higher temperatures in the atmosphere cause water in seas and oceans to expand and this increases the sea level.

The rising sea levels have a negative impact on places where people live. Over 600 million people worldwide live in areas less than 10m above sea level. Rising sea levels threaten the low-lying areas and islands. Two-thirds of the world’s largest cities located in the coastal areas are also at risk due to rising sea levels, 33% of coastal areas and wetland habitats are likely to be lost in the hundred years if sea levels continue to rise at the current rates.

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Increase in Severity and Frequency of Tropical Storms

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The increase in severity and frequency of storms are believed to be due to the higher land and sea surface temperatures. The increase in severity and frequency of storms results in significant economic losses, destruction of properties and loss of lives.

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Spread of Diseases

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The increase in temperatures and rainfall in various parts of the world will lead to the spread of some infectious insect-borne diseases. Insects thrive in these favourable conditions. For example, heavy rainfall may allow mosquitoes to grow in numbers in aquatic habitats, resulting in the spread of malaria and dengue fever.

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Changes in Food Production (plus advantages and disadvantages)

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Higher temperatures may result in longer growing seasons in some regions. The growth period varies from crop to crop and the lengthened growing seasons has its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

An increase in the types of crops that can be grown in the UK. New crops such as blackberries and maize can be cultivated.

The production of fruit, soya beans and potatoes is projected to increase in Canada.

Disadvantages:

In the Yunnan province, China, the production of fruits such as apples and cherries, and nuts such as almonds and walnuts is reduced as these fruits and nuts require cool weather conditions.

In Canada, the average wheat grain yield has reduced.

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Kyoto Protocol

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The Kyoto Protocol was first drawn up in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997, and came into force on 16 February 2005. It is an agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is an international convention set up with the goal of reducing the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Kyoto Protocol recognises that the developed countries are more responsible for the high level of GHG in the air due to the 150 years of Industrial Revolution. Thus, it put more a heavier burden on the developed countries due to the principle of “common but different responsibilities”.

Many countries came together to sign the Kyoto Protocol to come up with measures to address climate change and put them into practice. From 2008 to 2012, these countries were obligated to reduce their combined greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5% below their 1990 levels.

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Successes of Kyoto Protocol

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Many countries have met or exceeded the targets set by the Kyoto Protocol. This includes countries such as FInland, Greece and Ireland.

Successful in encouraging sustainable development. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) gave Certified Emission Reduction (CER) credits to countries which carried out emission-reduction projects (eg installing energy-efficient infrastructure) in less developed countries.

CDM not only encouraged sustainable development, but also helped developed countries reduce their greenhouse emissions when they take on emission-reduction projects in less developed countries.

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Limitations of Kyoto Protocol

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Limited impact on global greenhouse gas emissions because countries who did not sign the Protocol continued to contribute significantly to the global emissions. Eg USA is one of the largest contributor to the global greenhouse gas emissions and they did not sign the emissions.

Not all countries met their emission targets. Eg Denmark, Austria and Spain.

Difficult to obtain the cooperation of everyone to work together as it is not compulsory for all countries with low greenhouse gas emissions to provide support to other countries. Eg Countries with low greenhouse gas emissions do not have to provide energy-efficient technology to countries with high greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, countries with high greenhouse gas emissions may not be able to reach their emissions target as easily.

Difficulty in monitoring the progress.

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Copenhagen Conference

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In 2009, Copenhagen hosted a United Nations Climate Change conference. The purpose of the conference was to improve on the measures developed for the Kyoto Protocol to deal with the issue of climate change.The Copenhagen Accord was drawn up during the conference.

The Copenhagen Accord is an international agreement with the long-term goal of keeping in any increases in the global mean maximum temperature to within 2°C.

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Successes of Copenhagen Conference

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Successfully brought together a group of important political figures to discuss the measures that will address the issue of climate change effectively. Targets for greenhouse gas emissions were successfully set during the conference. Developed countries committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. (eg USA targets to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 17%)

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Limitations of Copenhagen Conference

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Although various countries have pledged to reduce their emission of greenhouse gases, the targets set are insufficient to reduce the emissions to within 2°C. The targets set by various countries to reduce emission of greenhouse gases were a guideline rather than a condition that must be fulfilled.

No agreement was made on how the reduction of greenhouse gases is to be carried out, making it difficult for countries to take any action.

Many developed countries have refused to sign the Copenhagen Accord.

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UN Climate Summit 2014

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The purpose of the 2014 Climate Summit was to raise political momentum for a meaningful universal climate agreement in Paris in 2015 and to galvanise transformative action in all countries to reduce emissions and build resilience to the adverse impact of climate change.

Leaders from government, business, finance and civil society to crystallize a global vision for low-carbon economic growth and to advance climate action on five fronts: cutting emissions; mobilizing money and markets; pricing carbon; strengthening resilience; and mobilizing new coalitions.

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The global vision of climate change

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World leaders agreed that climate change is a defining issue of our time and that bold action is needed today to reduce emissions and build resilience and that they would lead this effort.

Leaders acknowledged that climate action should be undertaken within the context of efforts to eradicate extreme poverty and promote sustainable development.

Leaders committed to limit global temperature rise to less than 2°C. From pre-industrial levels.

Many leaders called for all countries to take national actions consistent with a less than 2°C. Pathway and a number of countries committed to doing so.

Leaders committed to finalise a meaningful, universal new agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at COP-21, in Paris in 2015, and to arrive at the first draft of such an agreement at COP-20 in Lima, in December 2014.

Leaders concurred that the new agreement should be effective, durable and comprehensive and that it should balance support for mitigation and adaptation. Many underlined the importance of addressing loss and damage. Many leaders affirmed their commitment to submit their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) for the new agreement in the first quarter of 2015.

Many leaders affirmed their objectives and principles of the UNFCCC, including the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities. In addition, others highlighted that the global effort to meet the climate challenge should reflect evolving realities and circumstances.