Climate Change – Adapt or Mitigate?

WORLD AT RISK

Peer Assess

Key Terms

• Mitigation:- refers to policies which are meant to delay, reduce or prevent climate changes caused by GW. In relation to GW means reducing the output of greenhouse gasses and increasing the size of greenhouse gas sinks.

• Adaptation:- refers to policies which are designed to reduce the existing impacts of global warming, such as protection against flooding and coastal erosion.

• Many scientists argue that climate change would occur even if humans stopped polluting the atmosphere now, so 100% mitigation would still require some adaptation

Which is the better option?

• Should we focus on mitigating or is it too late and the only way is to adapt.

• I am going to divide the class in two, you will have to develop an argument that is either pro-mitigation or pro-adaption.

Discuss

•Should developed countries tell developing countries to cut carbon emission?

Adapting to Climate change

• Adapting will not solve climate change but will help protect populations and infrastructures.

• The EU has been heavily involved in helping its members adapt. It has encouraged many of its farmers to diversify their crops.

• Not all nations are as developed in adapting and often lack the resources or knowledge to plan for changes in climate

strategies

• There are a number of different coping strategies all of which have costs and benefits, some would be easier to implement than others

Kyoto Protocol

• What is it?

• The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the (UNFCCC), aimed at fighting global warming. The Protocol was initially adopted on 11 December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, and entered into force on 16 February 2005. As of September 2011, 191 states have signed and ratified the protocol. The only remaining signatory not to have ratified the protocol is the United States. Other states yet to ratify Kyoto include Afghanistan, Andorra and South Sudan, after Somalia ratified the protocol on 26 July 2010.

Background History

• 1827: The green house effect observed by a French scientist.

• 1970’s : Global warming evidence emerges.

• 1992: Rio Summit calls for voluntary cuts.

• 1997: UNFCCC contries sign the “Kyoto” treaty in Japan.

• 2001: UN report says GW evidence is “incontrovertible”

• 2001:US declines the protocol.

• 2004: Russia approves the protocol.

• 16 February 2005: the protocol becomes legally binding

The Main Goal

• Reduce green house emissions by 5.2% of its 1990 level by 2012.

• Countries targets vary e.g. EU countries are to reduce overall emissions by 8% (although individual nations vary) Japan by 5%.

• Some nations with low emissions have been allowed to increase their emissions e.g. Iceland

• Promote the system of buying and selling “Credits” to emit green house gases. This means some countries could buy unused emissions of other countries

•Some countries have refused to ratify the protocol e.g USA- they produce 25% of global emissions!!

•Some countries have not signed up!

•Some countries on target e.g. UK and Sweden others are off target e.g. Germany and Spain

•Chinas emissions have increased by 50% since 1990

Is it working?

Discuss

•Do we think Climate change is something we can stop, or should we now focus on finding ways to cope with the changes we face?