Dealing with Global Dealing with Global WarmingWarming

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The IPCCThe IPCC

The IPCC is the The IPCC is the Intergovernmental Panel on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of the Climate Change, a group of the world’s leading climate world’s leading climate scientists from many countries.scientists from many countries.

In 2007, it received the Nobel In 2007, it received the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Al Peace Prize jointly with Al Gore.Gore.

ModelsModelsIPCC scientists use climate data (such as IPCC scientists use climate data (such as

that collected from ice cores) as inputs in that collected from ice cores) as inputs in quantitative models that simulate the quantitative models that simulate the interactions of the Earth’s systems.interactions of the Earth’s systems.

Confidence LevelConfidence Level

Each prediction can be given Each prediction can be given a confidence rating, an a confidence rating, an indication of the probability indication of the probability that the prediction is that the prediction is correct, based on the correct, based on the amount and accuracy of amount and accuracy of data measurements and data measurements and scientists’ understanding of scientists’ understanding of climate interactions.climate interactions.

Political AgreementsPolitical Agreements

The IPCC does not make policy decisions, The IPCC does not make policy decisions, only recommendations.only recommendations.

The United Nations Framework Convention The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in operation on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in operation since 1992, is an agreement of the world’s since 1992, is an agreement of the world’s nations to stabilize greenhouse gas nations to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity.emissions caused by human activity.

A CaveatA CaveatHowever, the UNFCCC agrees that any However, the UNFCCC agrees that any

actions taken to stabilize emissions:actions taken to stabilize emissions:

• must not threaten global food productionmust not threaten global food production

• must not threaten economic interestsmust not threaten economic interests

• must support sustainable developmentmust support sustainable development

A CaveatA CaveatHowever, the UNFCCC agrees that any However, the UNFCCC agrees that any

actions taken to stabilize emissions:actions taken to stabilize emissions:

• must not threaten global food productionmust not threaten global food production

• must not threaten economic interestsmust not threaten economic interests

• must support sustainable developmentmust support sustainable development

. . . which is ironic since climate change . . . which is ironic since climate change itself threatens food production and itself threatens food production and economic interestseconomic interests

Remember this image of an irrigation reservoir in Australia?

The Kyoto ProtocolThe Kyoto Protocol

In Kyoto, Japan, in In Kyoto, Japan, in 1997, Canada and 1997, Canada and 160 countries 160 countries agreed to set a goal agreed to set a goal of an average 5% of an average 5% reduction in global reduction in global greenhouse gas greenhouse gas emissions by 2012.emissions by 2012.

However, our However, our emissions have emissions have since risen.since risen.

Reducing Emissions vs. Reducing Emissions vs. LevelsLevelsAnd remember that reducing emissions And remember that reducing emissions

means only reducing the means only reducing the raterate at which at which greenhouse gases are being added to the greenhouse gases are being added to the atmosphere. They are still being added.atmosphere. They are still being added.

Reducing Emissions vs. Reducing Emissions vs. LevelsLevelsIn the long term, we need net emissions to In the long term, we need net emissions to

drop to zero. And even then, drop to zero. And even then, temperatures will continue to rise before temperatures will continue to rise before they stabilize.they stabilize.

Mitigating Greenhouse Mitigating Greenhouse EmissionsEmissionsTo To mitigatemitigate our emissions (make them less our emissions (make them less

severe), we can actively remove severe), we can actively remove greenhouse gases.greenhouse gases.

Mitigating Greenhouse Mitigating Greenhouse EmissionsEmissionsTo To mitigatemitigate our emissions (make them less our emissions (make them less

severe), we can actively remove severe), we can actively remove greenhouse gases.greenhouse gases.

Individuals can purchase Individuals can purchase carbon offsetscarbon offsets, , which financially support removal which financially support removal processes.processes.

Nations, under the Kyoto Protocol, can trade Nations, under the Kyoto Protocol, can trade in in emission-reduction creditsemission-reduction credits for for engaging in these processes.engaging in these processes.

Mitigating Greenhouse Mitigating Greenhouse EmissionsEmissions

One way of removing One way of removing carbon dioxide from carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is the atmosphere is developing carbon developing carbon sinks, e.g. replanting sinks, e.g. replanting seedlings after forests seedlings after forests have been cut down.have been cut down.

Mitigating Greenhouse Mitigating Greenhouse EmissionsEmissionsSequestrationSequestration removes greenhouse removes greenhouse

gases from the air by storing them in gases from the air by storing them in the Earth.the Earth.

Carbon FootprintsCarbon FootprintsIt is important, It is important,

however, that however, that individuals reduce individuals reduce their their carbon carbon footprintfootprint, the sum , the sum of all the emissions of all the emissions produced by their produced by their activities, by activities, by changing their changing their activities.activities.

Carbon FootprintsCarbon FootprintsIndividuals can reduce the amount they Individuals can reduce the amount they

consume by reusing, reducing, and consume by reusing, reducing, and recycling.recycling.

And they can reduce the energy they And they can reduce the energy they consume by using energy-efficient consume by using energy-efficient appliances – or they can use green appliances – or they can use green energy.energy.

Renewable ResourcesRenewable Resources

Green energy comes Green energy comes from renewable (non-from renewable (non-fossil fuel) resources: fossil fuel) resources: the sun, the wind, the sun, the wind, the tides, and the the tides, and the Earth itself Earth itself (geothermal energy).(geothermal energy).

Carbon TaxesCarbon TaxesHowever, it is unlikely that individuals and However, it is unlikely that individuals and

industries will change their behaviours industries will change their behaviours significantly if a carbon tax is not imposed.significantly if a carbon tax is not imposed.

A A carbon taxcarbon tax is a tax on greenhouse gas is a tax on greenhouse gas emissions.emissions.

Carbon TaxesCarbon TaxesProposed carbon taxes are typically Proposed carbon taxes are typically

revenue-neutralrevenue-neutral (they replace other (they replace other taxes and/or reward green behaviours), taxes and/or reward green behaviours), but they are still politically unpopular.but they are still politically unpopular.

Green TechnologyGreen Technology

We need to remember, We need to remember, however, that green however, that green technologies may come technologies may come with a cost but also offer with a cost but also offer long-term economic long-term economic opportunities in addition to opportunities in addition to combating climate change.combating climate change.