knowledge about environmental science

1. ESC 201
Module 1
Introduction to the Phenomena and Context
of
Climate Change

3. Key Definitions
• Climate change – trends or other systematic
changes in either the average state of the climate,
or in its variability (including extreme events),
with these changes persisting for an extended
period, typically decades or longer.
• Climate variability – variations in climatic
conditions (average, extreme events etc)on time
and space scales beyond that of individual weather
events, but not persisting for extended periods, e.g.
floods, hurricanes etc

4. Vulnerability, Resilience & Adaptation
• Vulnerability (to climate variability and change) –the extent to
which a natural or human system is susceptible to sustaining
damage resulting from climate variability and change, despite
human actions to moderate or offset such damage
• Resilience (to climate variability and change) – the ability of a
natural or human system to withstand the adverse consequences
of climate variability and change, including extreme events, and
return to some degree of normalcy as a result of the capacity to
cope or adapt.
• Adaptation (to climate variability and change) – Policies,
actions and other initiatives designed to limit the potential
adverse impacts arising from climate variability and change
(including extreme events), and exploit any positive
consequences.
• Mitigation (of climate change) – Policies, actions and other
initiatives that reduce the net emissions of “greenhouse gases”,
such as CO2, CH4, N2O, that cause climate change through
global warming.

6. Natural vs. Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
• Earth's average surface temperature is about 14°C. The atmosphere
acts as a 'blanket' holding in heat that would otherwise be radiated
to outer space – greenhouse effect.
• Gases responsible, notably carbon dioxide (CO2) nitrous oxide
(N2O) and methane (CH4), are called greenhouse gases (GHGs).
The ‘enhanced’ greenhouse effect is a result of human activities (burning
of fossil fuels and forest clearing) that causes a significant increase in GHGs in
the atmosphere.

7. Solar radiation
in the form of
lightwaves
passes through
the
atmosphere

8. Most of this radiation
is absorbed by the
Earth and warms it

9. Some energy is radiated back
into space by the earth in
the form of infrared waves
Some of this outgoing infrared
radiation is trapped by the
earth’s atmosphere and warms
it
Most of this radiation
is absorbed by the
Earth and warms it

10. © 2008 Andrew Kornylak/Aurora Photos

12. Some energy is radiated back
into space by the earth in
the form of infrared waves
Some of this outgoing infrared
radiation is trapped by the earth’s
atmosphere and warms it
Most of this radiation
is absorbed by the
Earth and warms it

13. Some energy is radiated back
into space by the earth in
the form of infrared waves
Some of this outgoing infrared
radiation (IR) is trapped by the
earth’s atmosphere and warms it.
Increasing the concentration of
GHG’s causes more of the IR
radiation to be trapped
Most of this radiation
is absorbed by the
Earth and warms it

14. Natural vs. Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
• The linkages between anthropogenic GHG emissions due to
human activities and rise in surface temperature during 1900-1990
are quite evident in this illustration.

15. Temperature & CO2 concentration

16. 400
320
340
360
380
300
180
200
220
240
260
280
2013 CO2 Concentration: 400ppm
800,000 700,000 600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0
Age (years BP)
CO
2
(ppmv)
Source: National Climatic Data Center/NOAA

17. As CO2 Increases, So Does the Temperature
Consequently, further “global warming” is projected in the
future, with an increase in the global average temperature of
somewhere between 2 and 6 degrees by 2100.
The linkages between
anthropogenic GHG
emissions due to human
activities and rise in
surface temperature are
quite evident in this
illustration.

18. Sea Level Rise
Sea-level rise is projected to be between 20 and
60 cm by 2100

19. CO2 Reading in 2023
423.17 ppm

20. Agreement On Science
20

21. Why should we care?
21

22. How sure are scientists?
22

23. Myth Buster Exercise # 3
23
Climate change sceptics /deniers often argue

24. Impacts of Climate Change
• Biodiversity, carbon storage, habitats, …
Ecosystems
• Agriculture, fresh water, health, …
Human systems
• Transport, buildings, lifestyle, …
Urban systems
• Energy, manufacturing, natural capital
industries, …
Economic systems
• Equity, migration, peace and conflict, …
Social systems
24
Climate change has an impact on almost every aspect of our
lives – cross-cutting systems impacts

25. 25

26. Impact on Glaciers
Pedersen Glacier, Alaska
26

27. Impact on Polar Regions
27
Sea ice extent was lowest on record in January

28. Copyright 2004 Amanda Byrd Photography 28

29. Impact On Ecosystems
29

30. Impact on Food and Agricultural Systems
30

31. 31

32. International Concern
•By 1990 numerous international conferences had issued
urgent calls for a binding global treaty addressing the
problem of climate change.
•The United Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization
responded by establishing an intergovernmental working
group to prepare for treaty negotiations and subsequently
the UN General Assembly established an
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC).
•In May 1992 the INC adopted the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

33. Timeline

34. The Kyoto Protocol
http://grid-arendal.herokuapp.com/graphic_requests/08af732e5c7d54cdad9f236150c31289
The Kyoto Protocol, as the instrument is called, mandated an aggregated
emissions reduction target for industralised countries of 5 % of the main
greenhouse gases by 2012, relative to 1990 emissions.

35. Paris Agreement
• The Paris Agreement builds upon the Convention and for the
first time brings all nations into a common cause to undertake
ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its
effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to
do so.

36. IPCC
• The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)
provides regular assessments of the scientific basis of
climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options
for adaptation and mitigation.
• Latest report: Sixth Assessment Report, 2021-2023

37. Pacific Island Countries Concern
• The Pacific Small Island Developing States
(PSIDS) contribute less than 0.03 per cent of
the world's total greenhouse gas emissions but
are amongst the most vulnerable to the impacts
of climate change.

38. Special Circumstances of Pacific Island Countries
• Geographical isolation
• Fragility of the environment
• Rapid population growth, and high population densities
in some areas
• Limited land resources
• Dependence on marine resources
• Vulnerability and resilience
• Small, highly integrated environmental and economic
systems

39. Fiji: Climate Change related Policy

40. Fiji: Climate Change related Policy