9. CLIMATE CHANGE
• Changes in the atmosphere
– Glacial intervals- colder periods, more glaciation
– Interglacial Intervals- warmer periods, less glaciation
10. CLIMATE CHANGE
• Currently- Interglacial interval
– But, average global temperatures increasing, global
warming
– Due to human activities- More CO2 and methane
12. CLIMATE CHANGE
• Greenhouse Effect- natural
phenomenon
–Sunlight- UV radiation
–Radiated back as infrared radiation
–Infrared either radiates into space
or absorbed by atmosphere
13. CLIMATE CHANGE
• Problem- Anthropogenic sources of
greenhouse gases on the rise
–CO2- 280 ppm in 1860
• 375 ppm in 2005
• 450 ppm by 2050
14. CLIMATE CHANGE
• Conclusions
– Humans influencing climate
– Warming is occurring
– Surface temps will increase 2.4 to 10.4 F
during the 21st
century
22. Roots of Kyoto
• 1992- U.N Framework Convention on
Climate Change- 154 Nations
–Laid the groundwork for Kyoto
–1990 levels by 2000
–Non-binding
23. Climate Change Policy
• Kyoto Protocols- 1997 Treaty
–Framework- Binding Emissions
reductions targets- Developed
Nations only:
• U.S. 6% below 1990 levels by 2008-
2112;EU 8%;Japan 6%;
24. Climate Change Policy
• Kyoto 1997: Objective
– "stabilization of greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level
that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system"
29. Kyoto
• Status- 55 Parties Required
–In force 2/2005 after ratification by
Russia
–8/06- 166 Parties
30. Kyoto
• Who has not signed on?
–U.S.- Bush 2001 “fatally flawed”
31. Climate Change Policy
• CA- Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006
– 25% cut in the CA’s greenhouse gas
emissions by 2020 to reduce them to 1990
levels.
32. Climate Change Policy
"We simply must do everything we can in
our power to slow down global warming
before it is too late... The science is clear.
The global warming debate is over."
33. Climate Change Policy
• Global Warming Solutions Act of
2006
–Limits on CO2 start in 2012
• Regulation
• New technology
• Emissions trading
34. Climate Change Policy
• Lawsuits
– 2005 Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and 4
cities, including Boulder;
– V. Export-Import Bank and Oversees Private
Investment Bank
35. Lawsuit
• Basis: Illegally providing $32 billion in
financing without assessing contributions
to global warming
– 8/05 Plaintiff’s have standing to sue
36. Lawsuits
• 4/06 12 states and
cities, NRDC,
Sierra Club et. Al.
v. EPA
– Challenge refusal
to regulate carbon
dioxide emissions
under CAA
38. Lawsuits
• Bush Admin and EPA Claim:
– EPA has no authority to regulate carbon
dioxide emissions
– Back up- Science uncertain
39. Lawsuits
• CAA “Air Pollutant” is any physical,
chemical, biological, or radioactive
substance or matter which is emitted into
or otherwise enters the ambient air.
40. Lawsuits
• April 2, 2007
–U.S. Sup Ct. rules CAA gives U.S.
E.P.A.authority to regulate
Greenhouse emissions
