Climate Change - Challenges for Development, Ethical Considerations...
1. Transnational Youth Seminar 10-15 May 2010, Strasbourg Workshop on Climate Change Viewing Climate Change through a Justice & Peace lens in the light of the MDGs : what could / should be our commitment ?
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4. What is global warming ? Increasing greenhouse gases trap more heat
6. Source: World Resources Institute . 2000 estimate. Energy 61% Changes in use of soil 18% Agriculture 14% Electricity & Heat Generation Transport Industry Other energy All GHG in CO2 equivalent
7. Visible consequences of Climate Change are becoming more apparent and more frequent Alarm bells and Tipping Points
12. 20 15 1900 2100 2000 14 16 17 18 13 19 Average Global Temperature ( O C) Year 2050 1950 1860 This presents a rate-of-change problem for many natural systems/processes Band of historical climatic variability IPCC (2001) estimates a 1.4-5.8 o C increase Low High Central estimate = 2.5 o C
17. 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4 One Earth is available (The planet’s total bio-capacity = 1.0) Number of Earths used by humanity Based on Wackernagel et al, 2002 Number of Earths Ecological Foodprint 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s
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22. What next—what can we do? What next—what can we do? What next – what can we do?
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26. The earth, our unique home! For God’s sake: take care of Creation. [email_address] -Thanks.
Editor's Notes
Scientists have a good understanding of what has changed earth’s climate in the past: Incoming solar radiation is the main climate driver. Its energy output increased about 0.1% from 1750 to 1950, increasing temperatures by 0.2°F (0.1°C) in the first part of the 20 th century. But since 1979, when we began taking measurements from space, the data show no long-term change in total solar energy, even though Earth has been warming. Repetitive cycles in Earth’s orbit that occur over tens of thousands of years can influence the angle and timing of sunlight. In the distant past, drifting continents make a big difference in climate over millions of years by changing ice caps at the poles and by altering ocean currents, which transport heat and cold throughout the ocean depths. Huge volcanic eruptions can cool Earth by injecting ash and tiny particles into the stratosphere. Changes in the concentration of greenhouse gases, which occur both naturally and as a result of human activities, also influence Earth’s climate.
While there are many substances that act as greenhouse gases, two of the most important are water and carbon dioxide, or CO2.
Increased warmth has also affected living things. For example, the Japanese keep very detailed records on the blossoming of their Tokyo cherry trees, so they know they are blooming 5 days earlier on average than they were 50 years ago. Also mosquitoes, birds, and insects are moving north in the Northern Hemisphere.
Earth is getting warmer by virtually every measure we know, and the temperature has been well above normal for more than 25 years. Although increases of 1.0-1.6°F (0.6-0.9°C) over the last century or so may not sound very threatening, remember that’s a global average. The warming is stronger over land than over oceans and in the higher latitudes than in the tropics.
Global average temperatures are expected to increase by about 2-13°F (1-7°C) by the end of the century. That may not sound like a lot, so what’s the big deal? The problem is that small changes in global average temperature can lead to really large changes in the environment. Let’s look at some of the expected changes.
[Image 1] This triangle can be divided into 8 wedges representing one billion tons each.