The document discusses global warming and its causes, effects, and potential mitigation measures. It notes that global warming is primarily caused by human greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion. Effects of rising temperatures include melting ice sheets and glaciers, sea level rise, stronger storms, and shifting animal and plant ranges. Proposed mitigation approaches center on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning to cleaner energy sources and more efficient transportation and industry. Adaptation strategies are also needed to address impacts that can no longer be avoided.

1. KKKH 4284
PERANCANGAN BANDAR LESTARI
TASK 5: GLOBAL WARMING
AZIZA BINTI ESA
A133613
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL & STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING/4
Lecturers:
Prof. Ir. Dr. RIZA ATIQ ABDULLAH BIN O.K. RAHMAT
PUAN NORLIZA BINTI MOHD AKHIR
Dr. MUHAMMAD NAZRI BIN BORHAN

2. TASK 6
Supposed you are living in a coastal city. The city administrator has noticed that the mean sea
level has been rising for the past 50 years. The raising is small but over a long period of time it
may cause problems in the city centre as the level of that part of the city is quite low. If you are
hired as a consultant, write a plan of action on what can be done to reduce or mitigate the
problems. Your report must include Mitigation and Adaptation measures.
INTRODUCTION
Global warming refers to an unequivocal and continuing rise in the average temperature of
Earth's climate system. Since 1971, 90% of the warming has occurred in the oceans. Despite the
oceans' dominant role in energy storage, the term "global warming" is also used to refer to
increases in average temperature of the air and sea at Earth's surface. Since the early 20th
century, the global air and sea surface temperature has increased about 0.8 °C (1.4 °F), with
about two-thirds of the increase occurring since 1980. Each of the last three decades has been
successively warmer at the Earth's surface than any preceding decade since 1850.
Scientific understanding of the cause of global warming has been increasing. In its fourth
assessment (AR4 2007) of the relevant scientific literature, the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) reported that scientists were more than 90% certain that most of global
warming was being caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases produced by human
activities. In 2010 that finding was recognized by the national science academies of all major
industrialized nations. Affirming these findings in 2013, the IPCC stated that the largest driver of
global warming is carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel combustion, cement
production, and land use changes such as deforestation. In 2013 report states, human influence
has been detected in warming of the atmosphere and the ocean, in changes in the global water
cycle, in reductions in snow and ice, in global mean sea level rise, and in changes in some
climate extremes. This evidence for human influence has grown since AR4. It is extremely likely
(95-100%) that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the
mid-20th century.

3. Climate model projections were summarized in the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) by
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). They indicated that during the 21st
century the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 1.1 to 2.9 °C (2.0 to 5.2 °F) for
their lowest emissions scenario and 2.4 to 6.4 °C (4.3 to 11.5 °F) for their highest. The ranges of
these estimates arise from the use of models with differing sensitivity to greenhouse gas
concentrations.
Future climate change and associated impacts will vary from region to region around the globe.
The effects of an increase in global temperature include a rise in sea levels and a change in the
amount and pattern of precipitation, as well as a probable expansion of subtropical deserts.
Warming is expected to be strongest in the Arctic, with the continuing retreat of glaciers,
permafrost and sea ice. Other likely effects of the warming include more frequent extreme
weather events including heat waves, droughts and heavy rainfall; ocean acidification; and
species extinctions due to shifting temperature regimes. Effects significant to humans include the
threat to food security from decreasing crop yields and the loss of habitat from inundation.
Proposed policy responses to global warming include mitigation by emissions reduction,
adaptation to its effects, building systems resilient to its effects, and possible future climate
engineering. Most countries are parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), whose ultimate objective is to prevent dangerous anthropogenic (i.e.,
human-induced) climate change. Parties to the UNFCCC have adopted a range of policies
designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to assist in adaptation to global warming.
Parties to the UNFCCC have agreed that deep cuts in emissions are required and that future
global warming should be limited to below 2.0 °C (3.6 °F) relative to the pre-industrial level.
Reports published in 2011 by the United Nations Environment Programmeand the International
Energy Agency suggest that efforts as of the early 21st century to reduce emissions may be
inadequate to meet the UNFCCC's 2 °C target.
Emissions of greenhouse gases grew 2.2% per year between 2000 and 2010, compared with
1.3% per year from 1970 to 2000.

4. One of the biggest issues facing us right now is global warming. Its effects on animals and on
agriculture are indeed frightening, and the effects on the human population are even scarier. The
facts about global warming are often debated in politics and the media, but, unfortunately, even
if we disagree about the causes, global warming effects are real, global, and measurable. The
causes are mainly from us, the human race, and the effects on us will be severe.
CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING
Scientists have spent decades figuring out what is causing global warming. They've looked at the
natural cycles and events that are known to influence climate. But the amount and pattern of
warming that's been measured can't be explained by these factors alone. The only way to explain
the pattern is to include the effect of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted by humans.
To bring all this information together, the United Nations formed a group of scientists called the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC. The IPCC meets every few years to
review the latest scientific findings and write a report summarizing all that is known about global
warming. Each report represents a consensus, or agreement, among hundreds of leading
scientists.
One of the first things scientists learned is that there are several greenhouse gases responsible for
warming, and humans emit them in a variety of ways. Most come from the combustion of fossil
fuels in cars, factories and electricity production. The gas responsible for the most warming is
carbon dioxide, also called CO2. Other contributors include methane released from landfills and
agriculture (especially from the digestive systems of grazing animals), nitrous oxide from
fertilizers, gases used for refrigeration and industrial processes, and the loss of forests that would
otherwise store CO2.
Different greenhouse gases have very different heat-trapping abilities. Some of them can even
trap more heat than CO2. A molecule of methane produces more than 20 times the warming of a
molecule of CO2. Nitrous oxide is 300 times more powerful than CO2. Other gases, such as
chlorofluorocarbons (which have been banned in much of the world because they also degrade
the ozone layer), have heat-trapping potential thousands of times greater than CO2. But because
their concentrations are much lower than CO2, none of these gases adds as much warmth to the
atmosphere as CO2 does.

5. In order to understand the effects of all the gases together, scientists tend to talk about all
greenhouse gases in terms of the equivalent amount of CO2. Since 1990, yearly emissions have
gone up by about 6 billion metric tons of "carbon dioxide equivalent" worldwide, more than a 20
percent increase.
EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING
The planet is warming, and the effects of rising temperatures aren’t waiting for some far-flung
future. They’re happening right now. Signs are appearing all over, and some of them are
surprising. The heat is not only melting glaciers and sea ice, it’s also shifting precipitation
patterns and setting animals on the move.
Some impacts from increasing temperatures are already happening.
 Ice is melting worldwide, especially at the Earth’s poles. This includes mountain glaciers, ice
sheets covering West Antarctica and Greenland, and Arctic sea ice.
 Sea level rise became faster over the last century.
 Some butterflies, foxes, and alpine plants have moved farther north or to higher, cooler areas.
 Precipitation (rain and snowfall) has increased across the globe, on average.
Other effects could happen later this century, if warming continues.
 Sea levels are expected to rise between 7 and 23 inches (18 and 59 centimeters) by the end of
the century, and continued melting at the poles could add between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20
centimeters).
 Hurricanes and other storms are likely to become stronger.
 Species that depend on one another may become out of sync. For example, plants could bloom
earlier than their pollinating insects become active.
 Floods and droughts will become more common.
 Less fresh water will be available.
 Some diseases will spread such as malaria carried by mosquitoes.

6.  Ecosystems will change some species will move farther north or become more successful;
others won’t be able to move and could become extinct.
MITIGATION MEASURES OF GLOBAL WARMING
Mitigation of global warming involves taking actions aimed at reducing the extent of global
warming. Scientific consensus on global warming together with the fear of climate transitions is
leading to increased efforts to develop new technologies and sciences, to address the issue of
global warming. At the core of most proposals is the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by
reducing energy use and switching to cleaner energy sources. Responding to the challenges of
controlling global warming requires fundamental changes in energy production, transportation,
industry, government policies, and development strategies around the world. These changes
would take time. The challenge today is to manage the impacts that cannot be avoided while
taking steps to prevent severe impacts in the future. Some of the mitigating measure is appended
below.
a. Forests provide many social, economic and environmental benefits. In addition to timber and
paper products, forests provide wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, prevent soil erosion
and flooding, help provide clean air and water and contain tremendous biodiversity. Forests are
also an important defense against global climate change. Through the process of photosynthesis,
forests produce life-supporting oxygen and consume huge amounts of carbon dioxide, which
help the most in mitigation of global warming.
b. Hydro-electric power by means of dams is regarded as a relatively cleaner source of energy
because it emits fewer greenhouse gases than thermal power plants. Greenhouse gases contribute
to global warming and climate change, and for many environmentalists, the buildup of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is the most important environmental issue.
c. The scientific study of the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the world oceans is
called oceanography. Greater knowledge of climatic variations can be attained to describe how
the biological productivity in the sea is controlled. A lot of carbon dioxide could be removed
from the atmosphere if significant amounts of carbon dioxide could be sucked up by tiny floating
marine plants in the vast oceans. Oceans receive considerable sunlight and have an abundance of

7. the nitrogen and phosphorus compounds that usually support the growth of such plants in the
greenish waters of the coastal ocean. In an experiment, sea-water containing dissolved iron was
pumped to a small area resulting in growth of small marine plants.
d. One way to keep carbon dioxide emissions from reaching the atmosphere is to preserve and
growing more trees. Trees, especially young and fast-growing ones, soak up a great deal of
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Slowing the rate of deforestation and planting new trees
can help in neutralizing the expansion of greenhouse gases. In most cases, the process of carbon
capture would involve transporting the gas in compressed form to suitable locations for
underground storage. Deep ocean waters could also absorb a great deal of carbon dioxide,
although the environmental effects may be harmful to ocean life. The feasibility and
environmental effects of these options are under study by international teams.
e. The total worldwide consumption of fossil fuels is increasing by several percent annually.
Newer technologies for energy resources may help offset these effects. Significant reductions in
carbon dioxide emissions can only be achieved by switching away from fossil-fuel energy
sources.
i. Nuclear power plants release no carbon dioxide at all, but nuclear energy is controversial for
reasons of safety, security and the high costs of nuclear waste disposal.
ii. Solar Power, Wind Power and Hydrogen Fuel Cells can be alternative means of energy emit
no greenhouse gases. These energy sources can be practical and low-polluting alternatives to
fossil fuels.Other alternatives include fuels made from plants, such as biodiesel (made from used
and new vegetable oil) and ethanol (a plant-based gasoline additive). Use of these fuels can help
reduce total carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles. The hybrid electric vehicle (HEV),
which uses both an electric motor and a gasoline or diesel engine, emits less carbon dioxide than
conventional automobiles.
f. Urban planning also has an effect on use of energy. Inefficient use of land practices have
increased infrastructure costs as well as the amount of energy needed for transportation,
community services, and buildings. Efficient planning will serve to reduce energy usage and

8. greenhouse gas emissions. Planning and the concentration of housing within walking distance of
town centers and transport will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
g. Emissions from housing are substantial. New buildings using passive solar building design can
be made more efficient through the use of insulation, high-efficiency appliances (particularly hot
water heaters and furnaces), double or triple glazed gas-filled windows, external window shades,
and building orientation and site. Renewable heat sources such as geothermal power and passive
solar energy reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted. This saves energy because it cools
buildings and reduces the urban heat island effect thus reducing the use of air conditioning.
h. Development of new technologies, such as hydrogen cars, may reduce the consumption of
petroleum and emissions of carbon dioxide. A shift from air and transport to electric rail would
reduce emissions significantly. Increased use of bio-fuels will also reduce emissions. For electric
vehicles, the reduction of carbon emissions will improve further.
i. The population explosion is a fundamental factor that has led to global warming. Proposed
measures include improving access to family planning and reproductive health care and
information, public awareness about the consequences of continued population growth, and
improving access of women to education and economic opportunities.
j. There is a requirement to launch a media campaign at national level through print and
electronic media for awareness of the masses regarding hazards of Global Warming and
importance of growing trees.
k. Rules and regulations regarding setting up and operation of industries already exist. There is a
dire need that industrial sector be forced by the concerned agencies, to follow the rules with
letter and spirit regarding environment friendly policies.
2. There is a need to secure our future from the hazards of environmental changes faced by the
present world. The mitigation efforts for the reduction of Global Warming would help in making
prosperous nation besides a healthy atmosphere for our next generations. The most basic
question as to who would take the first step is now beyond discussion due to obvious scenery of
consequences. So pro-active policy at each tier is mandatory and should become our moral
obligation towards better and prosperous future.

9. Global Warming is resulting in increased temperatures, drying up water sources, sudden and
unpredictable natural calamities; resulting in loss of millions of lives every decade, which should
act as a wake-up call and as a group or at an individual level we all must try to adopt applicable
mitigation measures and this is only possible if we understand the core issue and severity of its
far reaching implications.
ADAPTATION MEASURES OF GLOBAL WARMING
Adaptation measures may be planned in advance or put in place spontaneously in response to a
local pressure. They include large-scale infrastructure changes such as building defenses to
protect against sea-level rise or improving the quality of road surfaces to withstand hotter
temperatures as well behavioral shifts such as individuals using less water, farmers planting
different crops and more households and businesses buying flood insurance.
Vulnerability to climate change as being determined by three factors: exposure to hazards (such
as reduced rainfall), sensitivity to those hazards (such as an economy dominated by rain-fed
agriculture), and the capacity to adapt to those hazards (for example, whether farmers have the
money or skills to grow more drought-resistant crops). Adaptation measures can help reduce
vulnerability for example by lowering sensitivity or building adaptive capacity as well as
allowing populations to benefit from opportunities of climatic changes, such as growing new
crops in areas that were previously unsuitable.
Low-income countries tend to be more vulnerable to climate risks and some adaptation measures
such as increasing access to education and health facilities will overlap with existing
development programmes. But adaptation goes beyond just development to include measures to
address additional risks specifically caused by climate change, such as raising the height of sea
defenses. It is still unclear how expensive these measures will be or who will pay for them, but
the World Bank suggests adaptation could cost the same again as the world currently spends on
development assistance.