Transcript 2. The Impacts of global Warming

Prof. Chan King Ming
Associate Professor
Dept. of Biochemistry and
Environmental Science Program
Chinese University
email: [email protected]
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CONTENTS:
1. Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse
Effect
2. The Impacts of Global Warming
3. Kyoto Protocol
4. Act now !
An Inconvenient
Truth
http://www.youtub
e.com/watch?v=0
XMn_Ry3z6M
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http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_3_1.htm
Q1 What factors have
contributed to surface
temperatures of planets?
1. Carbon Cycle &
Green House Effects
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1. Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Effect
Atmospheric
Sources:
CO2
1. Burning of
fossil fuels and
organic matters
Sinks (Carbon
Fixation) :
2. Respiration
2. Uptake by
ocean
1. Photosynthesis
Other forms of carbon
deposits, e.g. coral,
cellulose.
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Major sources of
greenhouse gases:
burning of fossil fuels,
e.g. vehicle and power
plant emissions.
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Green
House Gas
Concentration
from 18002000
Anthropog
enic
sources
GWP,
Proportion
Global
of total (%)
Warming
Potential
Carbon
dioxide
280 – 370 ppm
Fossil fuel
1
60 %
Methane
0.75 – 1.75 ppm
Agriculture
& fuel
leakage
21
20 %
Halocarbons 0 – 0.7 ppb
Refrigerants 3400+
14 %
Nitrous
oxide
275-310 ppb
Agriculture
combustion
6%
Ozone
15 (?)– 20/30
ppb
Urban
pollution
310
Reference:
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/default.aspx?id=516&terms=carbon+emission+and+coal
Downloaded on Nov 24, 2009.
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Rank, country
2006 Annual Emission, billion metric tons
(tons per capita)
% total in
2006
World
28.43 billion metric tons (4.2 tons per capita)
100 %
1.China
6.10 bmt (4.6 tpc, 6.0 tpc for HK)
21.5
2. US
5.75 bmt (19.0 tpc)
20.2
13.91 bmt (7.8 tpc)
13.8
3. Russia
1.56 bmt (11.0 tpc)
5.5
4. India
1.51 bmt (1.3 tpc)
5.3
5. Japan
1.29 bmt (10.1 tpc)
4.6
6. Germany
0.81 bmt (9.8 tpc)
2.8
7. United Kingdom
0.56 bmt (9.2 tpc)
2.0
8. Canada
0.54 bmt (16.1 tpc)
1.9
9. South Korea
0.47 bmt
(9.8 tpc)
1.7
10. Italy
0.47 bmt
(7.9 tpc)
1.7
European Union
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions
Downloaded on Nov 26, 2009, according to International Energy data.
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4℃
–8℃
surge
in this
century
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2. The Impacts of global Warming
北極 Arctic 1979
Arctic perennial sea ice has been
diminishing at a rate of 9% per decade.
The ice of frozen freshwater on Greenland
melts to dilute and lower the salinity of
the arctic ocean. This would have
significant effects (slower or stop) on the
ocean conveyor.
Ice from land
could raise
sea level
Reduced ice
from ocean
changes
currents
北極 Arctic 2003
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How would the climate change if the Gulf Stream shut down?
A shut down of the Gulf Stream would suddenly decrease the amount of heat in the North
Atlantic, leading to much colder temperatures in Europe and North America.
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The Impacts of global Warming
 Reduction of Biodiversity
 Losing Habitats due to temperature rises
 Reduction of freshwater supply trapped in mountains
 More Diseases
 Endemic diseases increasing health risks
 Extreme Weathers
more storms, floods, droughts…
Unpredictable climate change
 Buffering power of planet earth is lowered, leading to
unforeseeable climate change
 leading to fluctuating economy, e.g. Hurricanes in Mexico
Bay are threatening oil prices to surge, drought lead to
depletion of resources supply, etc………
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2. The Impacts of global Warming
全球暖化會議摘要
Abstract from the 17th Global Warming Conference, April, 2006.
 .. today‘s atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are the highest in
650,000 years.
 Antarctic climate and concentrations of the greenhouse gases
carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) were tightly coupled.
 … CO2 seemed to be confined between bounds of about 180
ppmv (parts per million by volume) in glacial periods and 280
ppmv in inter-glacials; …… Today is 380 ppmy and is rising….
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3. Kyoto Protocol 京都協定
 Took effect in February, 2005. Obligates
countries to observe target figures for
green house gas reduction.
 Advanced nations should reduce
emissions of 6 gases by an average of 68% (relative to 1990 levels) over the five
year period from 2008 to 2012.
 Kyoto Mechanisms : Scheme for Trading
Green House Gas Emissions Rights and
encourage international co-operations to
achieve carbon neutral
3. Kyoto Protocol
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3. Kyoto Protocol
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Kyoto Mechanisms 京 都 機 制
:
1. Joint Implementation (JI):
international cooperation
2. Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM): new
technology to cut emissions
3. Emission Trading (ET): set
ceiling to trade
3. Kyoto Protocol
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Carbon Market for Carbon dioxide
emission trading
3. Kyoto Protocol
http://en.cop15.dk/
 In the US, the American Clean Energy & Security Act (July 7, 2009; 219>212 in
House of Commons) would charge carbon tax for all imports to US in
2010. Beginning in 2012, emissions would be capped at 3 % below 2005
levels increasing to 17 % below 2005 levels in 2020 and 83 % below 2005
levels in2050.
In EU, the target is 20 or even 30 % reduction in 2020 of 1990 level !! Renewable
energy targets at 20% share in 2020.
In France, carbon tax of 14 euro per kg carbon dioxide to be charged in 1/1/2010.
Low carbon business had expanded 75% in 2008 during the economic tsunami.
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HK
Hong Kong is hotter
than global trend in
recent years (since
90’s)!
global
Why??
Leung et al., 2004. Climate Change in Hong Kong. Hong Kong
Observatory Technical Note No.107. HKSAR Government. 41 p.
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http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/tc_chi/climate_change/
files/GHG_Emission_Trend_1990_2007.pdf
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WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP ??
 REDUCE CITY HEAT: Use public transports,
build less road and urban area, etc, to reduc
e heat island effect.
 LOW CARBON LIVING: Live a low-carbon life
and practice carbon neutral. Set targets for e
mission reduction to cut energy consumpti
on (e.g. Stop using tungsten light bulb, etc).
Start your carbon audit NOW.
 PLANT MORE TREES: Conserve rural area a
nd Plant more trees.
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 Nuclear energy
 Renewables (e.g. solar,
wind, hydrogen)
 Biostorage (e.g. forest
and soil storage)
Wedge
Strategies:
 Efficiency (reduced miles
traveled, increased building
and electricity efficiency)
 Conservation (reduced
transport with mass transit
systems)
 Fossil-Fuel-Based fuel
switching (natural gas),
biogas, and carbon capture
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http://www.ctenergyeducation.com/images/Wedges_Concept_Game_Materials_July05.pdf
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Summary
 Carbon dioxide emission exceeds the normal range
and is rising, together with global temperature
 The impacts are visible and the situation is getting
worse
 We are causing global warming and we have to act
on saving our planet earth!
 Fossil fuels are NOT unlimited, we need a
sustainable energy policy: carbon tax, carbon
trading, nuclear energy, and renewable energy.
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Discussions:
1. What’s Carbon neutral?
2. What can we do to achieve Carbon
neutral or carbon compensation?
3. Practicing wedge strategies
(auditing) and low carbon living in
your school/firm/organization/ at
home!
4. Is carbon tax better than carbon
trading?
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