CC_Jan

Climate Change

Sangchan Limjirakan, D.Tech.Sc.Environmental Research Institute

Chulalongkorn UniversityFebruary 2010

WEATHER

Weather describes whatever is happening outdoors in a given place at a given time. Weather is what happens from minute to minute. The weather can change a lot within a very short time.

For example, it may rain for an hour and then become sunny and clear. Weather includes daily changes in precipitation, barometric pressure, temperature, and

wind conditions in a given location.

CLIMATE

Climate describes the total of all weather

occurring over a period of years in a

given place. This includes average

weather conditions, regular weather

sequences (like winter, spring, summer,

and fall), and special weather events

(like tornadoes and floods). Climate tells

us what’s it usually like in the place

where you live.

CLIMATE CHANGE

A change in long-term weather patterns,

that can become warmer or colder, annual

amounts of rainfall or snowfall increase or

decrease (EPA)

A statistical significant variation in either

the mean state of the climate or in its

variability, persisting for an extended period

(typically decades or longer) (IPCC)

CLIMATE CHANGE

A change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods (UNFCCC)

GLOBAL WARMING

An average increase in the earth’s

temperature, which in turn causes change in

climate. A warmer earth may lead to

change in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea

level, and a wide range of impacts on plants,

wildlife, and humans.

GREENHOUSE GASES

GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The science of building scenarios

POTENTIAL CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT

Global costs of extreme weather events

Trends in natural disasters

Mitigation An intervention to reduce the human

induced factors that contribute to climate

change. This could include approaches

devised to reduce emission of GHG to the

atmosphere; to enhance their removal from

the atm through storage in geological formations, soil, biomass, or the ocean, etc.

The cost-effectiveness perspective of mitigation

Equity and climate change mitigation

The global-sustainability perspective

Adaptation

Refers to:

Moderate damages, and/or realizing

opportunities to reduce vulnerability (IPCC)

Policies, practices, projects for moderating

damages, and/or realizing opportunities

(EEA)

Adjustment in natural or human systems to a

new or changing environment that exploits

benefit opportunities or moderates negative effects (USCCSP)

Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol broke new ground by defining three innovative “flexibility mechanisms” to lower the overall costs of achieving its emissions targets. These mechanisms enable Parties to access cost-effective opportunities to reduce emissions or to remove carbon from the atmosphere in other countries. While the cost of limiting emissions varies considerably from region to region, the benefit for the atmosphere is the same, wherever the action is taken.

The Mechanisms under the Kyoto Protocol:

Joint Implementation,

Emissions Trading the Clean Development Mechanism

CDM Statistics

(8 July 2008)

Annual Average CERs* Expected CERs until end of 2012**

CDM project

pipeline: >

4200

of which:

N/A > 2,900,000,000

--- 1377 are

registered 257,367,206 > 1,440,000,000

--- 93 are

requesting

registration

8,388,340 > 30,000,000

Catching the Sun

Pony power meets wind power in Inner Mongolia

Indian Sugar Power

Mount Bagasse

TAKE ACTION: WHAT YOU CAN DO

REDUCE YOUR IMPACT AT HOME

Most emissions from homes are from the fossil fuels burned to generate electricity and heat. By using energy more efficiently at home, you can reduce your emissions and lower your energy bills by more than 30%.

In addition, since agriculture is responsible for about a fifth of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, you can reduce your emissions simply by watching what you eat.

TAKE ACTION: WHAT YOU CAN DO

Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)

CFLs use 60% less energy than

a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300

pounds of carbon dioxide a year. If every family in the U.S. made the switch, we’d reduce carbon dioxide by more than 90billion pounds!

TAKE ACTION: WHAT YOU CAN DO

Move your thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer

Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner

Install a programmable thermostat

Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases

TAKE ACTION: WHAT YOU CAN DO

Use less hot water Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever

possible Turn off electronic devices you’re not using Unplug electronics from the wall when you’re

not using them Buy locally grown and produced foods Buy fresh foods instead of frozen Seek out and support local farmers markets Buy organic foods as much as possible Avoid heavily packaged products Eat less meat

TAKE ACTION: WHAT YOU CAN DO Reduce your impact while on the move

Reduce the number of miles you drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever possible

Start a carpool with your coworkers or classmatesSharing a ride with someone just 2 days a week will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 1,590 pounds a year.

Keep your car tuned up Check your tires weekly to make sure they’re properly

inflated When it is time for a new car, choose a more fuel

efficient vehicle Try car sharing Try telecommuting from home.

Fly less

References

www.unfccc.int

www.unep.org

www.ipcc.ch

www.eric.chula.ac.th