111/06/12 KMCHAN 1 Prof. Chan King Ming Prof. Chan King Ming Associate Professor Associate Professor Dept. of Biochemistry and Dept. of Biochemistry and Environmental Science Environmental Science Program Program Chinese University Chinese University email: email: [email protected][email protected]
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Prof. Chan King Ming Associate Professor Dept. of Biochemistry and Environmental Science Program
Global Warming: Its challenges and solutions. Prof. Chan King Ming Associate Professor Dept. of Biochemistry and Environmental Science Program Chinese University email: [email protected]. CONTENTS: Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Effect The Impacts of Global Warming 3. Kyoto Protocol - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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112/04/21 KMCHAN 1
Prof. Chan King MingProf. Chan King MingAssociate ProfessorAssociate Professor
Dept. of Biochemistry and Dept. of Biochemistry and Environmental Science ProgramEnvironmental Science Program
Chinese UniversityChinese Universityemail: email: [email protected]@cuhk.edu.hk
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CONTENTS:CONTENTS:
1.1. Carbon Cycle and Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect
2.2. The Impacts of Global The Impacts of Global WarmingWarming
3. Kyoto Protocol3. Kyoto Protocol
4. What can we do to help?4. What can we do to help?
Q What contributed to the heat energy absorption in molecules
in the atmosphere?
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2. The Impacts of global Warming2. The Impacts of global Warming
Arctic 1979
Arctic 2003
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
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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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Resting & & MigrationReduction of sea ice has impact on populations of
marine mammals, they use ice floes for resting, molting and giving birth.
Even if not killed…
Bearded SealWalrusWalrus
2. The Impacts of global Warming2. The Impacts of global Warming
Poor Cod
Sardine
Anchovy
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Flowering & Feeding Predators follow their prey Temporal mismatch of prey and predator = “phenological disjunction” non-migratory Great Tit (Parus major) and migratory Pied Flycatcher
(Ficedula hypoleuca) Reproductive success ↓ due to changing availability of caterpillar food
supplies. Also affected by phenological changes of forest due to climate change and
air pollution
Parus majorFicedula hypoleuca
2. The Impacts of global Warming2. The Impacts of global Warming
71% of UK butterfly species are reported to be declining
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Abstract from the 17th Global Warming Conference, April, 2006.
In 2003, the World Conservation Union's Red List said more than 12,000 species (out of 40,000 assessed) faced some extinction risk, including one bird in eight, 13% of the world's flowering plants, a quarter of all mammals.
2. The Impacts of global Warming2. The Impacts of global Warming
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The Impacts of global WarmingThe Impacts of global Warming
1. Reduction of biodiversity:• Losing Habitats due to temperature rises• Reduction of freshwater supply trapped in mountains
2. Extreme weathers: more storms, floods, droughts…3. More diseases
• Endemic diseases increasing health risks4. 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………
2. The Impacts of global Warming2. The Impacts of global Warming
Effects of global warming
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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….
3. Kyoto Protocol
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京都協定 The Kyoto Protocol, 1997
1. Took effect in February, 2005. Obligates countries to observe target figures for green house gas reduction.
2. Advanced nations should reduce emissions of 6 gases by an average of 6-8% (relative to 1990 levels) over the five year period from 2008 to 2012.
3. Kyoto Mechanisms : Scheme for Trading Green House Gas Emissions Rights and encourage international co-operations to achieve carbon neutral
3. Kyoto Protocol
History: Emission Trading
Clean Clean Development Development MechanismMechanism
4. What can we do to help?USE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND NUCLEAR POWER
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WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP ??Carbon audit
Low carbon Living
Conserve rural area, plant more trees.
Practice life-style of health and sustainability (LOHAS), e.g. 3R, use MTR, stop using tungsten light-bulbs, save water, etc.
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Summary
Carbon dioxide emission exceeds the normal Carbon dioxide emission exceeds the normal range and is rising, together with global range and is rising, together with global temperaturetemperature
The impacts are visible, cannot be stopped and The impacts are visible, cannot be stopped and the situation is getting worsethe situation is getting worse
We are causing global warming and we have to We are causing global warming and we have to act on saving our planet earth!act on saving our planet earth!
Discussion:
1. What’s Carbon neutral? What can we do to achieve Carbon neutral or carbon compensation?
2. Practicing wedge strategies: audit and plan for low carbon living in your school/firm/ organization/and at home!
3. Is carbon tax more useful (fair?) than trading?
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Further Readings
1. Christianson, Gale (1999) Greenhouse: The 200- Year Story of Global Warming. Walker & Company, New York. Penguin Books, 305p.
2. Flannery, Tim (2006) We Are The Weather Makers, The Story Of Global Warming. Text Publishing Co., 272p.
3. Gore, Al (2006) An Inconvenient Truth. Rodale, Inc., New York, NY., 327p.
4. Houghton, John (2004) Global Warming. Third Ed., Cambridge University Press, 351p.