Prof. Chan King Ming Associate Professor Dept. of Biochemistry and Environmental Science Program

*KMCHAN*Prof. Chan King MingAssociate ProfessorDept. of Biochemistry and Environmental Science ProgramChinese Universityemail: [email protected]

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*KMCHAN*CONTENTS :

Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Effect The Impacts of Global Warming 3. Kyoto Protocol 4. What can we do to help?

(IPCC)12 ()

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*KMCHAN*http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_3_1.htm1. Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Effect

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*KMCHAN*Atmospheric CO2Sinks (Carbon Fixation) :Photosynthesis Uptake by oceanSources:Burning of fossil fuels and organic mattersRespirationOther forms of carbon deposits, e.g. coral, cellulose. 1. Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Effect

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*KMCHAN*1. Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Effect

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*KMCHAN*Major sources of greenhouse gases: burning of fossil fuels, e.g. vehicle and power plant emissions.

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*KMCHAN*Carbon Dioxide Surge was created by human activities since industrial revolution1. Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Effect()

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*KMCHAN*1. Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse EffectGlobal Carbon Dioxide Surge leading to global warming. Global Warming = Rapid Increase of Global Surface Air Temperature

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*KMCHAN*21 1- 2 2- 6 20 0.6 4 8 surge

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*KMCHAN*1. Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse EffectGlobal Warming Potentials, GWP, & (stability in atmosphere)Carbon Dioxide = 1 (?)Methane = 21 (12 year)Nitrous Oxide = 310 (120 years)CFC-11 = 4,600 (45 years)CFC-12 = 10,600 (100 years)http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggccebro/chapter1.htmlQ What contributed to the heat energy absorption in molecules in the atmosphere?

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*KMCHAN*2. 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 levelReduced ice from ocean changes currents

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*KMCHAN*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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*KMCHAN*Resting Migration Reduction of sea ice has impact on populations of marine mammals, they use ice floes for resting, molting and giving birth.

Even if not killedBearded SealWalrus2. The Impacts of global WarmingPoor CodSardineAnchovy

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*KMCHAN*Flowering , FeedingPredators follow their preyTemporal mismatch of prey and predator = phenological disjunctionnon-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 pollutionParus majorFicedula hypoleuca2. The Impacts of global Warming71% of UK butterfly species are reported to be declining

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*KMCHAN*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.1/81/4

2. The Impacts of global Warming

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*KMCHAN*The Impacts of global Warming

Reduction of biodiversityLosing Habitats due to temperature risesReduction of freshwater supply trapped in mountains Extreme weathers : more storms, floods, droughts More diseases Endemic diseases increasing health risks Unpredictable climate change Buffering power of planet earth is lowered, leading to unforeseeable climate changeleading to fluctuating economy, e.g. Hurricanes in Mexico Bay are threatening oil prices to surge, drought lead to depletion of resources supply, etc2. The Impacts of global Warming

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Effects of global warming

*KMCHAN*Abstract from the 17th Global Warming Conference, April, 2006... todays 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.180 ppm 280 ppmv 380 ppmv 3. Kyoto Protocol

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*KMCHAN* The Kyoto Protocol, 1997Took effect in February, 2005. Obligates countries to observe target figures for green house gas reduction. (2/05)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. (08-12906-8%)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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History: Emission TradingClean Development Mechanism

*KMCHAN*3. Kyoto Protocol

CountryTarget (1990** - 2008/2012)EU-15*, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia,Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Monaco, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland-8%US***-7%Canada, Hungary, Japan, Poland-6%Croatia-5%New Zealand, Russian Federation, Ukraine0Norway+1%Australia+8%Iceland+10%

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*KMCHAN*World Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Region, 1990-2001 (Million Metric Tons Carbon Dioxide)3. Kyoto Protocol

199020002001United States4,9895,7875,692 (5,800 in 2006)Canada 473581569Mexico 308364352United Kingdom 600553563France 374401396Germany 995828819Italy 415443445Netherlands 211228248Japan 9871,1381,158Australia/New Zealand 294387398Russia 2,4051,5701,614China 2,2622,8613,050 (6,200 in 2006)India 561914917South Korea 234425443Turkey 129184184Brazil 250343347Total World 21,56323,53623,899

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*KMCHAN*3. Kyoto Protocol

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History: Emission Trading

The global carbon market

Carbon dioxide emission tradingSince carbon dioxide is the principal greenhouse gas, people speak simply of trading in carbon. Carbon is now tracked and traded like any other commodity. This is known as the "carbon market." Each country and company must set its own targets (set ceiling)

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Kyoto Mechanisms:Joint Implementation or JI

Clean Development Mechanism or CDM

Emission Trading*KMCHAN*

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*KMCHAN*http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7120952.stm2007 UN Climate Change Conference Result (Kyoto II): Road Map by 2009 for all countries?2009?3. Kyoto Protocol

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*KMCHAN*http://www.ctenergyeducation.com/images/Wedges_Concept_Game_Materials_July05.pdf

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Wedge Strategies:Nuclear energyRenewables (e.g. solar, wind, hydrogen)Biostorage (e.g. forest and soil storage)Efficiency (reduced miles traveled, increased building and electricity efficiency)Conservation (reduced transport)Fossil-Fuel-Based (fuel switching, carbon capture)*KMCHAN*

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*KMCHAN*A question for youLeung et al., 2004. Climate Change in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Observatory Technical Note No.107. HKSAR Government. 41 p.Hong Kong is hotter than global trend in recent years!

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*KMCHAN*4. What can we do to help?http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/data/files/GHG_trend_1990_2005.pdf

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*KMCHAN*http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/data/files/GHG_signifacnce_1990_2005.pdf4. What can we do to help?

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*KMCHAN*Our Power Plants are using coal or Natural gas as their major fossil fuel to generate electricity! HK Electric Plants in Lamma Island.CLP Plants in Castle Peak.4. What can we do to help?Gas-fired Plants under constructionGas-fired Plants plannedScheme of Control Agreement

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*KMCHAN*http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/misc/ehk07/english/air/index.htm#2

Table of Progress in Achieving the 2010 Targets

1997 Emission(tonnes)2005 Emission(tonnes)Changes 1997-20052010 Targets

SO26450084600 +31%-40%

NOX110000 93800 -15%-20%

RSP11200 7200 -36%-55%

VOC54400 40200 -26%-55%

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*KMCHAN*4. What can we do to help?USE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND NUCLEAR POWER

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*KMCHAN*WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP ??Use public transports, build less road and urban area, etc, to reduce heat island effect.

Live a low-carbon life and practice carbon neutral. Set targets for emission reduction to cut energy consumption (e.g. Stop using tungsten light bulb, etc).

Conserve rural area and Plant more trees.

Practice LOHAS (life-style of health and sustainability), e.g. 3R. 4. What can we do to help?

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*KMCHAN*SummaryCarbon dioxide emission exceeds the normal range and is rising, together with global temperature ()The impacts are visible, cannot be stopped and the situation is getting worse ()We are causing global warming and we have to act on saving our planet earth! ()

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*KMCHAN*Further ReadingsChristianson, Gale (1999) Greenhouse: The 200- Year Story of Global Warming. Walker & Company, New York. Penguin Books, 305p.. ()2002006Flannery, Tim (2006) We Are The Weather Makers, The Story Of Global Warming. Text Publishing Co., 272p. (2007)( )271Gore, Al (2006) An Inconvenient Truth. Rodale, Inc., New York, NY., 327p.Houghton, John (2004) Global Warming. Third Ed., Cambridge University Press, 351p.

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Discussion:Whats Carbon neutral?What can we do to achieve Carbon neutral or carbon compensation?Practicing edge strategies (auditing) and low carbon living in your school/firm/organization/ at home!Is carbon tax better than trading?*KMCHAN*

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