Global Environmental Issues:Global Environmental Issues:A Case Study on Global A Case Study on Global
WarmingWarming
Presented by:
Amr S Algarhi
Azza A Shafei
Econ 506
17th May 2005
OOOPS
Global Environmental ProblemsGlobal Environmental Problems
Global warmingGlobal warming Acid rainAcid rain Ozone layer Ozone layer
depletiondepletion Biodiversity lossBiodiversity loss Infectious diseaseInfectious disease
Global WarmingGlobal Warming
……refers to an increase in average refers to an increase in average global temperature, also called: global temperature, also called:
Climate Change Climate Change
Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse Effect
Greenhouse EffectGreenhouse EffectSolar radiation Solar radiation
some is some is reflected by reflected by the earth and the earth and the the atmosphereatmosphere
some passes some passes through the through the atmosphere atmosphere and is and is absorbed by absorbed by the earth, the earth, warming itwarming it
Infrared radiationInfrared radiation
Some passes Some passes through the through the atmosphereatmosphere
Some is Some is absorbed and absorbed and re-emitted in all re-emitted in all directions by directions by greenhouse gas greenhouse gas modulesmodules
Causes of Global Warming Causes of Global Warming GHG - due to Natural and Human Economic ActivitiesGHG - due to Natural and Human Economic Activities
Gases Source
carbon dioxide (CO2) fossil-fuel burning, de-forestation
methane (CH4)agriculture activity, decomposition and disposal of waste
nitrous oxide (N2O)emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, and during combustion of solid waste and fossil fuels
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) industrial activities
perfluorocarbons (PFCs) industrial activities
sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) industrial activities
Human activities have changed the Human activities have changed the composition of the atmosphere since the composition of the atmosphere since the
pre- industrial erapre- industrial era
Characteristics of GHGCharacteristics of GHG
Atmospheric life time.Atmospheric life time.
Global warming potential.Global warming potential.
Atmospheric concentration.Atmospheric concentration.
Greenhouse GasesGreenhouse Gases
Concentration vs. Emissions.Concentration vs. Emissions.
Forecasts about emissions are very Forecasts about emissions are very sensitive.sensitive.
Qualitative scenarios for different Qualitative scenarios for different indicatorsindicators
Scenario Population Economy Environment Technology Globalization
A1F1
A18
A1T
B1
A2
B2
Impacts of Global WarmingImpacts of Global Warming- - physicalphysical
Shrinking glaciers & thawing Shrinking glaciers & thawing permafrostpermafrost
Later freezing and earlier Later freezing and earlier break up of river and lake icebreak up of river and lake ice
Sea level riseSea level rise
Higher incidence of floods Higher incidence of floods and droughts in some and droughts in some regionsregions
Impacts of Global WarmingImpacts of Global Warming- - biologicalbiological
Longer growing seasonsLonger growing seasons Poleward and altitude shifts of Poleward and altitude shifts of
plants and animal rangesplants and animal ranges Decline of some plant and Decline of some plant and
animal population ( Drive 15 - animal population ( Drive 15 - 37% of living species toward 37% of living species toward extinction by the middle of the extinction by the middle of the century)century)
Early tree flowering, emergence Early tree flowering, emergence of insects and birds eggs layingof insects and birds eggs laying
Damage to natural systemsDamage to natural systems
Many of these impacts are Many of these impacts are irreversibleirreversible
Impacts of Global WarmingImpacts of Global Warming- - human systemhuman system
Systems at risk include:Systems at risk include: water resourceswater resources Agriculture and forestryAgriculture and forestry Coastal zones and Coastal zones and
marine systemsmarine systems Decreasing water Decreasing water
availability in regions availability in regions where water is already where water is already scarcescarce
Human health and risk of Human health and risk of diseasedisease
Game theoryGame theory
Y’s strategyX’s strategy
Pollute Abate
Pollute 0, 0 5, -2
Abate -2, 5 3, 3
A 2-player pollution abatement game
Toronto Conference (1988)Toronto Conference (1988)
Carbon dioxide targets.Carbon dioxide targets.
Carbon dioxide emissions.Carbon dioxide emissions.
GHG control (quantitative incentives rather GHG control (quantitative incentives rather than price incentives). than price incentives).
Rio de Janeiro Conference (1992)Rio de Janeiro Conference (1992)
Plans for controlling emissions.Plans for controlling emissions.
No commitments on:No commitments on:
A particular emissions reduction.A particular emissions reduction.
A timetable for any such reduction.A timetable for any such reduction.
Kyoto Protocol (1997)Kyoto Protocol (1997)
Conditions to be in force.Conditions to be in force.
Industrialized nations. Industrialized nations.
Developing countries.Developing countries.
Kyoto Protocol’sKyoto Protocol’sFlexible MechanismsFlexible Mechanisms
1)1) Emissions Trading or “HOT AIR Emissions Trading or “HOT AIR TRADING”TRADING”
2)2) Joint Implementation (JI)Joint Implementation (JI)
3)3) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)
Steps Towards Action on Climate ChangeSteps Towards Action on Climate Change
Event Date and place Principal achievements
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - First report
1990 Broad international scientific consensus that human actions are influencing the climate
UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
1992, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Entered into force 1994)
Committed the global community to stabilising the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
Recognised the primary responsibility of industrialised countries, and the differentiated responsibilities of developing countries
IPCC - Second report 1995 Confirmed human influence on climate
Stated that risk from climate change is severe enough to justify preventive actions (Governments which have signed the Convention have to accept the findings of the IPCC).
Conference of Parties (COP) 1 1995, Berlin Established budget, secretariat and institutional mechanisms
Established pilot phase of "Activities Implemented Jointly" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Agreed timetable for setting specific reduction targets for industrialised countries
Conference of Parties (COP) 2 1996, Geneva Endorsed IPCC2 and COP1 agreements
US announced its commitment to binding targets "medium-term", with "flexibility, in implementation measures"
OPEC dropped its opposition to action
Steps Towards Action on Climate ChangeSteps Towards Action on Climate Change
Event Date and place Principal achievements
Conference of Parties (COP) 3 1997, Kyoto Agreed the Kyoto Protocol, with targets for industrialised country greenhouse gas reductions
Conference of Parties (COP) 4 1998, Buenos Aires
Agreed a "Plan of Action" for following up on the Kyoto Protocol, including processes for stimulating technology transfer
Conference of Parties (COP) 5 1999, Bonn Further progress on implementing the Kyoto Protocol
Conference of Parties (COP) 6 2000, The Hague
IPCC - Third report 2000/2001
“Rio plus Ten” Earth Summit 2002 Many people hope the Kyoto Protocol will be ratified and will enter into force by this the time. [This didn't happen. It DID now come into force February 2005]
Negotiations begin for a second round of emissions reductions
2005 This is the target date to start negotiations for the second period of the Kyoto Protocol
Agreed cuts in greenhouse gases 2008-2012 This is the period in which emissions cuts agreed in the Kyoto Protocol have to be achieved and measured
Global Warming will affect EgyptGlobal Warming will affect Egypt
(1)(1) water resourceswater resources
(2)(2) coastal zonescoastal zones
Egypt is potentially one of the countries Egypt is potentially one of the countries most at risk from the effects of climate most at risk from the effects of climate change.change.
Recommendation for Global Recommendation for Global Warming AbatementWarming Abatement
Increase the capacity of ‘pools’ that absorb Increase the capacity of ‘pools’ that absorb carbon dioxide and other GHG from the carbon dioxide and other GHG from the atmosphere.atmosphere.
Decrease the rate of emissions of GHG Decrease the rate of emissions of GHG (reducing GHG inflows).(reducing GHG inflows).
Recommendation for Global Recommendation for Global Warming AbatementWarming Abatement
stop using burning fuelsstop using burning fuels and changes in and changes in fuel mix (from fossil to renewable energy)fuel mix (from fossil to renewable energy)
use the new technologies that are now use the new technologies that are now available, like better filters.available, like better filters.
Recommendation for Global Recommendation for Global Warming AbatementWarming Abatement
Stabilizing population growth worldwide.Stabilizing population growth worldwide.
power stations should not be permitted to power stations should not be permitted to discharge warm cooling waters into rivers discharge warm cooling waters into rivers and oceans.and oceans.
Recommendation for Global Recommendation for Global Warming AbatementWarming Abatement
Financial and technological transfers from Financial and technological transfers from developed to developing nations.developed to developing nations.
helping low-income nations develop helping low-income nations develop cleanly.cleanly.
Recommendation for Global Recommendation for Global Warming AbatementWarming Abatement
learn and use good ideas and solutions learn and use good ideas and solutions from other countries from other countries that help us that help us eliminate global warming. For example, a eliminate global warming. For example, a country that is fighting global warming and country that is fighting global warming and producing less polluting fuels is Brazil. producing less polluting fuels is Brazil. Instead of gasoline Brazilians use alcohol, Instead of gasoline Brazilians use alcohol, which is made from sugar cane and which is made from sugar cane and cassava. The exhaust fumes from this cassava. The exhaust fumes from this alcohol fuel are almost clean alcohol fuel are almost clean enough toenough to breathe. breathe.
THANK YOUTHANK YOU