Climate Action (SDG 13) Chapter 3 PDF

Chapter 3: Climate action (SDG 13) Prof. Dr. Sandhya Babel School of Bio-Chemical Engineering & Technology Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology 1 Thammasat University Rising of natural disasters around the world 2...

Chapter 3: Climate action (SDG 13) Prof. Dr. Sandhya Babel School of Bio-Chemical Engineering & Technology Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology 1 Thammasat University Rising of natural disasters around the world 2 https://www.statista.com/chart/22686/number-of-natural-disasters-globally/ Rising of natural disasters around the world 3 Rising of natural disasters around the world 4  5 Natural disasters…why??  6 Climate change “A significant change in the measures of climate, such as temperature, rainfall, or wind, lasting for an extended period – decades or longer.” Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Ireland (https://www.epa.ie/)  7 What is different this time? The Earth's climate has changed many times during the planet's history (from ice ages to long periods of warmth). What’s different about this period of the earth’s history is that human activities are significantly contributing to natural climate change (i.e., exploding population numbers, economic growth, 150 years of industry based on fossil fuels… etc.). Greenhouse 8 definition  9 Greenhouse effect Earth’s climate is warming at an unprecedented rate. The primary driver of global warming is the greenhouse effect.  Global warming 10 More greenhouse gases trap more heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming. Since 1880, global temp. has increased by almost 1°C. How much this rises depends on how much more greenhouse gas is released. Temp could rise by almost 5°C by 2100 (IPCC, AR5). However, countries around the world agreed to keep this below 2°C. Humans have added so much greenhouse gas to the atmosphere, that even if all emissions stopped today, the planet would still continue to warm for decades to come. Evidence to Support Global Warming 11  Annual 2020 Global Climate Report by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information to document past climate change and predict future change  Rise in average global surface temperature (increase 1.28°C between 1970 and 2020)  10 warmest years on record since 2010  Annual greenhouse gas emissions up 90% since 1970 and 2020  Changes in glaciers, rainfall patterns, hurricanes  Sea level rise in last century by 4–8 inches (10-20 cm) – melting of ice and expansion of ocean due to increase in temp.  12 Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. (2015). As oceans warm, sea level rises 13 Global average sea level has risen 8–9 inches (21–24 cm) since 1880. In 2022, global mean sea level was 101.2 mm (4 inches) above 1993 levels, making it the highest annual average in the satellite record (1993- present). How much ice are we losing? 14  What Causes Climate Change? 15 Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and water vapour (H2O) are greenhouse H2O gases that are found in the atmosphere. CO2 CH4 Energy travels from the Sun to the Earth CH4 CO2 as shortwave radiation. It does not CH4 interact strongly with the greenhouse gas CO2 molecules so it reaches the Earth’s H2O surface. CH4 CO2  What Causes Climate Change? 16 The Earth’s surface emits infrared radiation which warms the H 2O earth. CO2 CH4 The greenhouse gas molecules CH4 CO2 absorb some of the energy, CH4 trapping it in the atmosphere. CO2 This process keeps the Earth warm H2O and is essential for life. CH4 CO2  What Causes Climate Change? 17 Higher the proportion of greenhouse gases in the H2O atmosphere, the more radiation is CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 absorbed. CH4 CH4 CO2 CH4 CO2 This causes a rise in the temperature CO2 CO2 CO2 CH4 CH4 of the Earth and is known as the CO2 greenhouse effect. CO2 CO2 H2O This increase in temperature drives CH4 CO2 climate change. CH4 CO2 CO2 CO2  18 What Causes Climate Change? Climate change can be caused gradually by natural processes or suddenly by large events, such as a massive meteorite strike or volcanic activity. However, the rapid climate change we are experiencing now is due to three main human activities: Burning fossil fuels for heating and cooking, generating electricity and powering vehicles releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Deforestation (destruction of forests) releases carbon dioxide and Untitled by © Sam Hobson / WWF-UK licensed under CC BY reduces the number of trees able to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Reduction of biodiversity creates an unstable ecosystem. Nature loss leads to ecosystems that are less able to capture carbon from Deforestation for future agriculture plantation- Tahuamanu Province, heading to Centro Poblado de the atmosphere and less resilient to rising temperatures. Alerta - Madre de Dios Region, Peru by © Nicolas Villaume / WWF-US licensed under CC BY Causes of climate change 19  20 What Causes Climate Change? The 50 least developed countries are thought to have contributed 1% of the greenhouse gases that have caused global warming. The USA, the EU and China alone have contributed around 60%.  21 Fossil CO2 emissions per capita in 2018 Causes and Effects of Climate Change 22  23 Who Does Climate Change Affect? In the long term, everyone will feel the effects of climate change. However, some people are currently more affected than others. In most cases, the wealth of prosperous countries has come from activities which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. This wealth allows these countries to protect themselves from the effects of climate change. Poorer countries are less able to adapt to climate change and therefore suffer the most from its effects. They are also less able to develop because they need to focus on addressing the challenges caused by climate change. The countries who have contributed the least to the climate crisis are the ones who are affected the most.  24 Why Is Climate Change a Problem? The bright surface of the ice reflects 80% of the sunlight that hits it back into space. This keeps the polar regions cool and moderates the global climate. When the area of sea ice is reduced, less sunlight is reflected back into space. This causes more ocean warming and reduces the sea ice even further. This feedback drives faster climate change. Russia The orange line on the picture marks the average minimum sea ice coverage from 1981 to 2010. The white ice shows the minimum sea ice Greenland coverage in 2020. The difference between the two exceeds one Alaska million miles.  25 Why Is Climate Change a Problem?  26 Why Is Climate Change a Problem? Changing seasons Rainy season Crops may die CHANGINE SEASONS HAZARDS IMPACTS may be Farmers may delayed in need to change some regions crops Incomes are lost Spring might come earlier in Transportation is interrupted other regions Financial losses Seasons may Water availability become more intense  27 Why Is Climate Change a Problem? Drier & longer droughts Water shortage Less or no crops DROUGHT HAZARDS IMPACTS Wind erosion Animals may die Desertification Less water Increased risk of supply wild fires Incomes are lost Financial losses People become sick Migration  28 Why Is Climate Change a Problem? Increased temperatures & heat waves Heat stroke People get sick HIGH TEMP & HEAT WAVES HAZARDS IMPACTS Water shortage or die Increased Animals get sick malaria Crops may die Dengue Water shortage Sea level rise Food shortage Damaged forests  Why Is Climate Change a Problem? 29 Melting glaciers & polar ice Sea level rise Flooding in low POLAR ICE MELTING GLACIERS & IMPACTS HAZARDS lying coastal Less ice to areas reflect sunlight, leads to Coastal areas increased & cities warming threatened Loss of wildlife / biodiversity  30 Why Is Climate Change a Problem? Sea level rise Sea level has Coastal erosion SEA LEVEL RISE HAZARDS IMPACTS risen 17 cm in the Higher risk of last 100 years. storms leading to In the last 10 coastal flooding years, it has risen Salt water twice as fast as intrusion in in the previous coastal areas – 90 years impacts drinking water and health risks such as diarrhoea  31 Why Is Climate Change a Problem? More intense rainfall & increased likelihood of floods Flooding Vector-borne HAZARDS IMPACTS FLOODS diseases (esp. Flash floods malaria and dengue fever) Landslide Water-borne diseases (esp. Erosion diarrhoea) Extreme floods and population displacement  Why Is Climate Change a Problem? 32 Extreme winds & stronger storms Severe wind People die STORMS EXTREME WINDS & HAZARDS IMPACTS Storm surge Animals die Flooding Loss of income Financial losses Why Is Climate Change a Problem? 33 Some Possible Effects of a Warmer World 34 Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. (2015).  35 In 2021 – 412 ppm Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. (2015).  36 Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. (2015). SDG 13 Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 37 SDG 13 Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 38  39 Thailand’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Industrial Processes and Product Use  40 Thailand’s NDC Roadmap on Mitigation 2021 - 2030 ONEP: Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning MRV: measurement, reporting and verification Thailand National Adaptation Plan 41 Resilient: capacity to withstand or recover quickly Adapt: to change to new situation BMA Contribution on Climate Change 42 Thailand progress on Target 13.1 43 Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to climate-related disasters per 100,000 population in ASEAN, 2016-2018  Thailand progress on Target 13.1 44 Number of deaths attributed to non-climate disasters per 100,000 population in ASEAN, 2016-2018  45 Options to Deal with Climate Change  Two approaches: 1. Drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions 2. Develop strategies to reduce its harmful effects  Mix both approaches  Governments beginning to act  46 Reducing the Threat of Climate Change (1) Prevention approaches  Improve energy efficiency to reduce fossil fuel use  Shift from coal to natural gas  Improve energy efficiency  Shift to renewable energy sources Transfer appropriate technology to developing countries Reduce deforestation Sustainable agriculture and forestry Reduce poverty Slow population growth Reducing the Threat of Climate Change (3) 47 Clean up approaches Decrease CO2 emissions Restore wetlands Sequester CO2 Plant trees - Plant fast-growing perennials Agriculture Underground Deep ocean Repair leaking natural gas lines Reduce methane emissions from animals Seed oceans with iron to promote growth of phytoplankton Government Roles in Reducing the Threat of Climate Change 48  Regulate CO2 and CH4 as pollutants  Carbon taxes (taxes for fossil fuel use)  Cap total CO2 emissions (do not allow CO2 emission)  Subsidize energy-efficient technologies  Technology transfers  International climate negotiations  Kyoto Protocol (1997) - agreement to cut GHG emissions (183 of 194 countries). COP26 (annual conference of parties) at Glassgow (UK) in 2021.  Act locally (large corporations, Colleges and universities, etc.) Regulate: put under rule Subsidize: help financially  49 Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. (2015). 50  51 References 1. Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. (2015). Environmental science. Cengage Learning. 2. Wolff, E. (2014). Climate Change: Evidence and Causes. School Science Review, 96(354), 17-23. 3. Sustainable Development Goals booklet ESCAP (https://sdghelpdesk.unescap.org/e- library/sdg-goal-and-target-booklets-multiple-languages) 4. ASEAN 2022, The 2022 ASEAN SDG Snapshot Report