GRMD1403 Resources, Society and Environment Lecture 2 - Global Environmental Changes PDF

Course ID: GRMD1403 Term 1 24/25 Resources, Society and Environment - Lecture 2 - Global Environmental Changes  Course Information Instructor Team Teaching Assistant  Prof. Maria Francesc...

Course ID: GRMD1403 Term 1 24/25 Resources, Society and Environment - Lecture 2 - Global Environmental Changes  Course Information Instructor Team Teaching Assistant  Prof. Maria Francesch (Lead)  Mr. Wei Qiang [email protected] [email protected]  Dr. Kwan Kit Wong, Frankie [email protected]  Prof. Qiming Zheng [email protected] BSc, PhD Postdoc Assistant Prof Assistant Prof (2011-20) (2020-22) (2023-24) (2024 -  Course Information Venue  Lecture session: YIA LT9 Friday, 8:30 – 11:15 Sept 9 – Sept 15: Add / Drop Course Information Pay attention to: Your blackboard Announce via blackboard & Email Your inquiry & feedbacks are welcome! Please email TA while cc’ed all lecturers  Learning outcomes To understand the broad coverage, diversity and interdisciplinarity of geography and resource management as subject areas; To understand the inter-relationship between human and physical geography at different geographical scales; To integrate and apply various theories and tools to investigate the human environment relationship in space, place and time; To motivate students to think critically and geographically by accessing information, facts and ideas related to resources, society and environment; To facilitate students to navigate through the major programme in geography and resource management.  Course content Part 1: Physical Environment and Resource Management (1) Part 2: Geo-spatial Data Science Part 3: Physical Environment and Resource Management (2) Part 4: Smart Sustainable Cities + Urban & Regional Development Course content  Course Assessment Quiz in Lectures (60%): Provide background information, basic concepts, and an analytical framework that are important to develop effective knowledge of the course content. Participation and tutorials (7% lecture + 3% fieldtrip) Writing a review paper under the supervision of the academic advisor: Students have to work with their academic supervisor individually to complete one review paper (see supervisor list in syllabus) Review paper (20%) Individual presentation (10%) Students are expected to attend all classes and tutorials, complete all required readings before class and participate actively in class, and meet with the academic advisor  Important notes Academic honesty and plagiarism Use of Generative AI like chatgpt: Polish your writing √ Help you to write review paper × Veriguide  Course ID: GRMD1403 Term 1 24/25 Resources, Society and Environment - Lecture 2 - Global Environmental Changes Planetary Boundaries and Tipping Points Carbon Cycle Climate Change and Global Warming Observed Surface Temperature Anomaly (1850-2012) Observed Ocean Warming and see level rise Observed Ocean Warming and see level rise Projected Sea level rise What’s RCP Representative concentration pathways (RCPs) Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) are climate change scenarios to project future greenhouse gas concentrations. Representative concentration pathways (RCPs) Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) are climate change scenarios to project future greenhouse gas concentrations. Climate change 2700t 0.74mm Annual glacial Annual sea level melting rise Observed Change in Annual Precipitation Over Land Climate Change Has an Impact on: Observed Changes in Physical and Biological Systems Economic Costs Extreme weather events Displacements Projected Impacts of Climate Change on Small Islands One of our planet’s most vital defenses against global warming is itself being ravaged by climate change and other causes  178 million h2 10 million h2 Forests have been lost since 1990. Forests are still cleared for agriculture or converted to other uses every year. estation What is Deforestation? Deforestation is happening around the world with all forest types but occurs mostly in tropical areas. Tropical primary forest loss in 2022 totaled 4.1 million hectares, the equivalent of losing 11 football fields of forest every minute. All this forest loss produced 2.7 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to India’s annual fossil fuel emissions. Deforestation means cutting or clearing trees and forests covering a large area, and not replanting them. Forest degradation is a related term that indicates when a forest is no longer functioning as a healthy ecosystem: A degraded forest can no longer sustain populations the way it used to. For instance, it might not offer enough quality habitat or food to animals. In other words, when a forest is degraded it still exists, but it can no longer function well. It becomes a shell of its former self. There are four different types of forests worldwide: tropical forests, temperate forests, and boreal forests and plantations. Drivers of deforestation Drivers of forest degradation  Course ID: GRMD1403 Term 1 24/25 Resources, Society and Environment - Lecture 2 - Global Environmental Changes - Urban - Question 1: Urban areas / Earth terrestrial surface = ? % Urban areas / Earth terrestrial surface = ~ 3% 3% of terrestrial land (urban) 50% of global population 75% of global GDP 70% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions Future urbanization 2018 Urban population / global population = ~ 50% +2.6 Billion 2050 Urban population / global population = ~ 68% Future urbanization Impact of urbanization E.g., a family of 10 people in the US 1950: 3.5 ppl/house ~ 3 houses 2020: 2.5 ppl/house ~4 houses What’s more? Implications Land, Resources Impact of urbanization – Urban area expansion More than 60% of urban area in 2050 has yet to be built Impact of urbanization – Urban area expansion 20,000 American Football court per week Impact of urbanization – Urban area expansion Future urban area expansion = total size of ↑ Impact of urbanization – Urban area expansion Today, 1 in 2 persons on the planet is an urban dweller Urban expansion and urban renewal... Urbanization Land cover change Land-use intensification (Urban expansion) (also known as “urban renewal”) Non-urban to urban No salient land-cover change (urban to urban) Low-rise to high-rise Low density to high density (more compact) Uni-functioning to multi-functioning Building height Impact of urbanization – Land → ?? Urban Heat Island Effect Urban Heat Island Effect