Global Climate Change

Stephanie Jeffer, Sarah Vlazny

Overview
History
Greenhouse Gasses
Technology
Methods of Reduction
Environmental Effects
Energy
Societal Effects
Economics
Conclusions

Intro
Global climate change is a very broad and
important subject. It is an environmental issue,
as well as a social and economic one. Today
we will touch on all of these aspects as well as
discuss the various problems and solutions.

History of Global Climate change

1824- Greenhouse effect discovered by Joseph Fourier
1938- British engineer noticed temperature rise over past century
1975- Global warming became household term due to Wallace Broecker
1988- Montreal Protocol restricted chemicals that damage the ozone
1990- Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change reported .3-.6 C temperature rise partly due to
anthropogenic emissions
1995- IPCC second report states that there is discernible human influence on the climate
(A brief history of climate change, 2013)

Kyoto Protocol
1997- Kyoto Protocol agreed

idea was to have industrialized

countries cut emissions by 5%

developing countries would not face

emissions restrictions but would be
encouraged to be greener

these developing countries included

China, India, Brazil, and South America

Senate voted against it

(Kind, 2015)

Hockey Stick Graph

1998- Controversial hockey stick graph
published (Appell, 2005)

created by Michael Mann and

Malcolm Hughes

History of Global Climate Change

Cont.
2006- Stern Review states that it would cost 1% world GDP to curb climate
change and would cost 20% if left unchecked
2007- IPCC and Al Gore receive Nobel Peace Prize
2009- Climategate affair (Climategate, 2009)
2009- UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen (Understanding the Copenhagen
Accord, 2014)
2010- UN Climate Summit in Mexico
(A brief history of climate change, 2013)

History of Global Climate Change

Cont.
2011- Human population reaches 7 billion
(History of growth in world population,
2012)
2014- IPCC Fifth Assessment Report
says that Ninety-seven percent of
climate scientists agree that climatewarming trends over the past century are
very likely due to human activities.
(Global Climate Change, 2015)

Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse Gases: Gases that
trap heat in the atmosphere
-

Carbon Dioxide
Methane
Nitrous Oxide
Fluorinated Gases

The Global Warming Potential (GWP): A measure of the total energy that
a gas absorbs over a particular period of time (usually 100 years),
compared to carbon dioxide.
- The larger the GWP, the more warming the gas causes.

Causes of Global Warming

Atmospheric Composition

Water Vapor
Carbon Dioxide
Methane
Nitrous Oxide
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

http://climate.nasa.gov/causes/
http://www.jamstec.go.jp/frsgc/eng/program/acrp/index.html

Technological Methods of Reduction

-

Anti-Idling Technologies
Fuel Efficient Cars

Alternative Fuel Sources

Dimethyl Ether (DME) Fuel Injection

Carbon Dioxide Capture and

Sequestration

Alternative Energy Sources

http://climate.dot.gov/ghg-reduction-strategies/fuels-technologies/alternative-fuels.html
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ccs/

Personal Methods of Reduction

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Less Heat/AC
Replace Lightbulbs
Drive less, Drive Smart
Buying Energy Efficient Products
Use Less Hot Water
Use the Off Switch
Plant a Tree
Get a Utility Report Card
Encourage Others to Conserve

http://www.eastgwillimbury.ca/Services/Environment/Ten_Ways_to_Reduce_Greenhouse_Gases.htm?PageMode=Print

Temperature Increases
Averaged over all land and ocean surfaces, Earth temperatures warmed
roughly 1.53F (0.85C) from 1880 to 2012.

https://www2.ucar.edu/news/how-much-has-global-temperature-risen-last-100-years
http://fullspectrumbiology.blogspot.com/2012/04/cryosphere-earths-frozen-realms.html

Climate Changes/Environmental Impact

Desertification
Erosion
Wildfires
Flooding
Air Quality
Season Timing
Range Shifts
Pathogens/
Parasites

http://climate.nasa.gov/effects/
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/ecosystems.html

Detrimental Ocean Effects

Rising Sea Levels

Increase in temperature
Loss of Coral Reefs
Decrease in Water
Quality

http://climate.nasa.gov/effects/

http://sustainabilitymedia.com/blog/02010/feb/22/new-data-about-rising-sea-levels-and-new-noaa-climate-portal/

Ocean Levels Example

Environment: Harming Species

Polar Bears

Ringed Seals

Water Fowl

Cold Water Fish

(Trout, Salmon)

(Ducks, Geese)

http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat.aspx

Environment: Harming Species

Coral Reefs

Moose

http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat.aspx

EXTINCT: Golden Toad

Effect on Energy Supply & Demand

(Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement, 2012)

changing temperatures cause changes in heating and cooling needs

rising temperatures could increase demand by 40% by 2030 (How Climate Change Impacts Americas
Energy Infrastructure, 2013)
sea level rises also increase the demand for energy due to drainage and desalination needs
increased storm surge could disrupt energy supply and increase demand
increased drought could pose problems for energy supply

Societal Effects

could affect health, infrastructure,

transportation, and food and water supply
some groups of people will be more affected
than others
affects people who live in areas with high risk
of storms, drought, and sea level rise
affects people whose professions are
dependent on climate and weather (Societal
Impacts and Adaptations, 2013)
women, children, and the elderly will be even
more vulnerable
communities will be forced to relocate (Byrd,
2014)

Economics Behind Climate Change

climate change is a result of

market failure
atmosphere has suffered
tragedy of the commons
we have been able to treat the
atmosphere as a free and
unlimited resource
emissions of greenhouse
gases are negative
externalities(Economics of
Climate Change, n.d)

Economic Effects

US government uses integrated assessment models

to try to predict effect of temperature increases,
carbon emissions, and greenhouse gas
concentrations
try to predict increased drought, rainfall and storms
all affect food production, access to water, health,
tourism, agriculture, real estate, and many other
industries (Economics of Climate Change, n.d)

Stern review estimated that reducing emissions to

prevent the worse of climate change would only cost
1% global GDP
also predicted that the cost of climate change could
be 20% GDP(Forum of Religion and Ecology at
Yale, 2006)

Economic Solutions

correct market failure and negative

externalities
could be done through a tax
tax on externalities is only truly effective
when adopted by every market
carbon leakage
international agreements our best hope
(Hassler, J. & Krusell, P.; 2012)
invest in green research and development

Conclusion

devastating potential effects on environment, society and economy

best hope is to invest in green research and development
requires political cooperation as well as international cooperation

References
A brief history of climate change - BBC News. (2013, September 20). Retrieved April 23, 2015, from http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-15874560
Appell, D. (2005, February 21). Behind the Hockey Stick. Retrieved April 23, 2015, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/behind-the-hockey-stick/?page=2
Byrd, R. (2014, December 6). 5 Reasons Why Climate Change Is a Social Issue, Not Just an Environmental One. Retrieved April 24, 2015, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rosalybyrd/climate-change-is-a-socia_b_5939186.html
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement. 2012. Geographic Mapping Data in Digital Format: Pipelines. Available from: http://www.gomr.boemre.
gov/homepg/pubinfo/repcat/arcinfo/index.html
'Climategate' (2009, December 10). Retrieved April 24, 2015, from http://www.factcheck.org/2009/12/climategate/
Economics of Climate Change. (n.d.). Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.open.edu/openlearnworks/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=22680ion=1.1.2
The Forum on Religion and Ecology at Yale. (2006). Retrieved April 24, 2015, from http://fore.yale.edu/climate-change/science/the-stern-review-on-the-economics-of-climate-change/
Global Climate Change: Consensus. (2015, April 1). Retrieved April 24, 2015, from http://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/
Hassler, J., & Krusell, P. (2012, March 1). Economics and Climate Change: Integrated Assessment in a Multi-Region World. Retrieved April 14, 2015, from http://www.nber.org/papers/w17757
History of growth in world population and environmental impact of Homo sapiens, indicated by its surrogates, per capita and total human energy use. (2012, June 20). Retrieved April 24, 2015,
from http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v486/n7401/fig_tab/nature11157_F2.html
How Climate Change Impacts America's Energy Infrastructure. (2013, February 5). Retrieved April 13, 2015.
Kind, E. (2015, February 16). Kyoto Protocol: 10 years of the worlds first climate change treaty. Retrieved April 24, 2015, from http://www.rtcc.org/2015/02/16/kyoto-protocol-10-years-of-theworlds-first-climate-change-treaty/
Understanding the Copenhagen Accord. (2014). Retrieved April 24, 2015, from http://www.usclimatenetwork.org/policy/understanding-the-copenhagen-accord
Society Impacts & Adaptation. (2013, September 1). Retrieved April 24, 2015, from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/society.html

Any Questions?