Global Environmental Issues A Case Study on Global

Global Environmental Issues: A Case Study on Global Warming OOOPS Econ 506 Presented by: 17 th May 2005 Amr S Algarhi Azza A Shafei

Global Environmental Problems Global warming Ø Acid rain Ø Ozone layer depletion Ø Biodiversity loss Ø Infectious disease Ø

Global Warming …refers to an increase in average global temperature, also called: Ø Climate Change Ø Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse Effect Solar radiation Ø Ø some is reflected by the earth and the atmosphere some passes through the atmosphere and is absorbed by the earth, warming it Infrared radiation Ø Some passes through the atmosphere Ø Some is absorbed and re -emitted in all directions by greenhouse gas modules

Causes of Global Warming GHG - due to Natural and Human Economic Activities Gases Source carbon dioxide (CO 2) fossil-fuel burning, de-forestation methane (CH 4) agriculture activity, decomposition and disposal of waste nitrous oxide (N 2 O) 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 (SF 6) industrial activities

Human activities have changed the composition of the atmosphere since the pre- industrial era

Characteristics of GHG Ø Atmospheric life time. Ø Global warming potential. Ø Atmospheric concentration.

Greenhouse Gases Ø Concentration vs. Emissions. Ø Forecasts about emissions are very sensitive.

Qualitative scenarios for different indicators Scenario Population Economy Environment Technology Globalization A 1 F 1 A 18 A 1 T B 1 A 2 B 2

Impacts of Global Warming - physical Ø Shrinking glaciers & thawing permafrost Ø Later freezing and earlier break up of river and lake ice Ø Sea level rise Ø Higher incidence of floods and droughts in some regions

Impacts of Global Warming - biological Ø Ø Ø Longer growing seasons Poleward and altitude shifts of plants and animal ranges Decline of some plant and animal population ( Drive 15 37% of living species toward extinction by the middle of the century) Early tree flowering, emergence of insects and birds eggs laying Damage to natural systems Many of these impacts are irreversible

Impacts of Global Warming - human system Systems at risk include: Ø water resources Ø Agriculture and forestry Ø Coastal zones and marine systems Ø Decreasing water availability in regions where water is already scarce Ø Human health and risk of disease

Game theory A 2 -player pollution abatement game Y’s strategy X’s strategy Pollute Abate Pollute 0, 0 5, -2 Abate -2, 5 3, 3

Toronto Conference (1988) Ø Carbon dioxide targets. Ø Carbon dioxide emissions. Ø GHG control (quantitative incentives rather than price incentives).

Rio de Janeiro Conference (1992) Ø Plans for controlling emissions. Ø No commitments on: A particular emissions reduction. A timetable for any such reduction.

Kyoto Protocol (1997) Ø Conditions to be in force. Ø Industrialized nations. Ø Developing countries.

Kyoto Protocol’s Flexible Mechanisms 1) Emissions Trading or “HOT AIR TRADING” 2) Joint Implementation (JI) 3) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM)

Steps 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 IPCC 2 and COP 1 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 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 Egypt is potentially one of the countries most at risk from the effects of climate change. (1) water resources (2) coastal zones

Recommendation for Global Warming Abatement Ø Increase the capacity of ‘pools’ that absorb carbon dioxide and other GHG from the atmosphere. Ø Decrease the rate of emissions of GHG (reducing GHG inflows).

Recommendation for Global Warming Abatement Ø stop using burning fuels and changes in fuel mix (from fossil to renewable energy) Ø use the new technologies that are now available, like better filters.

Recommendation for Global Warming Abatement Ø Stabilizing population growth worldwide. Ø power stations should not be permitted to discharge warm cooling waters into rivers and oceans.

Recommendation for Global Warming Abatement Ø Financial and technological transfers from developed to developing nations. Ø helping low-income nations develop cleanly.

Recommendation for Global Warming Abatement Ø learn and use good ideas and solutions from other countries that help us eliminate global warming. For example, a country that is fighting global warming and producing less polluting fuels is Brazil. Instead of gasoline Brazilians use alcohol, which is made from sugar cane and cassava. The exhaust fumes from this alcohol fuel are almost clean enough to breathe.

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