climate change: solving the puzzle…

Climate Change:Solving the puzzle…

Pieces of the puzzle:

What are the factors causing climate change? What are the recent trends in climate change? How does it affect us? What can we do to prevent it?

What causes climate change?

• Changes in:– Sun’s output– Earth’s orbit– Drifting continents– Volcanic eruptions– Greenhouse gases

The EarthThe Earth’’s Climate Systems Climate System

“Greenhouse effect”

Greenhouse gases

Nitrous oxide

Water

Carbon dioxideMethane

Sulfur hexafluoride

EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

Effects of Global warming: Rise in Sea Level

• Thermal Expansion

• Melting of Glaciers and Polar Ice caps

• Ice Loss from Greenland and West Antarctica

Effects: Snow and ice

Grinnell Glacier, Glacier National Park1900 and 2008

Consequences

• Constant floods, loss of wildlife, affects erosion, loss

of wetlands, freshwater supplies.• Extinction of endemic species

Global impacts: If the water level rises to • 2 ft: U.S. would lose 10,000 square miles• 3 ft: Would inundate Miami

National impacts:• Submergence of islands in Sunderbans and West Bengal• Coastal areas of peninsular India largely affected

Effects on Ecosystems

Trends in Climate Change

• Global temperatures have risen by over

0.7C in the last 300 years

• Eleven of the warmest years in the past

125 years occurred since 1990, with

2005 the warmest on record.

• The 1990's was the warmest decade of

the

last millennium.

• 1998 was the warmest year globally after

1861.

• Global sea level has increased by

between 0.1 and 0.2 meters over the last

100 years

• Warming in this century projected to be

between 1.40C and 5.80C

“The State Scenario”

Climate Change in Kerala

The State Scenario• Major green house gas emission in Kerala is from

fossil fuel burning

• Automobiles are the main source of CO2 here

• Compared to 1975 the number of vehicles on the

roads has gone up by almost 20 times

• About 19.32tg carbon dioxide, 0.20tg methane and

0.0015tg nitrous oxide is produced annually

• Nitrous oxide emission from the agricultural land of

Kerala is 0.0013tg.

• Increasing temperature leads to changes in the

flowering pattern of plants (eg: Kanikonna)

• Frequent extreme droughts

• Short term intensive rain is a catastrophe

• Frequency of the occurrence of epidemics is very

high in Kerala

Kerala - Impacts due to

Climate

Change• Agrarian Crisis

• Crisis in Food Security

• Marine Resources

• Health

Rise in Temperature

• Increase in maximum temperature by 0.64°C during

the period of 49 years

• Increase in minimum temperature was 0.23°C.

• Overall increase in annual avg. temp. was 0.44°C.

• Increase in mean annual average by 0.5 degree

centigrade.

• Indicates a clear upward trend in surface air

temperature of Kerala.

Precipitation

• Kerala showed decreasing trend in monsoon rainfall for the period 1901-2007• After 1999,rainfall was below long term average

rainfall (except in 2006).

Shifts in Rainfall:• A declining trend in annual and southwest monsoon rainfall during the past 60 years • An increasing trend in post monsoon rainfall, indicating likely shifts in rainfall patterns.

Sea Level Rise in Kerala

• Mean sea level rise in Kochi is 1.75mm/ year.

• Estimation of inundation of coastal areas for Kochi reads 169 km2 of the coastal region surrounding Kochi for a 1.0 m rise in sea level

MITIGATION MEASURES

Mitigation Measures

• Bring down the use of fossil fuels• Cut down on consumerism• Halt deforestation • Use more environment - friendly agricultural

methods.• Taxing industries → the polluting industry has

to

pay society for the damage it has caused.

Mitigation Measures

• Lower emissions.

• Shift to cleaner sources of energy -solar, wind,

geothermal, and nuclear energy.

• Maintain the forest cover- plants use carbon

dioxide to grow and help remove it from the

atmosphere.

• Forestation for every tree felled.

Mitigation Measures• Preserve wetlands to maintain ecological

balance and stability.

• Use of Biotechnology in Agriculture.

• Special strains of rice are being developed in

laboratories that can grow with less water and

lead to lower emissions of methane.

Individual measuresNational Level:

• Urban Planning• Garbage Management

Personal Level:

• Share what we have learnt about climate change

and tell others about it. • Buy more efficient household appliances. • Incandescent bulbs - compact fluorescent bulbs. • Construction - let in sunlight during the daytime reducing the need for artificial lighting.

Keep car engines well tuned and use more fuel-efficient vehicles.

At crossings and during a traffic jam by switching off the engine.

Form car pools and encourage parents and friends to do the same.

Cycle or walk to the neighborhood market.

World Environment Day- Small Island and Climate ChangeWorld Environment Day

Small Islands and Climate Change

- Small Islands represent less than one percent of global emissions.- Yet, highly vulnerable to climate change.- Rise in sea level due to global warming.- Inhabited sites and cultural areas potentially in danger.- Loss of vibrant cultures and heritage, rich ecosystems and biodiversity.- Disruption of economy.

Threat to small islands

- Production of 100% of energy from solar sources in Tokelau.- Restoration of mangroves and coral reefs to prevent flooding and erosion in Fiji.- Marine Conservation and transition to renewable energy in the Caribbean.- Building artificial rainwater catchments in to augment agriculture production in Antigua and Barbuda.

Mitigation Initiatives

- Legislative Bill to add rainwater harvesting to national building codes in Seychelles.- Underwater cabinet meeting to highlight the threat of global warming in Maldives.- The Global Island Partnership for island conservation and sustainable livelihood.- Participation by UNEP.

Mitigation Initiatives

Underwater Cabinet Meeting of Maldives Government

This Environment Day,

Raise Your Voice,NOT the sea level