climate change basics

Greenhouse Effect

Infrared radiation is absorbed by the atmosphere instead of exiting and is re emitted in all direction by greenhouse gasses and warms the earths temperature.

Greenhouse gases

• CO2

• Methane (CH4)

• Ozone

• Nitrous oxide(N20)

• Chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs)

• water vapors

How long ago did scientist predict global warming?

200 years ago

When did scientists warn lawmakers about climate change?

70 years ago

What did the Paris agreement agree to regarding warming?

2C

How many degrees should warming be limited to as to avoid irreversible environmental damage?

1.5C

What is the main source of CO2 emissions?

Fossil fuels

What is the CO2 concentration considered safe by scientists to be safe and avoid a point of no return?

350 ppm

What is the current CO2 concentration?

420ppm

Extreme weather events

• drought

• flood

• super hurricanes

• extreme heat

• polar ice melt

• rise of sea levels

• loss of biodiversity

el nino

• the hot phase of the cycle present in the pacific ocean that heats up and cools down

• causes a lot of damage

When is an el nino declared?

When ocean temps are 0.5C more than normal

effects of extreme weather events

• food and water insecurity

• loss of farmland

• climate refugees, displacement

health impacts

• climate anxiety

• depression

• deaths from extreme heat

What are the three international mechanisms to address climate change?

• IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on climate change

• UNFCCC/COP - United Nations Framework convention on climate change

• Paris agreement

IPCC

• intergovernmental panel on climate change

• Established to provide governments with regular scientific reports on the status of climate change

UNFCCC

• A treaty adopted in 1992 at the earth summit in rio de janeiro

• tasked with supporting the global response to climate change

COP

• conference of parties

• an annual meeting where negotiations and agreements take place among participating countries.

• parent treaty of the paris agreement

The kyoto protocol

• first greenhouse reduction treaty

• committed developed countries to reduce CO2 emissions

• signed by clinton then rejected by bush

Why was the Kyoto protocol finefficient?

Because the US did not participate and china and india began emitting more greenhouse gasses

Paris agreement

The largest CO2 emitters came to an agreement in paris in 2015 to reduce global emmissions. Trump withdrew.

Paris agreement plan

• limit warming to 2C, then pursue 1.5C

• countries submit action plan

• developed countries provide financial support to poor countries

• all countries share the responsibility.