Albedo Enhancement: Localized Climate Change Adaptation with Substantial Co-Benefits
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Public Lands
The Climate Report 2020: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Public Lands As the world works to respond to the dire regulations meant to protect the public and the warnings issued last fall by the United Nations environment from these exact decisions. New Environment Programme, the Trump policies have made it cheaper and easier for administration continues to open up as much fossil energy corporations to gain and hold of our shared public lands as possible to fossil control of public lands. And they have hidden fuel extraction.1 And while doing so, the federal from public view the implications of these government continues to keep the public (aka decisions for taxpayers and the planet. the owners of these resources) in the dark on This report seeks to pull the curtain back on the mounting greenhouse gas emissions that this situation and shed light on the range of would result from drilling on our public lands. potential climate consequences of these At the same time, we’ve seen this leasing decisions. administration water down policies and 1 UN. 26 Nov. 2019. stories/press-release/cut-global-emissions-76- https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and- percent-every-year-next-decade-meet-15degc Key Takeaways: The federal government cannot manage development of these leases could be as what it does not measure, yet the Trump high as 6.6 billion MT CO2e. administration is actively seeking to These leasing decisions have significant suppress disclosure of climate emissions and long-term ramifications for our climate from fossil energy leases on public lands. and our ability to stave off the worst The leases issued during the Trump impacts of global warming. -
ALBEDO ENHANCEMENT by STRATOSPHERIC SULFUR INJECTIONS: a CONTRIBUTION to RESOLVE a POLICY DILEMMA? an Editorial Essay
ALBEDO ENHANCEMENT BY STRATOSPHERIC SULFUR INJECTIONS: A CONTRIBUTION TO RESOLVE A POLICY DILEMMA? An Editorial Essay Fossil fuel burning releases about 25 Pg of CO2 per year into the atmosphere, which leads to global warming (Prentice et al., 2001). However, it also emits 55 Tg S as SO2 per year (Stern, 2005), about half of which is converted to sub-micrometer size sulfate particles, the remainder being dry deposited. Recent research has shown that the warming of earth by the increasing concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases is partially countered by some backscattering to space of solar radiation by the sulfate particles, which act as cloud condensation nuclei and thereby influ- ence the micro-physical and optical properties of clouds, affecting regional precip- itation patterns, and increasing cloud albedo (e.g., Rosenfeld, 2000; Ramanathan et al., 2001; Ramaswamy et al., 2001). Anthropogenically enhanced sulfate particle concentrations thus cool the planet, offsetting an uncertain fraction of the anthro- pogenic increase in greenhouse gas warming. However, this fortunate coincidence is “bought” at a substantial price. According to the World Health Organization, the pollution particles affect health and lead to more than 500,000 premature deaths per year worldwide (Nel, 2005). Through acid precipitation and deposition, SO2 and sulfates also cause various kinds of ecological damage. This creates a dilemma for environmental policy makers, because the required emission reductions of SO2, and also anthropogenic organics (except black carbon), as dictated by health and ecological considerations, add to global warming and associated negative conse- quences, such as sea level rise, caused by the greenhouse gases. -
How Urban Surfaces Impact Severe Thunderstorms
MSc Thesis How urban surfaces impact severe thunderstorms: modelling the impact of the city of Berlin on a case of heavy precipitation MSc. Thesis Meteorology and Air Quality Max Verhagen Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands January, 2014 How urban surfaces impact severe thunderstorms: modelling the impact of the city of Berlin on a case of heavy precipitation M.T.T. Verhagen 880512874020 Supervisors R. J. Ronda and G. J. Steeneveld MSc. Thesis Meteorology and Air Quality MAQ-80836 January, 2014 Wageningen University, Wageningen ii Preface During my internship, I investigated the possibility to improve the radar projection. This project sparked my interest to investigate the impact of a city on a severe thunderstorm. For my research, I preferred a large city in the Netherlands, but this was discouraged because of the strong influence of the sea breeze. The choice of Berlin is interesting, because Berlin is a city with a high urban vegetation cover and is located in a relatively flat landscape. These conditions are perfect for my study. Due to the resulting enthusiasm after the first WRF results, I performed many model runs to study the urban precipitation effect in Berlin. iii Abstract Severe thunderstorms can cause problems in urban areas. Heavy precipitation has to be drained away, often by undersized or even damaged sewer pipes. This can result in flooding and damages in an urban area. Despite its importance, there is a lack of knowledge on the impact of urban areas on severe thunderstorms. There are three main mechanisms which can cause urban precipitation disturbances: (I) low-level mechanical turbulence through urban obstructions to the airflow; (II) the addition of sensible heat flux from the urban area; (III) the urban (anthropogenic) aerosols. -
ENERGYENERCY a Balancing Act
Educational Product Educators Grades 9–12 Investigating the Climate System ENERGYENERCY A Balancing Act PROBLEM-BASED CLASSROOM MODULES Responding to National Education Standards in: English Language Arts ◆ Geography ◆ Mathematics Science ◆ Social Studies Investigating the Climate System ENERGYENERGY A Balancing Act Authored by: CONTENTS Eric Barron, College of Earth and Mineral Science, Pennsylvania Grade Levels; Time Required; Objectives; State University, University Park, Disciplines Encompassed; Key Terms; Pennsylvania Prerequisite Knowledge . 2 Prepared by: Scenario. 5 Stacey Rudolph, Senior Science Education Specialist, Institute for Part 1: Understanding the absorption of energy Global Environmental Strategies at the surface of the Earth. (IGES), Arlington, Virginia Question: Does the type of the ground surface John Theon, Former Program influence its temperature? . 5 Scientist for NASA TRMM Part 2: How a change in water phase affects Editorial Assistance, Dan Stillman, surface temperatures. Science Communications Specialist, Institute for Global Environmental Question: How important is the evaporation of Strategies (IGES), Arlington, Virginia water in cooling a surface? . 6 Graphic Design by: Part 3: Determining what controls the temperature Susie Duckworth Graphic Design & of the land surface. Illustration, Falls Church, Virginia Question 1: If my town grows, will it impact the Funded by: area’s temperature? . 7 NASA TRMM Grant #NAG5-9641 Question 2: Why are the summer temperatures in the desert southwest so much higher than at the Give us your feedback: To provide feedback on the modules same latitude in the southeast? . 8 online, go to: Appendix A: Bibliography/Resources . 9 https://ehb2.gsfc.nasa.gov/edcats/ educational_product Appendix B: Answer Keys . 10 and click on “Investigating the Appendix C: National Education Standards. -
Methodology for Afforestation And
METHODOLOGY FOR THE QUANTIFICATION, MONITORING, REPORTING AND VERIFICATION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS AND REMOVALS FROM AFFORESTATION AND REFORESTATION OF DEGRADED LAND VERSION 1.2 May 2017 METHODOLOGY FOR THE QUANTIFICATION, MONITORING, REPORTING AND VERIFICATION OF GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS AND REMOVALS FROM AFFORESTATION AND REFORESTATION OF DEGRADED LAND VERSION 1.2 May 2017 American Carbon Registry® WASHINGTON DC OFFICE c/o Winrock International 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 700 Arlington, Virginia 22202 USA ph +1 703 302 6500 [email protected] americancarbonregistry.org ABOUT AMERICAN CARBON REGISTRY® (ACR) A leading carbon offset program founded in 1996 as the first private voluntary GHG registry in the world, ACR operates in the voluntary and regulated carbon markets. ACR has unparalleled experience in the development of environmentally rigorous, science-based offset methodolo- gies as well as operational experience in the oversight of offset project verification, registration, offset issuance and retirement reporting through its online registry system. © 2017 American Carbon Registry at Winrock International. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be repro- duced, displayed, modified or distributed without express written permission of the American Carbon Registry. The sole permitted use of the publication is for the registration of projects on the American Carbon Registry. For requests to license the publication or any part thereof for a different use, write to the Washington DC address listed above. -
Plastic & Climate
EXECUTIVE SummarY Plastic & Climate THE HIDDEN COsts OF A PLAstIC PLANET Plastic Proliferation Threatens the Climate on a Global Scale he plastic pollution crisis that overwhelms our oceans is also a FIGURFIGUREE 1 significant and growing threat to the Earth’s climate. At current Annual Plastic Emissions to 2050 Tlevels, greenhouse gas emissions from the plastic lifecycle threaten the ability of the global community to keep global temperature rise below 3.0 billion metric tons 1.5°C. With the petrochemical and plastic industries planning a massive expansion in production, the problem is on track to get much worse. By 2050, annual emissions could grow to more than 2.5 2.75 billion metric tons Greenhouse gas emissions from the plastic lifecycle of CO2e from plastic threaten the ability of the global community to keep production and incineration. global temperature rise below 1.5°C. By 2050, the 2.0 greenhouse gas emissions from plastic could reach Annual emissions from incineration over 56 gigatons—10-13 percent of the entire 1.5 remaining carbon budget. If plastic production and use grow as currently planned, by 2030, these 1.0 emissions could reach 1.34 gigatons per year—equivalent to the emissions released by more than 295 new 500-megawatt coal-fired power plants. Annual emissions from By 2050, the cumulation of these greenhouse gas emissions from plastic 0.5 resin and fiber production could reach over 56 gigatons—10–13 percent of the entire remaining carbon budget. Nearly every piece of plastic begins as a fossil fuel, and greenhouse gases 0 are emitted at each of each stage of the plastic lifecycle: 1) fossil fuel 2015 2020 2030 2040 2050 extraction and transport, 2) plastic refining and manufacture, 3) managing plastic waste, and 4) plastic’s ongoing impact once it reaches our oceans, Source: CIEL waterways, and landscape. -
The Climate Just City
sustainability Article The Climate Just City Mikael Granberg 1,2,3,* and Leigh Glover 1 1 The Centre for Societal Risk Research and Political Science, Karlstad University, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden; [email protected] 2 The Centre for Natural Hazards and Disaster Science, Uppsala University, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden 3 The Centre for Urban Research, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Cities are increasingly impacted by climate change, driving the need for adaptation and sustainable development. Local and global economic and socio-cultural influence are also driving city redevelopment. This, fundamentally political, development highlights issues of who pays and who gains, who decides and how, and who/what is to be valued. Climate change adaptation has primarily been informed by science, but the adaptation discourse has widened to include the social sciences, subjecting adaptation practices to political analysis and critique. In this article, we critically discuss the just city concept in a climate adaptation context. We develop the just city concept by describing and discussing key theoretical themes in a politically and justice-oriented analysis of climate change adaptation in cities. We illustrate our arguments by looking at recent case studies of climate change adaptation in three very different city contexts: Port Vila, Baltimore City, and Karlstad. We conclude that the social context with its power asymmetries must be given a central position in understanding the distribution of climate risks and vulnerabilities when studying climate change adaptation in cities from a climate justice perspective. Keywords: just city; climate just city; ‘the right to the city’; climate change adaptation; power; equity; urban planning Citation: Granberg, M.; Glover, L. -
Urban Air Pollution and Climate Change: “The Decalogue: Allergy
Patella et al. Clin Mol Allergy (2018) 16:20 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12948-018-0098-3 Clinical and Molecular Allergy REVIEW Open Access Urban air pollution and climate change: “The Decalogue: Allergy Safe Tree” for allergic and respiratory diseases care Vincenzo Patella1,2,3*† , Giovanni Florio1,2†, Diomira Magliacane1†, Ada Giuliano4†, Maria Angiola Crivellaro3,5†, Daniela Di Bartolomeo3,6†, Arturo Genovese2,3†, Mario Palmieri3,7†, Amedeo Postiglione3,8†, Erminia Ridolo3,9†, Cristina Scaletti3,10†, Maria Teresa Ventura3,11†, Anna Zollo3,12† and Air Pollution and Climate Change Task Force of the Italian Society of Allergology, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (SIAAIC) Abstract Background: According to the World Health Organization, air pollution is closely associated with climate change and, in particular, with global warming. In addition to melting of ice and snow, rising sea level, and fooding of coastal areas, global warming is leading to a tropicalization of temperate marine ecosystems. Moreover, the efects of air pol- lution on airway and lung diseases are well documented as reported by the World Allergy Organization. Methods: Scientifc literature was searched for studies investigating the efect of the interaction between air pollu- tion and climate change on allergic and respiratory diseases. Results: Since 1990s, a multitude of articles and reviews have been published on this topic, with many studies con- frming that the warming of our planet is caused by the “greenhouse efect” as a result of increased emission of “green- house” gases. Air pollution is also closely linked to global warming: the emission of hydrocarbon combustion products leads to increased concentrations of biological allergens such as pollens, generating a mixture of these particles called particulate matter (PM). -
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cultivation of Plants Used for Biofuel Production in Poland
atmosphere Article Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Cultivation of Plants Used for Biofuel Production in Poland Paweł Wi´sniewski* and Mariusz Kistowski Department of Landscape Research and Environmental Management, Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdansk, Ba˙zy´nskiego4, 80309 Gda´nsk,Poland; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 29 February 2020; Accepted: 14 April 2020; Published: 16 April 2020 Abstract: A reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as well as an increase in the share of renewable energy are the main objectives of EU energy policy. In Poland, biofuels play an important role in the structure of obtaining energy from renewable sources. In the case of biofuels obtained from agricultural raw materials, one of the significant components of emissions generated in their full life cycle is emissions from the cultivation stage. The aim of the study is to estimate and recognize the structure of GHG emission from biomass production in selected farms in Poland. For this purpose, the methodology that was recommended by the Polish certification system of sustainable biofuels and bioliquids production, as approved by the European Commission, was used. The calculated emission values vary between 41.5 kg CO2eq/t and 147.2 kg CO2eq/t dry matter. The highest average emissions were obtained for wheat (103.6 kg CO2eq/t), followed by maize (100.5 kg CO2eq/t), triticale (95.4 kg CO2eq/t), and rye (72.5 kg CO2eq/t). The greatest impact on the total GHG emissions from biomass production is caused by field emissions of nitrous oxide and emissions from the production and transport of fertilizers and agrochemicals. -
Contributions of the Climate-Resilient Cities in Latin America Initiative
SYNTHESIS REPORT CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE CLIMATE-RESILIENT CITIES IN LATIN AMERICA INITIATIVE International Development Research Centre diálogo, capacidades y desarrollo sostenible Centre de recherches pour le développement international Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano (FFLA) Climate Resilient Cities Initiative Synthesis Report Contributions of the Climate-Resilient Cities in Latin America Initiative Authors: Gabriela Villamarín, María José Pacha, Alexandra Vásquez, Mireya Villacís, Emily Wilkinson. Coordination, editing and review: Marianela Curi, Gabriela Villamarín, María José Pacha, Daniela Castillo. Quito - Ecuador 2019 Contributions of the Climate-Resilient Cities in Latin America Initiative Table of Contents Presentation 3 Introduction 4 Chapter 1 Discovering threats and vulnerability in cities for effective action 12 Chapter 2 Building resilience through participation, dialogue and the incorporation of the gender perspective 20 Chapter 3 Instruments, policies and practices to develop climate resilience 35 Conclusion 45 Appendix 51 CRC Project Cards 52 List of CRC Products 64 2 Contributions of the Climate-Resilient Cities in Latin America Initiative Presentation The accelerated process of urbanization at a global and regional scale, combined with the effects of climate change, generate complex challenges and important opportunities for cities. This is especially so for small and medium-sized cities, which show high vulnerability to climate change but which also yield great opportunities to achieve climate-resilient sustainable development. -
Mapping Local Climate Zones and Their Applications in European Urban Environments: a Systematic Literature Review and Future Development Trends
International Journal of Geo-Information Review Mapping Local Climate Zones and Their Applications in European Urban Environments: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Development Trends Michal Lehnert 1 , Stevan Savi´c 2,* , Dragan Miloševi´c 2 , Jelena Dunji´c 3 and Jan Geletiˇc 4,5 1 Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, Palacký University Olomouc, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic; [email protected] 2 Climatology and Hydrology Research Centre, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovi´ca3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; [email protected] 3 Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovi´ca3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia; [email protected] 4 Department of Complex Systems, Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 182 07 Prague, Czech Republic; [email protected] 5 Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 603 00 Brno, Czech Republic * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: In the light of climate change and burgeoning urbanization, heat loads in urban areas have emerged as serious issues, affecting the well-being of the population and the environment. In response to a pressing need for more standardised and communicable research into urban climate, the concept of local climate zones (LCZs) has been created. This concept aims to define the morphological types of (urban) surface with respect to the formation of local climatic conditions, largely thermal. Citation: Lehnert, M.; Savi´c,S.; This systematic review paper analyses studies that have applied the concept of LCZs to European Miloševi´c,D.; Dunji´c,J.; Geletiˇc,J. -
Urban Climate Science
2 Urban Climate Science Coordinating Lead Authors Daniel A. Bader (New York), Reginald Blake (New York/Kingston), Alice Grimm (Curitiba) Lead Authors Rafiq Hamdi (Brussels/Oujda), Yeonjoo Kim (Seoul), Radley Horton (New York), Cynthia Rosenzweig (New York) Contributing Authors Keith Alverson (Nairobi), Stuart Gaffin (New York), Stuart Crane (Nairobi/London) This chapter should be cited as Bader, D. A., Blake, R., Grimm, A., Hamdi, R., Kim, Y., Horton, R., and Rosenzweig, C. (2018). Urban climate science. In Rosenzweig, C., W. Solecki, P. Romero-Lankao, S. Mehrotra, S. Dhakal, and S. Ali Ibrahim (eds.), Climate Change and Cities: Second Assessment Report of the Urban Climate Change Research Network. Cambridge University Press. New York. 27–60 27 ARC3.2 Climate Change and Cities What Cities Can Expect heat waves, droughts, heavy downpours, and coastal flooding are projected to increase in frequency and intensity. People and communities around the globe are reporting weather events and patterns that seem unfamiliar. Such changes will con- • The warming climate combined with the UHI effect will tinue to unfold over the coming decades and, depending on which exacerbate air pollution in cities. choices people make, possibly for centuries. But the various changes will not occur at the same rates in all cities of the world, • Cities around the world have always been affected by major, nor will they all occur gradually or at consistent rates of change. naturally occurring variations in climate conditions including the El Niño Southern Oscillation, North Atlantic Oscillation, Climate scientists have concluded that, whereas some of and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. These oscillations occur these changes will take place over many decades, even centuries, over years or decades.