Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Existing Conditions Report
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The Kyoto Protocol and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
THE KYOTO PROTOCOL AND GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS NOVEMBER 1999 Paper prepared by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA Kyoto and the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect Table of Contents INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY ......................................................................................1 Introduction and Caveats .......................................................................................................1 Summary................................................................................................................................2 Key Recommendations.......................................................................................................2 BACKGROUND: THE KYOTO PROTOCOL.........................................................................4 ISSUES, PROCESSES AND IMPLICATIONS .......................................................................5 Political Structures and Incentives.........................................................................................5 National Solutions to Global Problems..................................................................................6 Equity and Universality .......................................................................................................10 Conclusions on Kyoto And Global Warming ......................................................................11 POLICY IMPLICATIONS AND PRINCIPLES.....................................................................13 An Effective Global Emissions Policy.................................................................................13 -
Climate Change and Human Health: Risks and Responses
Climate change and human health RISKS AND RESPONSES Editors A.J. McMichael The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia D.H. Campbell-Lendrum London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom C.F. Corvalán World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland K.L. Ebi World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, European Centre for Environment and Health, Rome, Italy A.K. Githeko Kenya Medical Research Institute, Kisumu, Kenya J.D. Scheraga US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, USA A. Woodward University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION GENEVA 2003 WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Climate change and human health : risks and responses / editors : A. J. McMichael . [et al.] 1.Climate 2.Greenhouse effect 3.Natural disasters 4.Disease transmission 5.Ultraviolet rays—adverse effects 6.Risk assessment I.McMichael, Anthony J. ISBN 92 4 156248 X (NLM classification: WA 30) ©World Health Organization 2003 All rights reserved. Publications of the World Health Organization can be obtained from Marketing and Dis- semination, World Health Organization, 20 Avenue Appia, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (tel: +41 22 791 2476; fax: +41 22 791 4857; email: [email protected]). Requests for permission to reproduce or translate WHO publications—whether for sale or for noncommercial distribution—should be addressed to Publications, at the above address (fax: +41 22 791 4806; email: [email protected]). The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. -
Lasting Coastal Hazards from Past Greenhouse Gas Emissions COMMENTARY Tony E
COMMENTARY Lasting coastal hazards from past greenhouse gas emissions COMMENTARY Tony E. Wonga,1 The emission of greenhouse gases into Earth’satmo- 100% sphereisaby-productofmodernmarvelssuchasthe Extremely likely by 2073−2138 production of vast amounts of energy, heating and 80% cooling inhospitable environments to be amenable to human existence, and traveling great distances 60% Likely by 2064−2105 faster than our saddle-sore ancestors ever dreamed possible. However, these luxuries come at a price: 40% climate changes in the form of severe droughts, ex- Probability treme precipitation and temperatures, increased fre- 20% quency of flooding in coastal cities, global warming, RCP2.6 and sea-level rise (1, 2). Rising seas pose a severe risk RCP8.5 0% to coastal areas across the globe, with billions of 2020 2040 2060 2080 2100 2120 2140 US dollars in assets at risk and about 10% of the ’ Year when 50-cm sea-level rise world s population living within 10 m of sea level threshold is exceeded (3–5). The price of our emissions is not felt immedi- ately throughout the entire climate system, however, Fig. 1. Cumulative probability of exceeding 50 cm of sea-level rise by year (relative to the global mean sea because processes such as ice sheet melt and the level from 1986 to 2005). The yellow box denotes the expansion of warming ocean water act over the range of years after which exceedance is likely [≥66% course of centuries. Thus, even if all greenhouse probability (12)], where the left boundary follows a gas emissions immediately ceased, our past emis- business-as-usual emissions scenario (RCP8.5, red line) sions have already “locked in” some amount of con- and the right boundary follows a low-emissions scenario (RCP2.6, blue line). -
Egypt's Energy Planning and Management Xa9642813 in View of the Commitments to the Framework Convention on Climate Change
EGYPT'S ENERGY PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT XA9642813 IN VIEW OF THE COMMITMENTS TO THE FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE A.-G.S. EMARA, S.M. RASHAD Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt Abstract Egypt has a rapidly growing population and per capita energy demand. As a signatory of the Framework Convention on Climate Change Egypt is making all efforts to comply with the obligations of the Convention. This paper summarizes the efforts carried out in the field of electricity generation and consumption. Plans implemented to improve energy efficiency and to achieve switching to non-carbon energy resources, such as solar, wind and biomass power, are outlined. 1. INTRODUCTION Egypt has at present a population of 59 million which is expected to increase rapidly at a rate of 3.2% per annum. This gives rise to an ever increasing demand for energy resources to achieve social and economic development goals of the country. The assessment of energy resources, production, conversion, transmission and consumption patterns is basic for formulating and evaluating the efficiency of the structure of the energy sector and its interaction with other sectors of the economy. For developing countries, such as Egypt, the demand for energy is rapidly growing and is exceeding that for developed countries. The environmental impact of energy production and use with the associated emissions of greenhouse gases, particularly CO2, has created much attention and growing concern on both national and international levels. Reduction of total energy consumption is considered worldwide as an effective measure to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Efficiency increase by introduction of new and innovative technologies is a determining factor in achieving reduction of energy consumption. -
Developing and Applying Scenarios
3 Developing and Applying Scenarios TIMOTHY R. CARTER (FINLAND) AND EMILIO L. LA ROVERE (BRAZIL) Lead Authors: R.N. Jones (Australia), R. Leemans (The Netherlands), L.O. Mearns (USA), N. Nakicenovic (Austria), A.B. Pittock (Australia), S.M. Semenov (Russian Federation), J. Skea (UK) Contributing Authors: S. Gromov (Russian Federation), A.J. Jordan (UK), S.R. Khan (Pakistan), A. Koukhta (Russian Federation), I. Lorenzoni (UK), M. Posch (The Netherlands), A.V. Tsyban (Russian Federation), A. Velichko (Russian Federation), N. Zeng (USA) Review Editors: Shreekant Gupta (India) and M. Hulme (UK) CONTENTS Executive Summary 14 7 3. 6 . Sea-Level Rise Scenarios 17 0 3. 6 . 1 . Pu r p o s e 17 0 3. 1 . Definitions and Role of Scenarios 14 9 3. 6 . 2 . Baseline Conditions 17 0 3. 1 . 1 . In t r o d u c t i o n 14 9 3. 6 . 3 . Global Average Sea-Level Rise 17 0 3. 1 . 2 . Function of Scenarios in 3. 6 . 4 . Regional Sea-Level Rise 17 0 Impact and Adaptation As s e s s m e n t 14 9 3. 6 . 5 . Scenarios that Incorporate Var i a b i l i t y 17 1 3. 1 . 3 . Approaches to Scenario Development 3. 6 . 6 . Application of Scenarios 17 1 and Ap p l i c a t i o n 15 0 3. 1 . 4 . What Changes are being Considered? 15 0 3. 7 . Re p r esenting Interactions in Scenarios and Ensuring Consistency 17 1 3. 2 . Socioeconomic Scenarios 15 1 3. -
Fact Sheet on the Kyoto Protocol
The U.S. View FACT SHEET ON THE KYOTO PROTOCOL t a conference held December 1–11, 1997, in Kyoto, Japan, the Parties to A the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change agreed to an historic Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by harnessing the forces of the global marketplace to protect the environment. Key aspects of the Kyoto Protocol include weather, either of which could spike emissions targets, timetables for industrial- emissions in a particular year. ized nations, and market-based measures for meeting those targets. The Protocol • The first budget period will be makes a down payment on the meaning- 2008–2012. The parties rejected bud- ful participation of developing countries, get periods beginning as early as but more needs to be done in this area. 2003, as neither realistic nor achiev- Securing meaningful developing country able. Having a full decade before the participation remains a core U.S. goal. start of the binding period will allow more time for companies to make the transition to greater energy efficiency Emissions Targets and/or lower carbon technologies. A central feature of the Kyoto Protocol is a set of binding emissions targets for • The emissions targets include all six developed nations. The specific limits major greenhouse gases: carbon diox- vary from country to country, though ide, methane, nitrous oxide, and three those for the key industrial powers of the synthetic substitutes for ozone-deplet- European Union, Japan, and the United ing CFCs that are highly potent and States are similar—8 percent below 1990 long-lasting in the atmosphere. emissions levels for the European Union, 7 percent for the United States, and 6 • Activities that absorb carbon, such as percent for Japan. -
A Review of Climate Change Scenarios and Preliminary Rainfall Trend Analysis in the Oum Er Rbia Basin, Morocco
WORKING PAPER 110 A Review of Climate Drought Series: Paper 8 Change Scenarios and Preliminary Rainfall Trend Analysis in the Oum Er Rbia Basin, Morocco Anne Chaponniere and Vladimir Smakhtin Postal Address P O Box 2075 Colombo Sri Lanka Location 127, Sunil Mawatha Pelawatta Battaramulla Sri Lanka Telephone +94-11 2787404 Fax +94-11 2786854 E-mail [email protected] Website http://www.iwmi.org SM International International Water Management IWMI isaFuture Harvest Center Water Management Institute supportedby the CGIAR ISBN: 92-9090-635-9 Institute ISBN: 978-92-9090-635-9 Working Paper 110 Drought Series: Paper 8 A Review of Climate Change Scenarios and Preliminary Rainfall Trend Analysis in the Oum Er Rbia Basin, Morocco Anne Chaponniere and Vladimir Smakhtin International Water Management Institute IWMI receives its principal funding from 58 governments, private foundations and international and regional organizations known as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Support is also given by the Governments of Ghana, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The authors: Anne Chaponniere is a Post Doctoral Fellow in Hydrology and Water Resources at IWMI Sub-regional office for West Africa (Accra, Ghana). Vladimir Smakhtin is a Principal Hydrologist at IWMI Headquarters in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Acknowledgments: The study was supported from IWMI core funds. The paper was reviewed by Dr Hugh Turral (IWMI, Colombo). Chaponniere, A.; Smakhtin, V. 2006. A review of climate change scenarios and preliminary rainfall trend analysis in the Oum er Rbia Basin, Morocco. Working Paper 110 (Drought Series: Paper 8) Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). -
Adapting to Climate Change: a Business Approach
AdApting to climAte chAnge: A Business ApproAch TRATEGY S By Frances G. Sussman senior economist, icF internAtionAl, And J. Randall Freed senior Vice president, icF internAtionAl MARKETS AND BUSINESS AdApting to ClimAte ChAnge: A Business Approach Prepared for the Pew Center on Global Climate Change by Frances G. Sussman Senior economiSt, ICF international, and J. Randall Freed Senior Vice PreSident, ICF international April 2008 The authors would like to thank Kathryn Maher, of ICF International, who provided valuable research assistance for this paper, and Anne Choate and Susan Asam, also of ICF International, who provided helpful comments. We would also like to thank Andre de Fontaine and Vicki Arroyo of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, and Truman Semans, formerly of the Pew Center, as well as several anonymous peer reviewers and members of the Pew Center’s Business Environment Leadership Council (BELC), for helpful comments and suggestions. Contents Introduction 1 I. Climate Change: A Range of Risks and Opportunities 3 II. The Case for Business Adaptation: What is at Risk? 7 III. The Risk Disk and The Adaptation Challenge 11 IV. Meeting the Challenge: Screening for Climate Impacts and Adaptation 15 Question 1. Is climate important to business risk? 16 Question 2. Is there an immediate threat? Or are long-term assets, investments, or decisions being locked into place? 17 Question 3. Is a high value at stake if a wrong decision is made? 18 V. Case Studies: Three Business Responses to Climate Risks 19 Entergy Corporation: A Climate Wakeup Call— The First Step Was Admitting There Was a Problem 20 The Travelers Companies, Inc.: An Ounce of Prevention— Linking the Interests of Homeowners, Business, and Insurance Providers 23 Rio Tinto: Reappraising “Normal”— Designing to Weather, Climate, and Climate Change 26 VI. -
Soils Help to Combat and Adapt to Climate Change by Playing a Key Role in the Carbon Cycle
A woman crossing one of several streams which feed an irrigation canal used for climate-smart agriculture in Tanzania. ©FAO/Daniel Hayduk Soils help to combat and adapt to climate change by playing a key role in the carbon cycle emission of greenhouse gases from agriculture, enhance carbon sequestration and build resilience to climate change. ealthy soils provide the largest store of terrestrial carbon. When managed sustainably, soils can play an important role in climate change mitigation by Hstoring carbon (carbon sequestration) and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. Conversely, if soils are managed poorly or cultivated through unsustainable agricultural practices, soil carbon can be released into the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2), which can contribute to climate change. The steady conversion of grassland and forestland to cropland and grazing lands over the past several centuries has resulted in historic losses of soil carbon worldwide. However, by restoring degraded soils and adopting soil conservation practices, there is major potential to decrease the Sustainable Satoyama–Satoumi landscape management in Japan builds resilience to climate change. ©FAO/Kazem Vafadari SOILS AND THE CARBON CYCLE he carbon cycle is the exchange of carbon (in various forms, e.g., carbon dioxide) between the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial biosphere and geological deposits. Most of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere comes from biological reactions that take place in the soil. Carbon sequestration occurs when carbon from the atmosphere is T absorbed and stored in the soil. This is an important function because the more carbon that is stored in the soil, the less carbon dioxide there will be in the atmosphere contributing to climate change. -
Climate Change Scenario Report
2020 CLIMATE CHANGE SCENARIO REPORT WWW.SUSTAINABILITY.FORD.COM FORD’S CLIMATE CHANGE PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS: CLIMATE SCENARIO SERVICES AND FORD FACILITIES PUBLIC 2 Climate Change Scenario Report 2020 STRATEGY PLANNING TRUST EXPERIENCES AND SUPPLIERS POLICY CONCLUSION ABOUT THIS REPORT In conjunction with our annual sustainability report, this Climate Change CONTENTS Scenario Report is intended to provide stakeholders with our perspective 3 Ford’s Climate Strategy on the risks and opportunities around climate change and our transition to a low-carbon economy. It addresses details of Ford’s vision of the low-carbon 5 Climate Change Scenario Planning future, as well as strategies that will be important in managing climate risk. 11 Business Strategy for a Changing World This is Ford’s second climate change scenario report. In this report we use 12 Trust the scenarios previously developed, while further discussing how we use scenario analysis and its relation to our carbon reduction goals. Based on 13 Products, Services and Experiences stakeholder feedback, we have included physical risk analysis, additional 16 Operations: Ford Facilities detail on our electrification plan, and policy engagement. and Suppliers 19 Public Policy This report is intended to supplement our first report, as well as our Sustainability Report, and does not attempt to cover the same ground. 20 Conclusion A summary of the scenarios is in this report for the reader’s convenience. An explanation of how they were developed, and additional strategies Ford is using to address climate change can be found in our first report. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS Through our climate change scenario planning we are contributing to SDG 6 Clean water and sanitation, SDG 7 Affordable and clean energy, SDG 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure and SDG 13 Climate action. -
Climate Change Designing Healthy, Equitable, Resilient, and Economically Vibrant Places
8 Climate Change Designing Healthy, Equitable, Resilient, and Economically Vibrant Places “California, as it does in many areas, must show the way. We must demonstrate that reducing carbon is compatible with an abundant economy and human well-being. So far, we have been able to do that.” —Governor Jerry Brown Introduction The impacts of climate change pose an immediate and growing threat to California’s economy, environment, and to public health. Cities and counties will continue to experience effects of climate change in various ways, including increased likelihood of droughts, flooding, wildfires, heat waves and severe weather. California communities need to respond to climate change both through policies that promote adaptation and resilience and by significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For requirements related to climate adaptation please see the Safety Element. While climate change is global, the effects and responses occur substantially at the local level, and impacts and policies will affect the ways cities and counties function in almost every aspect. Cities and counties have the authority to reduce (GHG) emissions, particularly those associated with land use and development, and to incorporate resilience and adaptation strategies into planning. For example, the interplay of general plans and CEQA requirements is particularly critical in evaluation of GHG emissions and mitigation. For this reason, specific guidance is provided on how to create a plan to reduce GHG emissions that meets the goals of both CEQA and general plans. To this end, this chapter summarizes how a general plan or climate action plan can be consistent with CEQA Guidelines section 15183.5 (b), entitled Plans for the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. -
French Climate Plan
ECOLOGY, ENERGY, MINISTER'S JOURNAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT November 2009 & THE SEA French Climate Plan Implementation of Policies and Adapting to Climate the Environment Measures: Change: Round Table: All Sectors are Four Major Conclusions Ambitious Objectives to Affected, p. 8 and a National Strategy, Stop Climate Change, p. 4 p. 23 Climate Plan 03 Editorial n Copenhagen, leaders of 192 countries will meet in an attempt to seek a climate agreement to follow of the Kyoto Protocol. The objective is to limit temperature increase to 2°C maximum, a threshold beyond which the world would enter a period of strong climactic uncertainty. ITo achieve this, we must have precise objectives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the short, medium and long terms. France is thus campaigning, on the basis of research conducted by scientists at the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, for a reduction in developed countries' emissions of between 25% and 40% by 2020 and a 50% reduction in world emissions by 2050. France, which is already one of the only countries in the world to comply with the Kyoto Protocol, has chosen, in the framework of the Environment Round Table (Grenelle), to set an example by planning a 75% reduction in its carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. For more than two years and by mobilising of all sectors, France is intensively investing in a new green growth model based on restraint in carbon and energy consumption: almost unanimous adoption of the “Grenelle 1 Act”, 800 million euros in assistance for building 50 public transports projects in 38 metropolitan areas in France, creation of an ecological loan at zero percent with already more than 50,000 energy-efficiency improvements made by private individuals, a request for proposals for building at least one solar power plant per region by 2011, cutting by half within two years the time for connection to the electricity grid for solar energy, passage of an ecological bonus for automobiles, launch of a clean vehicle plan, etc.