What is the link between Energy Production and Global Warming?

1. What is the link between Energy Production and Global Warming?

2. Energy Production • Energy is produced, so we can all have a certain lifestyle. We all expect a constant electricity supply • In the UK, the main source of electricity comes from burning Fossil Fuels • Electricity can also be made by renewable sources • The target in Northern Ireland is to have 12% of all energy generated by renewable sources by 2012

3. Energy Production • A watt is a measurement of energy • Power stations and other energy generating devices are measured in megawatts (MW) • The largest coal-fired power station in the UK, Drax Power Station, Yorkshire – produces 4,000MW = 7% of UK’s electricity demands (SOURCE:DTI)

4. Energy in Northern Ireland There are 3 power stations, producing about 93-97% of our electricity needs: • Coolkeeragh Power Station, near Londonderry. Uses gas to generate electricity • Ballylumford Power Station, Island Magee. Uses gas to generate electricity • Kilroot Power Station, Carrickfergus. Uses coal to generate electricity

5. - For thousands of years, wood has been a major source of energy. Wood is still a major source of energy in some countries of the world today, e.g. Nepal. - Since the Industrial Revolution, over the last 200 years, there has been a dramatic growth in energy production.

6. Over the last 200 years, • There has been a greater demand for energy from factories, machinery and domestic use throughout the world • There has been a dramatic population growth

7. Over the last 200 years there has therefore been more burning of fossil fuels to produce energy. Main sources used: Coal, oil and gas

8. Our society, our lifestyles, our technologies encourage greater use of fossil fuels Fossil fuels are efficient at producing energy BUT there are problems: • Greenhouse gases, e.g. CO2 are released when they are burnt • Limited supply of these resources • They are only found in certain parts of the world

9. What is ‘Global Warming’? • Global Warming is an increase in temperatures • This happens because of the ‘Greenhouse Effect’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/climate/evidence/greenhouse_effect_img.shtml

10. Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, nitrous oxide & CFCs), released by us go up into the Earth’s atmosphere, which stop some of the sun-rays from leaving the Earth’s atmosphere = making the Earth warmer

11. What releases Greenhouse gases? What causes Global Warming? • Natural processes, e.g. the release of CO2 from melting permafrost • The burning of fossil fuels • Emissions from vehicles

12. Is there a link between Energy Production and Global Warming? YES And while the majority of our energy is produced by fossil fuels that emit CO2 and other greenhouse gases – this will continue…

13. There is research and evidence to prove global temperatures increased by 0.5oC during the 20th century • The IPCC’s Report, 2nd Feb. 2007, suggest a possible temperature rise by the end of this century from between 1.10C and 40C

14. Global Warming means that we are experiencing Climate Change (a change in what the climate we would usually expect) • We are and will experience Climate Change because of Global Warming

15. There has been a long debate about the impact of humans on global warming. The IPCC’s Report, 2nd Feb 2007, states, The higher degree of certainty that changes are down to human activities – up from at least 66% in 2001 to at least 90% now – is significant…

16. Achim Steiner, from the UN stated, “ Friday, 2 February 2007 may go down in history as the day when the question mark was removed from the question of whether climate change has anything to do with human activities”

17. Warming Signs IPCC Report, 2 Feb 2007 states the evidence for global warming includes, • 11 of the last 12 years are among the warmest on record • Oceans have warmed down to 3,000 metres • Mountain glaciers and snow cover have declined

18. Warming Signs IPCC Report, 2 Feb 2007 states the evidence for global warming includes, • Satellites have seen an acceleration in sea level rise • More intense and longer droughts have been observed • Arctic cover is shrinking in depth and in extent

19. What will Global Warming mean for us?

20. What will it mean for the UK? • Hotter/drier summers and wetter/stormier winters • As temperatures and rainfall patterns change, this will have an impact on our lifestyle and biodiversity • During the summer, air-conditioning will be needed more widely • More flooding in the winter

21. What will it mean for the UK? • Lack of water may become more common at certain times of the year • Less need to travel to Spain to get a sun-tan! • Mosquitoes may become common in the UK • Birch trees may find it difficult to survive in the changing climate

22. What will it mean globally? • Sea level rise, due to melting of ice • May see more extreme weather • More drought during the summers • More intense hurricanes, due to warmer oceans • More intense Asian monsoon

23. What will it mean globally? • Low-lying land areas will be flooded as sea levels rise • Large coastal cities may also be flooded, e.g. Calcutta, India and Shanghai, China – leading to large population movements

24. What will it mean globally? • More extreme weather, e.g. hurricanes and droughts – will have large social, economic and environmental impacts • Economic impacts – governments will need to spend money on buildings, flood defenses and infrastructure What are other possible economic impacts?

25. What will it mean globally? • Economic impacts – as agriculture adapts to change in growing seasons, strains of diseases and transport costs • Economic impacts – as certain businesses may need to change location • Change in lifestyle: as people work to reduce CO2 emissions

26. A Global Issue, demands Global Action What is being done?

27. What are governments doing about it? • There have been global meetings to discuss issues of climate change • At these meetings each country is represented and they talk about policies and some agreements have been signed • As Global Warming involves all countries, it is important that all countries work together to help reduce its impact

28. Kyoto Protocol, 1997 • The Kyoto Protocol is a significant agreement, which was signed by the majority of countries in 1997 • Signing, meant that a country was agreeing to reach targets • Targets to reduce the production of greenhouse gases in their country

29. Kyoto Protocol, 1997 141 countries signed, agreeing to cut greenhouse emissions by 5.2% by 2012

30. The World’s biggest polluter – the USA did not sign • Why do you think the USA did not sign? • What impact does this have on reducing the effects of global warming?

31. What does this all mean for us? • It does mean that we will experience some of the effects of Climate Change • It also means we need to think about how we live and what we can do to reduce our impact • Each of us can choose to live more wisely by, e.g. - not wasting energy, becoming more energy efficient - encourage the use of more renewable energy

32. A small action makes a difference Our World is changing - We all have the ability to make a difference • What are you going to do?