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Climate Change and the Environment

Climate Change and the Environment. The dangers of carbon dioxide? Tell that to a plant, how dangerous carbon dioxide is! -Rick Santorum. Climate Change?. Dryest and hottest March in US weather recorded history (since 1895). 15,292 record highs recorded across the country. Or Just a cycle?.

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Climate Change and the Environment

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  1. Climate Change and the Environment The dangers of carbon dioxide? Tell that to a plant, how dangerous carbon dioxide is! -Rick Santorum

  2. Climate Change? • Dryest and hottest March in US weather recorded history (since 1895). 15,292 record highs recorded across the country. • Or Just a cycle?

  3. The data is there!

  4. Skeptics v. Paleo Climate Data fm Vostok Ice Cores

  5. Central Themes • Reaching a worldwide consensus on how to address environmental concerns. • Allowing nations to continue developing while also encouraging reductions in activities that are detrimental to the global environment. • Encouraging the individual to engage in more environmentally friendly activities

  6. What are the main challenges to addressing global warming and climate change?

  7. Background • 1992: Nations meet in Rio de Janeiro • First such meeting devoted to addressing climate change • Participating countries committed to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC)

  8. Background continued • 1995: FCCC participants meet in Berlin • They agree, in principle, to set specific targets for reductions in the future Which leads to…

  9. Kyoto Protocol • 1997: Countries meet in Japan to negotiate the Kyoto Protocol • Signatories would agree to make “meaningful” and “specific” reductions in their greenhouse gas emissions • During negotiations, two key concessions are made • 1.) Nations can work towards meeting their reduction targets by planting vast amounts of trees • 2.) A cap-and-trade scheme is set up where countries can buy pollution credits from one another

  10. Kyoto Protocol Setbacks and challenges: 1997: Countries meet in Bonn to negotiate increased and continued reductions -Negotiations come to a stalemate 2001: The Bush administration withdraws its support for Kyoto

  11. Kyoto cont.

  12. Discussion Question • What were the flaws in the Kyoto Protocol?

  13. The Suffering Ocean • Carbon dioxide leads to warming • Warmer temperatures hurt • Good bye ice • http://video.economist.com • Waste in the ocean/acidification • “red tides” & “dead zones” • Over-fishing • Decreasing biodiversity • An unbalanced ecosystem

  14. A little thought… • The ocean’s pretty big, should we even care about its problems? Why? • How can the current changes in the ocean be approached in order to bring about the least harm and most benefit for the future?

  15. U.S. • European Frustration with U.S. – Border Tax? Free Rider? • Addressing global warming and climate change is gaining momentum within the US • Some believe that in the past the US has taken a moral leadership role - The US has an opportunity to do so again and regain some of its political influence

  16. China • China’s emissions have now surpassed the United States’ emissions – increased 70% since 1990 • Economic growth • Based in heavy industry • Environmental damage • Looming health concerns • China seems resolute about maintaining their growth, so is it even possible for them to be pressured into addressing environmental concerns?

  17. India • Next big challenge likely to be the environment • The Ganges: India’s dumping ground • Human waste, cremation waste/corpses, etc. • India has many environmental laws and institutions, but is still having difficulty • Rapid growth makes regulation a challenge • Can India achieve growth and development while successfully enforcing environmental regulations at the same time?

  18. Durbin • Dec 2011 last minute deal for all countries to accept binding emission cuts by 2020 • Poor countries would be obliged to proportionally to the rich • The goal is to limit the earth to a 2 Degree C temperature rise. • Experts say cuts wont’ help, we are headed to a 4 degree rise.

  19. Discussion Questions • Do developing nations have a right to pollute more because developed nations polluted while they were developing? • What can rich nations do to help poorer nations pollute less while still continuing to develop? • What role does the individual have in combating climate change? If any?

  20. Discussion Questions • Even if the US had signed and followed the Kyoto Protocol, would it have succeeded? • What lessons can be learned from Kyoto and other similar treaties that will lead to a more effective and meaningful treaty in the future?

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