Climate Change – coping with its effects

We are learning to… Give examples of strategies to reduce the effects of climate change at a local level Describe strategies used on a national level to reduce the effects of climate change Describe strategies used on an international level to reduce the effects of climate change

I can… Describe in detail three examples of strategies to reduce the effects of climate change at a local level Name and describe two UK climate change policies Explain what the Kyoto Protocol and the Doha Amendment aim to achieve

Dealing with climate change Scientist agree that global temperatures will continue to rise over the next 50 years at least. The result of this will be more floods, droughts, hurricanes, storms, etc. Almost all of the countries of the world have contributed to causing climate change and nearly every country is affected by it. It is therefore, the responsibility of all individuals of all countries to play a part in helping to reduce climate change.

What can we do at a local level? The choices that we make play a major role in climate change. If we are to combat climate change, then changes need to be made at all levels, starting with the individual.

You can… Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – reduces the amount sent to landfill sites, therefore reduce greenhouse gas emissions Use less hot water – reducing setting on dishwashers and washing machines reduces the amount of energy needed Insulate your home – efficient insulation reduces the need to use central heating Turn electrical equipment off – don’t use ‘standby’ Leave the car at home – if you can, walk, cycle or use public transport If in demand, companies will start producing more energy efficient products

CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme UK Government policy What does it mean? The 2050 Challenge UK is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 Carbon Budgets A restriction on the total amount of greenhouse gases the UK can emit over a 5 year period Green Deal Makes it easier for householders and businesses to pay for some or all of the cost of energy-saving improvements to their properties over time CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme Aims to improve energy efficiency and cut gas emissions in large organisations by requiring them to buy ‘allowances’ for every tonne of carbon they emit Encourage the use of ultra-low emission vehicles Government provides grants to those who purchase electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen-powered cars and vans. It also provides funding to the Plugged-in Places programme Energy Bill This outlines the UK’s commitment to increasing the supply of renewable energy and aims to triple the use of renewable electricity

UK Government policy What does it mean? Charge on single-use carrier bags This could lead to a 90% reduction in carrier bags with 12 billion fewer plastic bags in circulation Carbon Emissions Reduction Target Energy companies are obliged to give their customers better deals for being energy efficient Tax on ‘gas guzzlers’ Cars that emit very low levels of carbon dioxide will pay no road tax; the more carbon dioxide cars emit, the greater the road tax levied on them Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Encourages the use of sustainable biofuels

What can be done on an international level? Climate change is global. Countries which cause global warming by burning large amounts of fossil fuels are not the only ones affected by it – the effects are global. International action to tackle climate change is therefore also needed. Two examples are shown on the following slides…

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change This organisation came up with the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. The treaty sets out binding agreements between some of the most developed nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Each country that signed the protocol agreed their own specific target but, combined, they committed to cut their emissions by 5% between 2008 and 2012. Developing countries do not have binding targets under the Kyoto Protocol but are still expected to reduce their emissions under the treaty. In 2012, the Doha Amendment replaced the Kyoto Protocol

European Union legislation. The EU has committed to cutting its emissions by 20% by 2020. There are a number of EU initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) and the EU Emissions Trading System. They agreed that by 2020 at least 20% of all the energy used in the EU would be from renewable energy sources. They also made targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from new cars and vans, and to support carbon capture and storage technologies.

Task Choose three things that individuals can do to combat climate change and explain, in detail, why they are important. Choose two of the UK’s climate change policies that you think will be most successful and describe, in detail what they aim to do. Describe the purpose of the Kyoto Protocol and the Doha Amendment. Why do you think developing countries do not have binding targets under the Kyoto Protocol (and the Doha Amendment)?

Task In your own words, describe in detail why it is the responsibility of each individual to reduce the effects of climate change. Different countries have different targets to reach for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. What are the UK’s national and international targets? Which are likely to have the biggest effect on climate change – local, national or international actions? Give reasons for your answer.

We were learning to… Give examples of strategies to reduce the effects of climate change at a local level Describe strategies used on a national level to reduce the effects of climate change Describe strategies used on an international level to reduce the effects of climate change

Can I… Describe the purpose of the Kyoto Protocol and the Doha Amendment. Give examples of strategies to combat climate change at local, national and global levels. Understand the responsibility of individuals to reduce the effects of climate change.