International Collaberation on Climate Change Section 3.2 International Collaberation on Climate Change

Goals of today’s lesson By the end of today’s lesson you should be able to: Understand and apply what humans are doing in response to climate change

Reduction of Climate change Most of the efforts to reduce the effects of climate change have focused on reducing green house gas emissions. One of the issues that people are asking that scientists have not been able to provide an answer to is… What will climate change look like? When will this occur?

Reduction of Climate Change One of the signs that scientists will point to is the appearance of more severe weather on the planet. What we need to focus on is adaptation and prevention.

Methods of Reducing Greenhouse Gases Carbon storage Taking large amounts of CO2 and storing it underground or in oceans Fuel efficiency Renewable energy sources

Why prevent? Many people still do not believe in the idea of climate change. Therefore they do not feel that money should be spent on prevention methods. The precautionary principal states: If there is a possible threat of disaster that might be irreversible lack of certainty should not be a reason for postponing action.

General Circulation Models These are climate change models. What happens is computers use mathematical formulas to run scenarios of what might happen with climate change. They analyze atmosphere concentration, temperature changes, and ocean temperatures.

Changes to Biomes With the possible warming of the climates this lead to a disappearance of polar ice caps, the tundra, and the taiga biomes. This will lead to warmer climates, and expansion of grasslands, deciduous forest, and desert biomes. Southern Alberta will change to a desert biome climate

Specific Possibilities of Global Warming Things that might happen with global warming Changes in precipitation patterns Changes in coastal regions: Sea temp and sea levels Human health could be affected: Heat stress Air pollution Disappearance of glaciers may expose bacteria that we have no immunity to.

Addressing Global Warming There have been many governmental involvements in the areas of climate change and global warming. IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Kyoto Accord

Addressing Global Warming Where do our carbon emissions come from? 34% industrial 34% transportation 16% residential 13% commercial 3 % agriculture

To do The Montreal Protocol Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change In the same groups as yesterday, you will become an expert on a political collaborator on climate change. You will be assigned an agreement and need to answer the following information Who- name, people/countries involved What- what is the agreement When- date Where- country it was made in, countries that are changing because of it Why- importance? How- how does the agreement aid in climate change Has it been effective? The Montreal Protocol Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change Canada’s Action Plan on Climate Change Albertans and Climate Change: Taking Action