Global Sustainability: The Case for Collaboration Environmental Issues

Climate Change : A Global Responsibility Kyoto Protocol – Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC or FCCC), aimed at combating global warming. ProtocolUnited Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changeglobal warming – Participation by 160 countries – Conference in 1997 – Solution to Greenhouse effect – Climate Change – Earth’s increasing temperature – Global warming – Goal to reduce gas emission – greenhouse effect – Obligation to change – accepting reality – New chapter for scientific community Environmental Issues 2

The Greenhouse Effect Greenhouse Effect – Beneficial The role of atmosphere – maintaining earth temperature One % gases in atmosphere responsible for greenhouse effect Greenhouse gases (GHG) – CO2, H2O, CH4, O3 and N2O Intensification of GHG – due to human economic activities CO2 – Second important gas contributing to Greenhouse Effect, is increasing due to natural as well as human activities Consumption of fossil fuel since Industrial revolution is causing intensification of GHG. CO2 is responsible for 60% of intensification of GHG and will remain in atmosphere for next 100 years Methane (CH4) is responsible for 20% of intensification of CHG, but only has 12 years life cycle in atmosphere Other gases contributes to 20% of intensification of CGH with much shorter life cycles Environmental Issues 3

Effects of Global Warming Raising sea levels Melting glaciers and polar caps Loss of bio-diversity Increase in incidence of diseases Changes in rainfall levels Extreme weather phenomena Deforestation and loss of agriculture areas Problems related to fresh water provisions These effects will have impact on economy: – Loss of life – Lowering production capability – Unemployment – Southern Hemisphere more effected than Northern Hemisphere Environmental Issues 4

Mitigating Effects of Global Warming Two Actions – Reducing emission of GHG gases – Eliminate gases that are already emitted Carbon Intensity of Energy sector need to be contained as a first step – Changing mix of energy resources to reduce carbon intensity – Increasing use of non-fossil fuel energy sources like hydro-electric, solar, nuclear, geothermal and wind energy – Using carbon capturing technologies to prevent carbon emission reaching atmosphere – require considerable amount of investment to achieve this Approach – Direct Regulation – Subsidies and taxes – Permit trading Environmental Issues 5

Kyoto Protocol Proposal to stabilize GHG emissions Two principles: – GHG Emission cap between to 94.8% of GHG Emission by 1990 (First Commitment Period) – Flexibility mechanism to transfer limits to another country Pollution over the limits will have a cost imposed Three mechanisms for implementation: – Joint Implementation – countries joining hands to reduce GHG – Emission trading – negotiation between countries on limits – Clean Development Mechanism - Countries to finance reduction projects in other countries Environmental Issues 6

Group Discussion Why should corporations care about global warming? Will it affect their bottom-line? Why and Why not? Environmental Issues 7

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