global point of view hhes us-1

Global Point of ViewAP Environmental Science

Heathwood Hall Episcopal School

Columbia, South Carolina

Definition of Problem

• Population increases have contributed excessive greenhouse gas emission, waste, and degradation of natural capital

• Current climate trend has resulted in warmer and drier conditions

• Increase in extreme weather events such as droughts and heat waves

• A decrease in precipitation affects natural resources, human health, and water resources

Global Status Quo

Definition of Problem

• Shorter duration of snowfall each year

• Water levels are rising, particularly in more isolated bodies of water,

like the Baltic Sea

• Plants have moved northwards due to the warmer climate

• The economy has suffered serious losses in the past twenty years

because of extreme weather events

• ―Climate models predict that the average temperature at the Earth's

surface could increase from 3.2 to 7.2ºF above 1990 levels by the end of

this century‖ (http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/basicinfo.html)

Global Status Quo

• ‖By decreasing use of other fossil

fuels, and improving agricultural

and forestry practices around the

world, scientists believe we could

get back below 350 by mid-

century. But the longer we remain

in the danger zone—above 350—

the more likely that we will see

disastrous and irreversible climate

impacts.‖ – James Hansen, NASA

Definition of ProblemGlobal Target Situation

350.org

Reasons and Causes of the Problem

• Government laws are in place to reduce CO2 emissions, but they are

avoidable to a point because of weak enforcement

• Factories, large cities, cars, landfills, waste treatment methods, the

importation of many goods, farmyard animals cause the burning of

harmful fossil fuels

Global

Consequences of the Problem

• Rising sea levels

• Hotter summers

• Serious health hazards for humans caused by increase in SO2

• Changes in precipitation

• Possible natural disasters

• Wind currents could change

• Delicate ecosystems could be irreversibly damaged

• Decrease in biodiversity

Global

Possible Countermeasures

• Switch to renewable forms of energy such as hydroelectricity, wind, and solar• Government laws that would enforce stricter regulations on greenhouse gas emissions• Greener and smarter transport systems• Creation of cap-and-trade programs for greenhouse gas emissions

Global

DEFINITION OF PROBLEM

• 2nd Highest fossil fuel and CO2

emitting continent in the world

behind Asia

•Air pollution from the United

States is carried in wind patterns

across borders and damages the

entire continent

•Emission levels peaked in 2005,

and have decreased slightly since

then

• Cities like Mexico City and New

York City contribute to high

greenhouse gas emissions

• Highly developed and rapidly

developing economies with large

industrial sectors

REASONS AND CAUSES

North America

CONSEQUENCES

• Winds blow pollution from

Mexico and United States to

Canada, destroying ecosystems

and biodiversity

• Promote and provide tax

incentives when trading with

North American countries in

NAFTA agreement

POSSIBLE COUNTERMEASURES

North America


• Large population of 1.3 billion

which contributes to excessive

greenhouse gas emission, waste,

and degradation of natural capital

• Agriculture, area’s largest

economic activity, is also

threatened by the issue of water

scarcity

• Growing industrial sector

• Large agriculture sector

• Enormous population that

continues to grow

• Lack of environmental protection

legislation and industrial pollution

regulations

REASONS AND CAUSES

South Asia

CONSEQUENCES

• Rising water levels have the

demonstrated potential

to completely submerge islands

off the Indian coast, and continue

to threaten coastal regions

• Natural disasters (floods,

droughts, typhoons) will continue

to increase in intensity each year

• Industry/Agriculture contribute

to climate change

• Governmental regulation of

greenhouse gas and other

pollutant emissions

• Building support for

environmental initiatives at a local

level, with regards to conserving

resources and reducing water

pollution


South Asia


• Southern Europe and the Arctic

have been particularly affected by

rising temperatures

• The carbon dioxide levels in the

atmosphere have increased to 375

ppm from the pre-industrial level

of 280 ppm

• Germany and the United

Kingdom are the largest

contributors to European

pollution

• Milan, Amsterdam, Frankfurt are

the most polluted areas of

Europe, mainly due to Europe’s

steel and coal industries

REASONS AND CAUSES

Europe

CONSEQUENCES

• Wildfires, reduced forest area,

reduced water availability and

reduced crop yield

•In central and eastern areas

consequences are heat waves,

reduced summer rainfall and

decreased forest productivity

•In the north there will be benefits

such as reduced heating demand,

milder winters and increased crop

yields

• Countermeasures such as green

transport and cap-and-trade

programs would implemented by

national governments but

enforced by local governments


Europe


• US supports 300 million people

• To keep the economy up

requires large amounts of energy,

and most of these sources are

non-renewable

• Industrialized cities such as New

York and Los Angeles which have

a lot of pavement, buildings, and

cars, absorbing heat and

inhibiting wind flow

• US is biggest emitter of

greenhouse gases in world

REASONS AND CAUSES

United States of America

CONSEQUENCES

• Rising sea level - The Atlantic

Ocean

• Delicate ecosystems all over

country could be irreversibly

damaged

• ―President Barack Obama will

attend the U.N. climate summit

next month in Denmark, taking

with him a target to reduce U.S.

greenhouse gas "

• ―We need to reduce our

emissions and implement more

green technology. We should

take advantage of the use of solar

panels and other renewable

energy sources, such as wind and

hydroelectric power‖

(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3

4147586/)


United States of America


•CO2 emissions for 2007:

• Virginia- 127.95 ppm

• Alabama- 145.24 ppm

• Mississippi- 67.81 ppm

• Georgia- 184.04 ppm

• Louisiana- 194.93 ppm

• Florida- 256.27 ppm

• North Carolina- 153.56 ppm

• Arkansas- 63.70 ppm

• Kentucky-156.80 ppm

•Overall average is 150.033 ppm

• The addition of greenhouse

gasses into the atmosphere from

• Large cities such as Atlanta,

Houston, Dallas

• Factories

• Automobiles

REASONS AND CAUSES

Southeast United States

CONSEQUENCES

• Shoreline retreat and inundation

of inland areas

• Rising sea temperatures are

expected to increase the

frequency and strength of

hurricanes

• Stronger storms with higher

wind speeds, more intense rainfall

and more powerful surges are

expected to cause a lot more

damage

• Improving transportation

• Conversion to cleaner air

• Promotion of energy

conservation

• Find and utilize alternative

energy source

• hydroelectric

• wind power

• solar power

• biomass

• geothermal


Southeast United States


• After 1957, the annual average

temperature increased by nearly

1°F when compared to the

average

• Precipitation decreased 6%

primarily due to lower than

average springtime rainfall

(http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climate/sc

o/Publications/climate_change_im

pacts.php)

• Each South Carolina resident, per

population average, produces

approximately 20 Tons of Carbon

Dioxide each year

• #27th highest Carbon Dioxide

polluting state in the United

States

(http://www.eredux.com/states/st

ate_detail.php?id=1136)

REASONS AND CAUSES

South Carolina

CONSEQUENCES

• With warmer temperatures, crops

like corn would cease to be profitable

in the Southeast, while heat-tolerant

crops like cotton could make a come

back.

• The forestry industry will have a

dieback of the forests in the next 30

to 80 years, a loss of biodiversity,

conversion of forests to grasslands,

and increased vulnerability to disease

and pests

• Gov. Sanford formed the Climate,

Energy and Commerce Advisory

Committee (CECAC) in 2007, which

recommended

• A voluntary reduction in state

carbon emissions to five percent

below the 1990 level by 2020.

• Focus on bringing renewable

nuclear fuel generators to the

state

• Expand bike and pedestrian

opportunities, alternative fuel

infrastructure, mass transit and

carpooling options

• Begin forestland conservation and

methane reclamation projects

(http://governor.sc.gov/news/releases

/8-22-08.htm)


South Carolina

Questions

•Can you currently see the effects of climate change in your country?

•What policies would you want the government to enforce to cut

greenhouse gas emissions?

•How often do you use public transportation as opposed to

automobiles? How far do you drive each week?

•How many km does your car get per liter? How much does gas cost

per liter?

•What percentage of your domestic waste is recycled?

•Which renewable energy source has the most potential in your region?

Germany

Questions

•Can you currently see the effects of climate change in your country?

•What policies would you want the government to enforce to cut

greenhouse gas emissions?

• What forms of renewable energy do you view to be the most viable

for building a "greener" economy in your country?

•Do you think that historical Western usage of nonrenewable resources

justifies India’s current usage as the economy develops, given the

current knowledge of the environmental impacts?

India

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