Combating Climate Change

Gearing up to face the reality John Thomas Sr. Director Weston Solutions India Pvt Ltd.
Graphics Courtesy : WHO website

Climate Change: Attributions & Projections

Global Warming: Effects

Rising Sea Levels

(0.36 to 26 between 1990 and 2100)

Altered patterns of agriculture Increased extreme weather and frequency of extreme weather events Lowering of Ocean pH Expansion of the range of tropical diseases Opening of new trade routes

HOT SPOTS: in ASIA

Key OBSERVATIONS: Climate Trends & Variability

Receding Gangotri Glacier

Fingerprint-modeling of Global Surface Temperature change

(Adapted from Meehl et al. 2004).

WHAT is causing (A) Model results with all forcings Global Warming ?
included. The combined forcings provided the best match to the fingerprint of climateNATURAL change in the observed record.

FORCINGS ??? OR ???

(B) Natural forcings alone explained ANTHROPOGENIC much of the temperature change in the first half of the century. (C) Man-made forcings strongly dominated the temperature change after 1975.

Changes in natural external forcings cannot explain the observed global warming of recent decades. Records of observed climate change at the earths surface, in the global ocean, and in the atmosphere, bear the fingerprint of the enhanced greenhouse effect, which is caused by human activities associated with fossil fuel burning and land use.

Global Warming: Impacts

Food Security Water security Economy upsets (Widening divide & unrests) Unemployment Shrinking Earth - Devastating natural disasters Health Impacts

Necessity for Adaptation

Could be a Response Strategy to complement Climate Change Mitigation efforts Adaptation could be more Cost effective over Mitigation. The Poorer nations / ones with least resources (wealth,
technology, education, info skills, infrastr., access to resources and management

have the least capacity to adapt and are the most vulnerable.
capabilities)

Adaptation, Sustainable development and equity enhancement can be mutually reinforcing

Source: IPCC Working Group II

Adaptation Mechanisms/ Policies

THE Fundamental Principles
Climate Change poses BOTH Risks & Opportunities Effects of Climate Change
varies by region May vary across demographic groups Must be considered holistically with multiple stressors and factors critical in designing adaptive responses as the sensitivity of change

Adaptation / Adaptive Responses:

Has at a COST involved Vary in effectiveness e.g current efforts to cope climate variability Mal-adaptation can result in negative effects

Systemic Nature of Climate impacts complicates Adaptation Policy Development Many Adaptation opportunities makes sense despite the effects of Climate Change being realized

Constraints

Ecological, Social & Economic, Technical, Political

Spatial & Temporal Uncertainties climate change forecasts

Low level of awareness among decision makers

Limited National Capacities in Climate Monitoring & Forecasting Lack of co-ordination in formulation of responses

Tangible Business Cases: Opps & Threats Returns

Opportunities for Businesses:
Business Strategies: GEs Ecoimagination
Increased Revenues & New Markets Low Carbon Products & Services
Fannie Mae Energy Efficient Mortgage Sumpo Japan Eco Card discount Carbon Neutral products: - e.g. DHL Scandinavia Green Tonnage, British Airways

Cost savings from Process Improvement

Cost Savings from Improved Energy Management

Intangible Business Cases: Opps & Threats Returns

Opportunities for Businesses:
Competitive Positioning
Adopt Blue Ocean Strategy (Stay ahead of competitors with new low carbon products & services)

Improved Shareholder Relations

Employee related benefits:
e.g. High performance Green Buildings

Business Cases: Opps & Threats

Economic Threats

Insurance & Financial Services Tourism Real Estate

Climate Change: Ethical Dimensions

Human-induced warming that the world is now experiencing is already causing :

150,000 deaths and 5 million incidents of disease each year from additional malaria and diarrhea, mostly in the poorest nations. Death and disease incidents are likely to soar as warming increases.
Source: Scientific journal Nature (Patz, 2005)

Facts such as this demonstrate that CLIMATE CHANGE is compromising rights to life, liberty and personal security THE BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS.

Climate Change: Ethical Dimensions

Facts about climate change and fundamental human rights provide the starting point for climate ethics.
Climate change raises a number of particularly challenging ethical issues about distributive justice, in particular concerning how to fairly share the benefits and burdens of climate change policy options.

Buenos Aires Declaration on the Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change. following UNFCCCs 10th COP in Dec 2004

Adaptation Strategies

Agriculture & Food Security

Hydrogeology & Water Resources Coastal & Low lying Areas

Human Health

Adaptive Measures: Agriculture & Food Security

Modifying farming practices

Improving crops & livestock through breeding

Investment in New Technologies & Infrastructure Enhance Awareness levels of vulnerable groups
through information, education & communication programmes

Changes in Management philosophy (e.g. Integrate

Fisheries & Aquaculture management into coastal zone management)

Role of Govt Institutions & policies influence supply

of , access to food and related sources.

Adaptive Measures: Water Resources

Address existing Inefficiencies in use of water for irrigation & other purposes

Recycling & Reuse of Municipal Wastewater.

Conversion of croplands to forest / grasslands Improving tree & herb varieties

Selection & cultivation of new drought resistant varieties.

Some studies suggest:

Reduction of hydropower production (Kirpichnikov et al.,

2004)

Improved use of rivers for navigation (Golistyn & Yu, 2002)

Adaptive Measures: Coastal & Low lying areas

Response Strategies:

PROTECT
ACCOMMODATE RETREAT

Coastal Protection e.g. Dike heightening and strengthening Integrated Coastal Zone Management to promote
sustainable management of coastal zones

Health Specific Adaptation Measures to tackle Health effects caused by Climate Change

Source: WHO

Adaptive Measures: Human Health

Establish Disease Monitoring System

To establish relation between weather forces & vector borne diseases To assess effectiveness & efficiency of adaptation measures.

e.g. Heat Watch & Warning Systems in US

Recommendations
Improve access to high quality information about the impacts of the climate change
Conduct Adaptation & Vulnerability assessment

Enhance Disaster Preparedness: Set up Early Warning & Info distribution

Mainstreaming Climate change in Development Planning at all scales, levels and sectors

Good Governance: Responsible Policy & Decision making