Air Pollution & Climate Change

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1 Air Pollution & Climate Change

2 Climate Change: Definition: A change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels.

3 Climate Change *Climate change naysayers have argued that there has been a pause or a slowdown in rising global temperatures in recent years *However, numerous recent studies counter this claim. Scientists say that unless we curb global-warming emissions, global temperature averages will rise by a few degrees *Just a few degrees has catastrophic impacts all over the world *The burning of fossil fuels to make electricity is the largest source of heat-trapping pollution *Coal-burning power plants are by far the biggest polluters *The 2 nd largest source of carbon pollution is the transportation sector

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5 Climate Change cont. *Reducing greenhouse gas emissions requires massive infrastructural cuts and is costly to put into place *But certainly cheaper than the toll of continuing with global warming *Cleaner fuels and modernized power plants that generate cleaner electricity

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7 Climate Change A Few Global Impacts *Rising temperatures are fueling longer and hotter heat waves, more frequent droughts, heavier rainfalls, and more powerful hurricanes *Warmer ocean temperatures mean that tropical storms can pick up more energy & become more intense & destructive *For example Hurricane Irma in September 2017 is the most intense recorded hurricane in US history reaching wind speeds of 298 km/h. Estimated damages is upwards of $65 billion USD *Extreme heat waves have caused tens of thousands of deaths in recent years. *Antarctica has been losing about 134 billion metric tons of ice per year since *This rate could speed up if we keep burning fossil fuels at our current pace, some experts say, causing sea levels to rise several meters over the next 50 to 150 years.

8 The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive. It's really cold outside, they are calling it a major freeze, weeks ahead of normal. Man, we could use a big fat dose of global warming!

9 Climate Change Global Impacts *Melting glaciers, early snowmelt, and severe droughts will cause more dramatic water shortages and increase the risk of wildfires *Rising sea levels will lead to coastal flooding *Forests, farms, and cities will face troublesome new pests, heat waves, heavy downpours, and increased flooding. All these factors will damage or destroy agriculture and fisheries. *Disruption of habitats such as coral reefs and Alpine meadows could drive many plant and animal species to extinction. *Allergies, asthma, and infectious disease outbreaks will become more common due to increased growth of pollen-producing ragweed, higher levels of air pollution and the spread of conditions favorable to pathogens and mosquitoes.

10 Solutions to Climate Change *This gets political.assignment time *Developed World vs Developing World Views

11 Post Jigsaw Points of Interest *No serious political will has existed to pass laws that would significantly reduce emissions *The public generally has not been sufficiently concerned to make lifestyle choices that would dramatically cut emissions *Resource industries (ex.: Alberta Oil Sands) have grown significantly to meet international demand

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13 The Politics of Climate Change Kyoto Protocol (1997) *Agreement signed by 180 countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases *Canada included and agreed to cut emissions by 2012 to levels 5.2% below 1990 levels *USA withdrew from Kyoto in 2001 saying it would combat global warming in other ways *USA is responsible for 25% of worldwide carbon emissions in 1990 a serious setback for Kyoto *Critics argue it places restrictions on developed countries only, leaving developing countries to do as they like *Some developing countries didn t support because they thought they should have equal opportunities to develop as industrialized countries did in the past

14 The Politics of Climate Change Kyoto Protocol cont. *Harper removed Canada from the Kyoto agreement in 2006 *The costs of reducing carbon emissions is huge and few countries are willing to spend the money *Canada s greenhouse emissions has in fact had a HUGE increase in the past two decades due to population increases, increased wealth and consumption, and increases in resource demand such as the oil sands of Alberta

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