Vishal Sharma

G.N.D.U.College,Jal.

What is Global Warming?
Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of
Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th
century and its projected continuation.
Global surface temperature has increased by about
0.74 0.18 C (1.33 0.32 F) between the start and the end
of the 20th century.
The rate of warming over the last half of that period was
almost double than that for the period as a whole
(0.13 0.03 C per decade, versus 0.07 C 0.02 C per
decade).

Factors Responsible
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
concludes that most of the observed temperature increase
since the middle of the 20th century was caused by increasing
concentrations of greenhouse gases - resulting from human
activity such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation.
The IPCC also concludes that variations in natural phenomena
such as solar radiation and volcanism have had a very small
cooling effect after 1950.
These basic conclusions have been endorsed by more than 40
scientific societies and academies of science, including all of
the national academies of science of the major industrialized
countries.
Requirement of land for new urbanization, factories, dams
etc.
Thermal power plants contribute a major proportion of the
CO
2
in the atmosphere.
Automobiles, aero plane and industrial emissions are also
responsible for the increase in CO
2
concentration in the
atmosphere.
Increasing population increases the need for extensive
exploitation of our exhaustible resources.
Greenhouse Effect
The greenhouse effect is caused by an atmosphere containing
gases that absorb and emit infrared radiation. Greenhouse
gases trap heat within the surface-troposphere system,
causing heating at the surface of the planet.
Greenhouse gases greatly affect the temperature of the Earth;
without them, Earth's surface would be on average about
33 C (59 F) colder than at present a projected -19 C.
Human activities since the start of the industrial era around
1750 have increased the levels of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere.


Greenhouse Gases
In order, Earth's most abundant greenhouse gases are:
water vapor
carbon dioxide
methane
nitrous oxide
ozone
chlorofluorocarbons
Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere have gone
up by approximately 35 percent since the 1900s, rising from
280 parts per million by volume to 387 parts per million in
2009.
CO
2
Emission Footprint
Energy Consumption
Building
Heating
Lighting
Appliances
Transport
Motor Vehicle
Public Transport
Air travel
Waste
Food Habits
2
CO
2
Emissions
India 1.1 tonne/capita
USA 20.1 tonne/capita
Canada 17.8 tonne/capita
Russia 11.5 tonne/capita
China 3.7 tonne/capita
Absolute Emission
USA
China
India
Social and Cultural
Agricultural
Political
Medical
Ecological
Economical
Effects of Global Warming
Melting of ice caps and glaciers,
leading to rise in sea level;
resulting in increased possibility
of floods.
Destruction of habitats of various
species of polar bears, penguins
and seals among many others.
Disturbed climate pattern
erratic monsoon activity, extreme
weather : Hotter summers and
colder winters.
Increased chances of natural
disasters like cyclones, tornados
and hurricanes.
Massive soil erosion, silting and water contamination.
Increase in water borne-diseases.
Desertification and increased chances of droughts, famines
resulting in migration of population.
Altered crop patterns leading to decrease in the agricultural
output which further compromise the potency of our food-
security capabilities.
Adverse affect on biodiversity flora and fauna.
Growth of new strains of dormant microbes leading to spread
of diseases.

Increased instances of floods are related to Global Warming
Projected Temperatures

Increased risk of cyclones, tornados and hurricanes
Coping with Global Warming
Mitigation to reduce further emissions
Adaptation to reduce the damage caused by warming
Geo-engineering to reverse global warming
Most national governments have signed and ratified the
Kyoto Protocol aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Fresh and seasonal food should be preferred over frozen or
preserved food.
Planting more trees adequate afforestation.
Awareness among the common people.
Carbon Diet
Our aim is to bring in social and economic pressure to
reduce carbon emissions at all levels National, Provincial,
Organizational - through
Trend setting
Differential Taxation
Technology Improvement
Rewards and Punishments
Peer pressure

International Initiatives
1972 : United Nations Conference on Human Environment -
Stockholm, Sweden
1987 : Montreal Protocol Montreal, Canada
1992 : Earth Summit Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
1997 : Kyoto Protocol Kyoto, Japan
2007 : United Nations Climate Change Conference COP13
Bali, Indonesia
2009 : United Nations Climate Change Conference COP15
Copenhagen, Denmark

Recycle
Re-use
Reduce
Refuse
Atmosphere Neutrality
Greenhouse gases can be removed from the
atmosphere by various processes:
Condensation and precipitation removes water vapor from
the atmosphere.
Physical exchange between the atmosphere and the other
compartments of the planet - an example is the mixing of
atmospheric gases into the oceans.
CO
2
is reduced by photosynthesis of plants, and which, after
dissolving in the oceans, reacts to form carbonic acid and
bicarbonate and carbonate ions.


Energy demand will increase by 60% from present by 2030.
US$ 20 trillion is expected to be invested in upgrading
global energy infrastructure.
Development and deployment of climate friendly
technologies
Standby modes consume lot of energy accumulatively,
automatic turning off devices
LCD and LED lighting devices has a future
Higher investment in renewable energy sector
Wind
Solar





Biofuels
Hydropower






Tidal Power
Nuclear Energy

Energy Trends
Eco-Friendly Buildings
Approx. 30% baseline emissions from buildings (residential
and commercial)
Highly reflective building materials
High efficiency lighting system and appliances.
Efficient ventilation and cooling system
Passive solar design
Solar water heaters
Insulation

Transport
Hybrid Vehicles (Fossil Fuel- Electrical)
Use of Biofuel, replacing fossil fuels
Promoting non motorized transport
Encouraging public transport system
Improved engine efficiency
Prohibitive parking fees
Congestion tax

Steps Taken
Designing streets that are friendlier to pedestrians and
cyclists Copenhegen
Integrating public transport : Jakarta built a rapid transport
system saving 120 KTs of CO
2
annually.
Introducing congestion charging systems, requiring drivers
in the central area to pay a fee.
e.g. Singapore, Stockholm, Oslo, Milan and London.
Mexico City replaced old taxis with more fuel-efficient
models by subsidizing.
Toyota Prius Hybrid Car

Agriculture
Improved livestock and manure management
Sequestering carbon in soil major comp (89%).
Improved crop management/agronomic practices
Improved water management
Rice management practices
Zero tillage cropping
Nutrient use
Agro-forestry

Setting Examples
Influential people (football
players) chose to become
carbon-neutral, e.g. Ipswich,
Manchester United FC
Appeal to the fans had great
influence in reducing carbon
footprints
Similarly all big companies are
making plans to become green

Various eye-catching awareness campaigns

You Control Climate Change

Before its too late A WWF Campaign
Courtsey wwf.org
An Awareness campaign in a swimming pool

Climate is changing!
Hard Times for
polar biodiversity!
The Skeptic Debate
Scientific findings surrounding global warming has resulted in
political and economic debate
Some scientists claim that there is no scientific proof that
greenhouse gases lead to global warming and that the
popular belief is fueled for political and economic gains.
Skeptics claim with concrete and accurate satellite based
statistics that there was six times as much carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere a 100 million years ago than there is now, yet
the temperature then was marginally cooler than it is today.
Many scientists have concluded that carbon dioxide doesn't
even affect climate.

There was widespread fear of another ice age in the 1960s
and 70s in the scientific circles, due to a decrease in the
overall temperature of the planet
Another argument in the debate is that throughout the
existence of the planet, the surface temperature has
fluctuated from recurring ice ages to huge volcanic
eruptions and still the earth is sustainable; implying that the
minute increase in the temperature is not going to lead to
widespread destruction, contrary to widespread speculation.
The Global Warming hysteria is supposedly being used to keep
tabs on the development of developing countries, so as to
safeguard economic and political interests of the developed
nations.
"We're so self-important. So arrogant. Everybody's going to save
something now. Save the trees, save the bees, save the whales,
save the snails. And the supreme arrogance? Save the planet! Are
these people kidding? Save the planet? We don't even know how to
take care of ourselves; we haven't learned how to care for one
another. We're gonna save the planet? And, by the way, there's
nothing wrong with the planet in the first place. The planet is doing
fine! Compared with the people, the planet is doing great. It's been
here over four billion years . . . The planet will be here, and we'll be
gone. Another failed mutation; another closed-end biological
mistake.


-George Carlin
Conclusion
There is only one wise conclusion to the whole
climate change debate prevention is better than
cure.
Stopping social and economical development is not
the answer, the answer lies in Sustainable
Development Development that meets the needs
of present generation without compromising on the
ability of future generations to meet their needs.
There still is time
But it is running out fast
Thank you!