10.4 Global Climate Change Adaptation and mitigation

Warm-up Essential Question What can we do about climate change? What adaptations and mitigations will need to happen with a changing climate?

Dealing with Global Climate Change To avoid the worst of climate change, CO2 levels must be stabilized at 550ppm 25% higher than current levels (408ppm) Two ways to attempt to manage climate change, both will be necessary Mitigation Focuses on limiting greenhouse gas emissions to moderate global climate change Adaptation Focuses on learning to live with to the environmental changes and societal consequences brought about by global climate change

Dealing with Global Climate Change- Relationship Between Mitigation and Adaptation

Dealing with Global Climate Change- Mitigation Locate/invent alternative fuels to fossil fuels Increase efficiency of cars and trucks Sequestering (capture and store) carbon before it is emitted Plant and Maintain trees to naturally sequester carbon Take care of the ocean Laws and incentives to be cleaner

Paris Accords (agreement) A signed agreement between the nations of the world to reduce carbon dioxide emissions The United States is the ONLY country that is no longer part of this (President Trump removed the US from the agreement – why?)

Dealing with Global Climate Change- Adaptation Sea level Rising sea levels and coastal populations Move inland Construct dikes and levees NYC sewer line

Dealing with Global Climate Change- Adaptation Extreme Weather Levees and dikes (flood control) Better evacuation for storms More vegetation for extreme rain to prevent runoff/ mudslides Alternative sources of water for droughts

Dealing with Global Climate Change- Adaptation farming Less land to farm on Lower crop yields More pests Less water Worse soil More people shifting agricultural zones

Dealing with Global Climate Change- Adaptation ozone depletion UV damage to DNA Skin cancer Cataracts Suppression of immune system Ecosystem: Primary producers Food chains Development in aquatic larva

Managing ozone depletion Montreal protocol, Sept 1987– Production of CFC elimination Economic gap Replacements: HFC and HCFC Shorter lifetime, less reactive Collection and reuse (no venting) Expensive replacements