63 rd Session of UNECE Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation – the Work of the ECE Geneva, 31 March 2009 Panel One: Energy Efficiency, Air Pollution and GHG Emissions Moderator: Prof David Simon Royal Holloway, University of London

Distinguishing GEC from ‘natural’ disasters Disasters usually short, one-off extreme events ‘Natural’ vs anthropogenic disasters GEC –Increased frequency and severity of extreme events –Slow-onset, (semi-)permanent changes

Policy responses to GEC: Mitigation: –short- to medium term –reducing vulnerability and impact Adaptation: –longer term –changes to how & where we live

Recent Global Sea Level Rise Estimates Delta Comm. WBGU Data Data: Church and White (2006) Scenarios 2100: 50 – 140 cm (Rahmstorf 2007) 55 – 110 cm (“high end”, Delta Committee 2008) Scenarios 2200: 150 – 350 cm (“high end”, Delta Committee 2008) Scenarios 2300: 250 – 510 cm (German Advisory Council on Global Change, WBGU, 2006)

Table 1 Greenhouse gas production Source: The Guardian (London) 31 October 2006 CountryMn tonnes CO 2 equivalent, 2000 USA 6,928 Mexico512 China 4,938 Indonesia503 Russia 1,915 Australia491 India 1,884 Ukraine482 Japan 1,317 Iran480 Germany 1,009 South Africa417 Brazil 851 Spain381 Canada 680 Poland381 UK 654 Turkey355 Italy 531 Saudi Arabia341 S. Korea 521 Argentina289 France 513 Pakistan285

World Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Region, (Billion Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide)