1. Climate Change and other Environmental Issues
Martin Bassant
Scientists For Global Responsibility
St. John’s Moor Allerton and St. Agnes/ St. Cyprians
June 8th.
Walk between Scarboro’ & Whitby

2. Some 2018 News
Britain has not generated electricity from coal for more than three days - the longest streak since the 1880s. (BBC 24/4/18)
My Environmental Pass to drive in (some) German cities.

3. Brief note on sources Main source:
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
UN advisory body
Regularly brings together 1000s of climate researchers to summarise latest scientific evidence
Scientists For Global Responsibility (SGR)

4. Greenhouse Effect

5. Carbon dioxide emissions, 1750-2010 IPCC 2014

6. Main greenhouse gases emitted by human activity
Greenhouse gas (GHG)
Main anthropogenic (human) sources
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
63% contribution to global warming
burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
Deforestation
Methane (CH4)
18% contribution to global warming
cattle etc
gas pipeline leaks
paddy fields
Nitrous oxide (N2O)
6% contribution to global warming
artificial fertilisers
nylon production
‘F’ gases/ Halocarbons
(HFCs, PFCs, SF6)
13% contribution to global warming
refrigerators
air-conditioning
electronics industry

7. Climate change over last 430,000 y

8. Future temperature projections
IPCC (2013)

11. Major Impacts
Fresh Water Resources Coastal Areas Food Supplies Wildlife and hence Human Health & Security
Higher temperatures leads to more energetic/dramatic/extreme weather
Fresh water resources - dry areas likely to get drier, wet areas get wetter; hundreds of millions more suffering from ‘water stress’ over next few decades; Increased storminess likely to increase flood risk
Coastal areas - Sea-level rise will lead to major increase in flooding risk and loss of land; Huge numbers affected (Currently, half world population lives in coastal areas); Mega-deltas of Asia and Africa, and small island states, will be most affected
Food supplies - major disruption as crop productivity falls in tropics & sub-tropics and, eventually, everywhere
Human health – much more malnutrition, disease, ‘heat stress’

12. Higher temperatures leads to more energetic/dramatic/extreme weather
Fresh water resources - dry areas likely to get drier, wet areas get wetter; hundreds of millions more suffering from ‘water stress’ over next few decades; Increased storminess likely to increase flood risk
Coastal areas - Sea-level rise will lead to major increase in flooding risk and loss of land; Huge numbers affected (Currently, half world population lives in coastal areas); Mega-deltas of Asia (e.g. Bangladesh) and Africa, and small island states, (e.g. Maldives, Tuvalu and Marshall Islands) will be most affected
Food supplies - major disruption as crop productivity falls in tropics & sub-tropics and, eventually, everywhere
Human health – much more malnutrition, disease, ‘heat stress’
Climate Refugees??

13. Average greenhouse gas emissions per person in UK: ‘Carbon footprint’
Total: 12.5 tonnes of CO2 equivalent
Source: Goodall (2007)

14. Electrical Generation
How about Insulation??
54%; 21%; 24.5%; Imports 5.5% Mention the 2Nd Law!

15. Some 2019 News
Britain has not generated electricity from coal for more than 90 hours over the Easter weekend breaking last year’s record. (BBC 22nd April)
Britain has had its first week without using electricity from burning coal since the 1880s, according to the National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO). (BBC May 9th)

16. Proposal: Zero Carbon Britain
Ambitious plan to reduce UK carbon emissions to zero in 20 years
‘Power down’
56% reduction in energy use
Energy-efficient buildings; better public transport; healthier diet; electric cars; efficient industry
‘Power up’
Mainly offshore wind + onshore wind; marine; others + connection to EU supergrid
High employment generation potential
Higher temperatures leads to more energetic/dramatic/extreme weather
Fresh water resources - dry areas likely to get drier, wet areas get wetter; hundreds of millions more suffering from ‘water stress’ over next few decades; Increased storminess likely to increase flood risk
Coastal areas - Sea-level rise will lead to major increase in flooding risk and loss of land; Huge numbers affected (Currently, half world population lives in coastal areas); Mega-deltas of Asia and Africa, and small island states, will be most affected
Food supplies - major disruption as crop productivity falls in tropics & sub-tropics and, eventually, everywhere
Human health – much more malnutrition, disease, ‘heat stress’

17. Some Good News
Legally binding targets for industrialised countries expired in 2012
International voluntary emissions targets are still too high
e.g targets need to be min. 20% lower
Global emissions need to peak mid-2010s
UK legally binding target of 80% cut by 2050
Over 25% cut to date, but future action in doubt
Loopholes

18. Other Issues
Fracking – this is a fossil fuel. Money better spent else where.
Plastics – single use generally to be abolished but BEWARE they can reduce FOOD WASTE
Types of food. Look at charts which show how much CO2 is used to produce meat and other foods.
I eat as best I can the Mediterranean diet!