Responses to Global Warming & Climate Change (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

International Responses to Global Warming & Climate Change

• Global warming and climate change require an international response because it affects the entire globe

• Responses can involve either adaptation or mitigation

• In 1988 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up to assess the 'risks of human-induced climate change

• This was followed by several international agreements

Earth Summit, Rio 1992

• Set out aims to stabilise greenhouse gas levels 

Kyoto Protocol 1997

• Delegates from 150 countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

• It stated that industrialised countries would reduce emissions to below the levels in 1990

• Developing countries including China and India were exempt from the agreement

• The USA did not sign up for the treaty

• Canada withdrew in 2011 stating that without China and USA the treaty would not work

Paris Agreement 2015

• Global agreement to limit global warming to 2^oC (preferably 1.5^oC) above pre-industrial levels

• Agreement also includes reducing CO₂ emissions by at least 60% by 2050

• Signed by 196 countries including the USA and China (the USA withdrew in 2020 and rejoined in 2021) 

Conference of the Parties (COP)

• The United Nations (UN) holds an annual (every year) meeting to discuss climate change.

• COP26 was held in Glasgow in 2021 

• All nations agreed to take actions to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Example Case Study: UK Response

• The UK is responsible for 3% of the global greenhouse gas emissions.

• It is signed up to both the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement

• There are several steps the UK has taken to adapt to climate change and mitigate future climate change

• The UK passed the Climate Change Act (2008) which:

  • Sets out ways in which the UK can adapt to climate change

  • Commits to cutting emissions by at least 80% from 1990 levels by 2050 since changed to 100%

  • Requires the government to set carbon budgets to gradually reduce greenhouse gas emission

Adaptation

• The National Adaptation Programme identifies ways in which the UK can adapt to the impacts of climate change. They include:

  • Improving flood defences - the Thames Barrier was built to protect London against rising sea levels

  • Assess coastal erosion and increase defences where appropriate

  • Change building regulations to ensure that houses are designed for increasing temperatures

  • Reduce water wastage 

  • The government has developed a Heatwave Plan and Cold Weather Plan to ensure the UK is prepared for weather extremes

  • Wildfire prevention training

Mitigation

• The Net Zero Strategy (2021) sets out how the government plans to reduce emissions by 100%. It includes:

  • Funding for electrification of UK vehicles to support the ban on sales of new hybrid and petrol/diesel cars by 2035

  • Development of sustainable aviation fuel 

  • Carbon capture in north-east and north-west England

  • An investment of £1.5 billion in green technology research and innovation   

  • Investment in heat pumps to replace gas and oil boilers for heating

  • Trebling woodland creation to create 30,000 hectares of new woodland

  • Encouraging walking, cycling and using public transport instead of private cars

• Individuals are also been encouraged to take action to reduce emissions by:

  • Using less energy - taking showers instead of baths reduces energy and water use

  • Buying energy efficient appliances and light bulbs

  • Insulating homes 

  • Installing solar panels or heat pumps 

  • Installing double or triple glazing

Example Case Study: Bangladesh Response

• Bangladesh is responsible for 0.56% of the global greenhouse gas emissions

• As a developing country it did not have to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol but Bangladesh did sign the Paris Agreement

• Despite its very low contribution to emissions Bangladesh is extremely vulnerable to climate change

• The government has taken steps to adapt to climate change and mitigate future climate change

• The Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan was adopted in 2009. The plan:

  • Identified the risks and challenges of climate change

  • Outlines adaptions which can be made

  • Identifies the need to reduce carbon emissions - Bangladesh has pledged to reduce emissions by 22% by 2030

• It is estimated that Bangladesh will need US$5 billion a year to finance adaptation and mitigation projects. This is far more than the country can afford

Adaptations

• Bangladesh is already vulnerable to coastal and river flooding. This has been made worse as a result of global warming with:

  • Increased snow melt from the Himalayas

  • Increased frequency and severity of tropical cyclones

  • Rising sea levels 

• Bangladesh has adapted in a number of ways

  • Submersible roads which can withstand flooding or raised roads

  • Over 2,200 shelters on stilts with a raised platform 'kills' nearby for livestock

  • Community-based early warning system for tropical cyclones

  • Flood protection and drainage schemes to protect urban areas

  • Coastal embankment projects involving 6,000km of embankments 

  • Irrigation schemes

  • Agricultural research programme to develop saline, drought and flood resistant high yield varieties of crops

  • Mangrove planting long 9,000km of coastline

Mitigation

• Although Bangladesh's emissions are low it is looking at ways to reduce them including:

  • Improved agriculture practices to reduce the emissions of methane from rice fields

  • Encourage people to stop using biomass stoves for cooking and eating

  • Increase small scale solar energy for homes 

• The Bangladesh Renewable Energy Policy (2008) aims to increase the amount of renewable energy to over 10%

• The plans to build nine new coal plants have been abandoned

• Bangladesh aims to have 15% of registered vehicles powered by electricity by 2030

• The expansion of the public transport system - Mass Rapid Transit and Bus Rapid Transit in Dhaka as well as 798km of new rail lines by 2025