112/04/21KMCHAN 1

Prof. Chan King MingProf. Chan King MingAssociate ProfessorAssociate Professor

Dept. of Biochemistry and Dept. of Biochemistry and Environmental Science Environmental Science

ProgramProgramChinese UniversityChinese University

email: email: kingchan@cuhk.edu.hkkingchan@cuhk.edu.hk

112/04/21KMCHAN 2

CONTENTS:CONTENTS:

1.1. Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse EffectEffect

2.2. The Impacts of Global Warming The Impacts of Global Warming

3. Kyoto Protocol3. Kyoto Protocol

4. Act now ! 4. Act now ! An Inconvenient Truth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XMn_Ry3z6M

112/04/21KMCHAN 3

http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_3_1.htm

Q1 What factors have contributed to surface temperatures of planets?

1. Carbon Cycle & 1. Carbon Cycle & Green House EffectsGreen House Effects

112/04/21KMCHAN 4

Atmospheric

CO2

Sinks (Carbon Sinks (Carbon Fixation) :Fixation) :

1.1. Photosynthesis Photosynthesis

2.2. Uptake by Uptake by oceanocean

Sources:Sources:

1.1. Burning of fossil Burning of fossil fuels and fuels and organic mattersorganic matters

2.2. RespirationRespiration

Other forms of carbon deposits, e.g. coral, cellulose.

1. Carbon Cycle and Greenhouse Effect

112/04/21KMCHAN 5

Major sources of greenhouse gases: burning of fossil fuels, e.g. vehicle and power plant emissions.

112/04/21KMCHAN 6

 

Reference:http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/default.aspx?id=516&terms=carbon+emission+and+coalDownloaded on Nov 24, 2009.

Green House Gas

Concentration from 1800- 2000

Anthropogenic sources

GWP,Global Warming Potential

Proportion of total (%)

Carbon dioxide

280 – 370 ppm

Fossil fuel 1 60 %

Methane 0.75 – 1.75 ppm

Agriculture & fuel leakage

21 20 %

Halocarbons

0 – 0.7 ppb Refrigerants

3400+ 14 %

Nitrous oxide

275-310 ppb Agriculture combustion

310 6 %

Ozone 15 (?)– 20/30 ppb

Urban pollution

112/04/21KMCHAN 7

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_carbon_dioxide_emissions Downloaded on Nov 26, 2009, according to International Energy data.

Rank, country 2006 Annual Emission, billion metric tons(tons per capita)

% total in 2006

World 28.43 billion metric tons (4.2 tons per capita)

100 %

1.China 6.10 bmt (4.6 tpc, 6.0 tpc for HK)

21.5

2. US 5.75 bmt (19.0 tpc) 20.2

European Union

13.91 bmt (7.8 tpc) 13.8

3. Russia 1.56 bmt (11.0 tpc) 5.5

4. India 1.51 bmt (1.3 tpc) 5.3

5. Japan 1.29 bmt (10.1 tpc) 4.6

6. Germany 0.81 bmt (9.8 tpc) 2.8

7. United Kingdom

0.56 bmt (9.2 tpc) 2.0

8. Canada 0.54 bmt (16.1 tpc) 1.9

9. South Korea 0.47 bmt (9.8 tpc) 1.7

10. Italy 0.47 bmt (7.9 tpc) 1.7

112/04/21KMCHAN 8

4 ℃℃ – 8 ℃℃surge in this century

112/04/21KMCHAN 9

2. The Impacts of global Warming2. The Impacts of global Warming

北極 Arctic 1979

北極 Arctic 2003

Arctic perennial sea ice has been diminishing at a rate of 9% per decade. The ice of frozen freshwater on Greenland melts to dilute and lower the salinity of the arctic ocean. This would have significant effects (slower or stop) on the ocean conveyor.

Ice from land could raise sea level

Reduced ice from ocean changes currents

112/04/21KMCHAN 10

How would the climate change if the Gulf Stream shut down? A shut down of the Gulf Stream would suddenly decrease the amount of heat in the North

Atlantic, leading to much colder temperatures in Europe and North America.

112/04/21KMCHAN 11

The Impacts of global WarmingThe Impacts of global Warming

Reduction of Biodiversity Losing Habitats due to temperature rises Reduction of freshwater supply trapped in mountains

More Diseases Endemic diseases increasing health risks

Extreme Weathersmore storms, floods, droughts… Unpredictable climate change

Buffering power of planet earth is lowered, leading to unforeseeable climate change

leading to fluctuating economy, e.g. Hurricanes in Mexico Bay are threatening oil prices to surge, drought lead to depletion of resources supply, etc………

112/04/21KMCHAN 12

.. today‘s atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are the highest in 650,000 years. 

Antarctic climate and concentrations of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) were tightly coupled.

… CO2 seemed to be confined between bounds of about 180 ppmv (parts per million by volume) in glacial periods and 280 ppmv in inter-glacials; …… Today is 380 ppmy and is rising….

全球暖化會議摘要Abstract from the 17th Global Warming Conference,

April, 2006.

2. The Impacts of global Warming2. The Impacts of global Warming

112/04/21KMCHAN 13

Took effect in February, 2005. Obligates countries to observe target figures for green house gas reduction.

Advanced nations should reduce emissions of 6 gases by an average of 6-8% (relative to 1990 levels) over the five year period from 2008 to 2012.

Kyoto Mechanisms : Scheme for Trading Green House Gas Emissions Rights and encourage international co-operations to achieve carbon neutral

3. Kyoto Protocol

3. Kyoto Protocol 京都協定

112/04/21KMCHAN 14

3. Kyoto Protocol

Kyoto Mechanisms 京 都 機 制 :1. Joint Implementation (JI):

international cooperation2. Clean Development

Mechanism (CDM): new technology to cut emissions

3. Emission Trading (ET): set ceiling to trade

112/04/21KMCHAN 153. Kyoto Protocol

Carbon Market for Carbon dioxide emission trading

3. Kyoto Protocol

112/04/21KMCHAN

17

http://en.cop15.dk/

In the US, the American Clean Energy & Security Act (July 7, 2009; 219>212 in House of Commons) would charge carbon tax for all imports to US in 2010. Beginning in 2012, emissions would be capped at 3 % below 2005 levels increasing to 17 % below 2005 levels in 2020 and 83 % below 2005 levels in2050.In EU, the target is 20 or even 30 % reduction in 2020 of 1990 level !! Renewable energy targets at 20% share in 2020.In France, carbon tax of 14 euro per kg carbon dioxide to be charged in 1/1/2010.Low carbon business had expanded 75% in 2008 during the economic tsunami.

112/04/21KMCHAN 18

Leung et al., 2004. Climate Change in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Observatory Technical Note No.107. HKSAR Government. 41 p.

Hong Kong is hotter than global trend in recent years (since

90’s)!

Why??

HK

global

112/04/21KMCHAN 19

http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/tc_chi/climate_change/files/GHG_Emission_Trend_1990_2007.pdf

112/04/21KMCHAN 20

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP ?? REDUCE CITY HEAT: Use public transports,

build less road and urban area, etc, to reduce heat island effect.

LOW CARBON LIVING: Live a low-carbon life and practice carbon neutral. Set targets for emission reduction to cut energy consumption (e.g. Stop using tungsten light bulb, etc). Start your carbon audit NOW.

PLANT MORE TREES: Conserve rural area and Plant more trees.

Wedge Strategies:

Nuclear energy Renewables (e.g.

solar, wind, hydrogen)

Biostorage (e.g. forest and soil storage)

Efficiency (reduced miles traveled, increased building and electricity efficiency)

Conservation (reduced transport with mass transit systems)

Fossil-Fuel-Based fuel switching (natural gas), biogas, and carbon capture

112/04/21KMCHAN 21

112/04/21KMCHAN 22

http://www.ctenergyeducation.com/images/Wedges_Concept_Game_Materials_July05.pdf

112/04/21KMCHAN 23

Summary

Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide emissionemission exceeds the exceeds the normal range and is normal range and is risingrising, together with , together with global temperatureglobal temperature

The The impacts are impacts are visible and the situation visible and the situation is is getting worsegetting worse

We are causing global warming and we We are causing global warming and we have to act on saving our planet earth!have to act on saving our planet earth!

Fossil fuels are NOT unlimited, Fossil fuels are NOT unlimited, we need a we need a sustainable sustainable energy policy: carbon tax, energy policy: carbon tax, carbon trading, nuclear energy, and carbon trading, nuclear energy, and renewable energy.renewable energy.

112/04/21KMCHAN 24

Discussions:1. What’s Carbon neutral? 2. What can we do to achieve

Carbon neutral or carbon compensation?

3. Practicing wedge strategies (auditing) and low carbon living in your school/firm/organization/ at home!

4. Is carbon tax better than carbon trading?