Final project : Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4°C Warmer World Must be Avoided

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FINAL PROJECTTurn Down the Heat: Why a 4C Warmer World Must be Avoided by The World Bank on Coursera

2011 The Climate Reality Project exclusive of content in the public domain. All rights reserved.Slides sourced from The Climate Reality Project. These slides were part of my training as a Climate Leader under Nobel Laureate and The Climate Reality Project Chairman Al Gore and are meant to be used in presentations to spread general awareness about climate change. The slides chosen here give a brief overview of the challenges and the reasons for hope, and options that can help humanity avert catastrophic warming before it is too late.

Slides sourced from The Climate Reality Project. These slides were part of my training as a Climate Leader under Nobel Laureate and The Climate Reality Project Chairman Al Gore and are meant to be used in presentations to spread general awareness about climate change. The slides chosen here give a brief overview of the challenges and the reasons for hope and options that can help humanity avert catastrophic warming before it is too late. ID #1369 - Can be used in noncommercial online and TV broadcasts of your presentation, but not modified.

Source: NASAThere is no PLANET B. This is it. HOME. This picture was taken in 1972, during the last Apollo mission. It is the last photo of Earth taken from halfway between Earth and the moon. It is unique because the entire circle of the earth is revealed; the photo helps us think about our planet in its entirety.

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DESCRIPTION: There is no PLANET B. This is it. HOME. Photo from Apollo 17, taken as the crew was traveling toward the moonADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS: This picture was taken in 1972, during the last Apollo mission. It is the last photo of Earth taken from halfway between Earth and the moon. It is unique because the entire circle of the earth is revealed; the photo helps us think about our planet in its entirety.

Steve Cole/Photodisc/Getty ImagesSo the problem is that we are increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.Photo of smokestacks spewing greenhouse gases, including water vaporMany people assume that Earth is too vast to be harmed through human activity, or that the planet can recover quickly from environmental damage. But the science is clear: when we burn dirty fuels like oil and coal, we are polluting our air and warming our planet.

ID #359 - Can be used in noncommercial online and TV broadcasts of your presentation, but not modified.

DESCRIPTION: So the problem is that we are increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.Photo of smokestacks spewing greenhouse gases, including water vaporADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS: Many people assume that Earth is too vast to be harmed through human activity, or that the planet can recover quickly from environmental damage. But the science is clear: when we burn dirty fuels like oil and coal, we are polluting our air and warming our planet.*REFERENCES: * International Panel on Climate Change, IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, (Cambridge University Press, 2007). http://ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/spmsspm-human-and.html

Some of this outgoing infrared radiation is trapped by the earths atmosphere and warms it

Some energy is radiated back into space by the earth in the form of infrared wavesMost of this radiation is absorbed by theEarth and warms it

The yellow lines represent ultraviolet energy from the sun. The red lines represent infrared energy moving back into space or being trapped by the Earths atmosphere.Some of the heat radiated from the planet is trapped by greenhouse gases (e.g., water vapor, carbon dioxide [CO2] and methane), which recycle heat back to Earth again. This helps keep the planet warm when the sun isnt shining.*


DESCRIPTION: Diagram of the sun and the earth. The yellow lines represent ultraviolet energy from the sun. The red lines represent infrared energy moving back into space or being trapped by the Earths atmosphere.ADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS: Some of the heat radiated from the planet is trapped by greenhouse gases (e.g., water vapor, carbon dioxide [CO2] and methane), which recycle heat back to Earth again. This helps keep the planet warm when the sun isnt shining.*REFERENCES: * NASA, Global Climate Change: Causes, last accessed June, 2013. http://climate.nasa.gov/causes/

Some of this outgoing infrared radiation is trapped by the earths atmosphere and warms itSome energy is radiated back into space by the earth in the form of infrared wavesMost of this radiation is absorbed by theEarth and warms it

The carbon dioxide is thickening that layer of the atmosphereThe natural greenhouse effect is a good thing; it makes life on Earth possible. But humans have radically altered the natural greenhouse effect by adding more and more CO2 and other pollutionfrom dirty energy sources to the atmosphere. CO2 and other greenhouse gases absorb more solar radiation, trapping more heat in the atmosphere. The planet will continue to warm as we add more and more CO2 and other pollution from dirty energy sources to the atmosphere.*


The carbon dioxide is thickening that layer of the atmosphereDESCRIPTION: Diagram of build up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphereADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS: The natural greenhouse effect is a good thing; it makes life on Earth possible. But humans have radically altered the natural greenhouse effect by adding more and more CO2 and other pollution from dirty energy sources to the atmosphere.* CO2 and other greenhouse gases absorb more solar radiation, trapping more heat in the atmosphere. The planet will continue to warm as we add more and more CO2 and other pollution from dirty energy sources to the atmosphere.*

REFERENCES: * NASA, Global Climate Change: Causes, last accessed November, 2012. http://climate.nasa.gov/causes/

The energy trapped by man-made global warming pollution is now equivalent to exploding

Hiroshima atomic bombs per day 365 days per year.400,000James HansenFormer Director, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies


The cumulative amount of energy that is now being trapped by man-made global warming pollution is equivalent to that which would be released by 400,000 Hiroshima atomic bombs exploding on the surface of the Earth every 24 hours.DESCRIPTION: Text slide about global warming pollution equivalent to energy from atomic bombs

2007200219982003200620122011200420012005200920102013201414 of the 15 Hottest Years on Record Have Occurred Since the Year 2000The Hottest Years Ever MeasuredSource: NASA/GISS


and the increased frequency and severity of

The Climate Crisis

Extreme Weather EventsHeres the Linkage Between


Heres the linkage between the climate crisis and the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events. DESCRIPTION: Text slide about the link between climate change and extreme weather

90% of the extra Heat trapped by manmade global warming pollutiongoes into the Ocean


Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly

+1+5C+2+9F

Path of Typhoon HaiyanPhilippinesData: Japan Meteorological Agency


Warmer air canholda lot more water vaporWith each additional 1 (C) of temperature, the atmospherescapacity to hold water vaporincreases by 7%There is already 4% more watervapor over the oceans than therewas only 30 years ago


The warmer the air, the more water vapor it can hold. As a result, we have seen with each 1 degree Celsius increase, the holding capacity for water vapor in the atmosphere increase by 7%. Already in just the last 30 years, we have seen a 4% increase in the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere.DESCRIPTION: Text slide about the capacity of warm air to hold more water vaporADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS: Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air.* If you have lived through more than a day or two of freezing weather, you have also experienced the effects of low humidity chapped hands and lips, and lots of static electricity.**As an approximate rule of thumb, the water-holding capacity of the atmosphere increases about 7% for every 1C (1.8F) increase in temperature. (Note that these increases are somewhat lower over land, where water is less available.)*Climate change has already increased the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere. Three sets of data show that on average, the global surface humidity has increased since 1970.***REFERENCES:* K.E. Trenberth, Changes in precipitation with climate change, Climate Research 47 (March 31, 2011): 122-138. http://www.int-res.com/articles/cr_oa/c047p123.pdf ** Discovery Place, Static Electricity in Winter, January 8, 2010. http://www.discoveryplace.org/blog/post/32/Static-electricity-in-winter *** National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climate Indicators, last updated August 21, 2012. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/bams-state-of-the-climate/2009-time-series/humidity

So the downpours get bigger

The storms are getting bigger and more intense, causing bigger floods. DESCRIPTION: Text slide about the increasing severity of rain and snow events

2010 Sean R. HeaveyIts important to realize that when a storm releases a downpour, the raindrops that hit the ground do not all originate from the part of the sky directly above where they fall. The storms reach out, often 2,000 kilometers and funnel the moisture towards where it falls. Think about a drain on a bathtub, versus a drain on a swimming pool. The more water you have piled up behind the drain, the more intense the storm can be.

ID #1364 - May not be modified or used in presentations that are recorded, streamed, or broadcast.

Its important to realize that when a storm releases a downpour, the raindrops that hit the ground do not all originate from the part of the sky directly above where they fall. The storms reach out, often 2,000 kilometers and funnel the moisture towards where it falls. Think about a drain on a bathtub, versus a drain on a swimming pool. The more water you have piled up behind the drain, the more intense the storm can be. DESCRIPTION: Photo of a supercell with a column of rain at its center, near Glasgow, Montana, July 2010ADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS: Supercell thunderstorms can produce damaging wind, hail and, sometimes, tornadoes.* This supercell looked impressive, but thankfully caused only minor damage.**There are not enough data to assess whether thunderstorms and tornadoes have gotten stronger or more frequent in recent decades in the U.S.*** Because these types of storms can be so damaging, however, scientists are intensely interested in learning more about how thunderstorms and tornadoes might change in a warming climate.**** REFERENCES:* National Weather Service, Structure and Dynamics of Supercell Thunderstorms, last updated August 31, 2012. http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/soo/docu/supercell.php ** Eye of the Storm: The Jaw-Dropping Image of an Enormous Supercell Cloud, Daily Mail, December 5, 2010. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1334672/Jaw-dropping-image-enormous-supercell-cloud-Glasgow-Montana.html#ixzz177N0KRiT*** Jason Samenow, Mostly Cloudy: Linking Climate Change to Severe Storms in the U.S., The Washington Post, August 13, 2012. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/mostly-cloudy-linking-climate-change-to-severe-storms-in-the-us/2012/08/13/731c46e0-e558-11e1-936a-b801f1abab19_blog.html **** T. Karl et al., eds., Weather and Climate Extremes in a Changing Climate. Regions of Focus: North America, Hawaii, Caribbean, and U.S. Pacific Islands (U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research, June 2008). http://downloads.climatescience.gov/sap/sap3-3/sap3-3-final-all.pdf

Srinagar, IndiaSeptember 11, 2014 2014 Anshu Sharma/Pacific Press/Sipa via AP Images


As global temperaturescontinue to increase,the Earths water cycleintensifies even more


As the global temperatures continue to increase, this disruption of the water cycle gets more intense.DESCRIPTION: Text slide about the intensification of the water cycle

There are longer intervals in drought-stricken areas between downpours, making droughts EVEN WORSE

More water also evaporates MORE QUICKLY from the soil, making DROUGHTS deeper and longer still

Causing Bigger, Harder Downpours, and Simultaneously

1234Evaporation from the ocean into the atmosphere increases even MOREAs the air gets even warmer, it can hold even MORE water vaporHeavy downpours get even heavier, causing worse flooding

5Snowpacks melt earlier in the year, leading to more spring flooding, but less water in the heat of summer

6There are longer intervals in drought-stricken areas between downpours, making droughts EVEN WORSEMore water also evaporates MORE QUICKLY from the soil, making DROUGHTS deeper and longer stillCausing Longer and Deeper DROUGHTS iStockphoto/Terry Morris


The more water vapor you have, the bigger the downpours, but also the longer and deeper droughts. The evaporation into the atmosphere increases even more, the warmer air holds even more, the downpours get even heavier, the snowpack melts even earlier, causing spring flooding and depriving the land of moisture during the hot summer months. In many areas, there are longer intervals between downpours, and more water quickly evaporates from the soil.DESCRIPTION: Text slide summarizing the intensification of the water cycle

Ahmadabad, IndiaJuly 15, 2014 2014 AP Photo/Ajit Solanki


Global Systems Vulnerable to ClimateDisruptions May Lead to Political or Societal Instability

Global Health

Infrastructure

Food Supply

Water

Water

iStockphoto/Ryan Burke


India (Population: 1.2B)In North Gujarat, water tables are falling 20 feet per year.

India (Population: 1.2B)In Tamil Nadu, 95% of wells supplying small farmers have dried up.

Pakistan (Population: 182M)Wells near Islamabad are falling three to six feet per year. Near the city of Quetta, they are falling 11 feet per year.Source: Earth Policy Institute/The Guardian, 2013


Delhi, IndiaJune 2014

Residents crowd around a truck to collect drinking water during a heat wave. 2014 Reuters/Anindito Mukherjee


Gangotri Glacier, India

The IPCC predicts that Himalayan glaciers could lose between one third and one half of their mass by 2100. 2014 Dreamstime/Alexei FateevAbout 40% of the global population live in the Himalayan watershed. Some of the most populous nations, China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh are dependent on the great glacial fed rivers that flow down from the Himalayas. The downstream impact of increased volume of flow due to accelerated melting are disastrous for people living on the banks. In the long term, water scarcity is predicted due to some of these glaciers disappearing.

About 40% of the global population live in the Himalayan watershed. Some of the most populous nations, China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh are dependent on the great glacial fed rivers that flow down from the Himalayas. The downstream impact of increased volume of flow due to accelerated melting are disastrous for people living on the banks. In the long term, water scarcity is predicted due to some of the glaciers disappearing.


Sea level changes are of considerable significance for IndiaMore than 40 million people liveon the coast

Source: INCCA, Climate Change and India: A 4 x 4 Assessment, 2010. Video: Pond5


1 Metre rise in global sea water levels will submerge thousands of villages affecting 15 million people. Where will they go ?

The north east and the entire eastern region of India is already suffering from a influx of climate refugees; people displaced by swollen rivers, salinization of farmlands, sea level rise.24

We know we have to change!

ID #1030 - Can be used in noncommercial online and TV broadcasts of your presentation, but not modified.We know all of the reasons that we have to change.DESCRIPTION: Text slide about the need for change

We have lost more than half of the animals on our planetin the last 40 yearsSource: WWF, Living Planet Report 2014


Source: Nicholas Stern, The Economics of Climate ChangePhoto: Herpetologic.netUp to 50% of all species could be lost this century


Amphibians have been around for about 250 million years. They made it through when the dinosaurs didnt. The fact that theyre cutting out now should be a lesson.David WakeUniversity of California, Berkeley


And we have the solutions at hand...

ID #1031 - Can be used in noncommercial online and TV broadcasts of your presentation, but not modified.And we have the solutions. This is the good news that goes with the warnings.DESCRIPTION: Text slide about solutions

2008 Getty Images/AFP/Noah SeelamWe already have some available technology to take carbon out of the atmosphere* its called a tree!

ID #288

DESCRIPTION: Photo of Indian school children planting trees during a mass tree-planting drive in 2008

TALKING POINTS: We already have some available technology to take carbon out of the atmosphere* its called a tree!

REFERENCES: * U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Carbon Sequestration in Agriculture and Forestry: Frequent Questions, last updated June 22, 2010. http://www.epa.gov/sequestration/faq.html

The Power of OneFrom 1979 Jadav Payeng has been planting trees in a sandbar or chapori of the Brahmaputra. He has created a forest that is now known as Mulaikathoni after his nickname. The 1000 hectares of forests created by him is home to Tigers, Deer, Elephants and Rhinos.

From 1979 Jadav Payeng has been planting trees in a sandbar or chapori of the Brahmaputra. He has created a forest that is now known as Mulaikathoni after his nickname. The 1000 hectares of forests created by him is home to Tigers, Deer, Elephants and Rhinos.31

THE CLEAN TECH REVOLUTIONSOLAR IMPULSE HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT A SOLAR-POWEREDAIRPLANE CAN FLY DAY AND NIGHT WITHOUT FUEL.This year they have started out on a mission to FLY AROUND THE WORLD.

SOLAR IMPULSE HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT A SOLAR-POWERED AIRPLANE CAN FLY DAY AND NIGHT WITHOUT FUEL.

This year they have started out on a mission to FLY AROUND THE WORLD.32

Enough solar energy reaches Earth every hour to meet the power needs of the entire world for a full year


India receives 300 days of sun per yearmore than any other country in the G20Gujarat Solar Park 2012 AP Photo/Ajit Solanki


Globally, wind could supply worldwide electricity consumption40 times over


2009 iStockphoto/Andrew ColemanSome civilizations have confronted a choice similar to the one we face now. Some of them have made the wrong choice and collapsed and disappeared. We now have a global civilization and we are at a fork in the road. Years from now, young people will find out which choice we made.

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Some civilizations have confronted a choice similar to the one we face now. Some of them have made the wrong choice and collapsed and disappeared. We now have a global civilization and we are at a fork in the road. Years from now, young people will find out which choice we made. DESCRIPTION: Photo of maoi on Easter Island, Chile

What CanYOU Do?1.Win the conversationDont let denial go unchallengedUse social and traditional media to get the word outUse the #Reality hash tagWrite to the editorCall TV and radio stationsSpeak Up


What CanYOU Do?3.Dont Give UpMake consumer choices that reduce energy useConsider the environmental impact of the items you buyRemember: changing laws is even more important than changing light bulbsTell your leaders this matters to you!Let them know you will support or strongly oppose them based on what they say and DO about solving the climate crisis


Subaru Telescope, NAOJ. All rights reserved.Todays young people have the right to expect that we will make the right choice.


Todays young people have the right to expect that we will make the right choice. DESCRIPTION: Photo of a nebula

THANK YOURITURAJ PHUKANINDIA

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