CLIMATE CHANGE

By Nikos Chatzis and Stelios Chatzipanagiotou

Definition

Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions, or in the distribution of weather around the average conditions (more or fewer extreme weather events).

The implications

Limiting warming to 2 ° C, has been recognized by the entire scientific community, but also by the European Union as a prerequisite to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

We are already seeing serious negative impacts on ecosystems and human populations - such as melting sea ice in the Arctic - even with the current increase in temperature at 0,8 ° C compared to pre-industrial levels. These could cause positive feedbacks that will lead to even greater warming and further dramatic effects on ecosystems of the planet.

1. In coming decades, water supplies stored in glaciers and snowy areas will decrease causing water shortages in more than 1 billion people

2. The 20% and 30% of all living organisms on the planet will face increased risk of extinction if global average global temperature surpassed 1,5-2,5 ° C.

3. At lower latitudes, especially in arid and tropical regions, even small increases in temperature of about 1 ° C - 2 ° C, is expected to increase the risk of hunger.

4. After 2000 many millions of people will be affected by flooding to homes and businesses because of rising sea levels each year. At particular risk are densely populated areas, and areas that are at a low altitude with limited adaptability.

The impact on Greece The wealth of Greece is inseparably linked with

the climatic conditions. The hot dry summer climate combined with the thousands of kilometers of coastlines attract tourists from around the world. The warm summers, combined with mild wet winters, favoring the development of agriculture as an integral part of the economy. Under the same climatic conditions, thousands of hectares of forest cover country and host a wide biodiversity. Today this natural wealth is under great pressure from population growth and uncontrolled development. Global warming will cause even great pressure on our country. UN study shows that Greece, like the entire Mediterranean is among the 18 "hottest" spots on earth, which will face the biggest problems because of the increasing climate change.

The investigation of WWF Greece in cooperation with the National Observatory of Athens, entitled "The future of Greece" attempts a prediction for the climatic conditions in Greece in the period 2020-2050, almost tomorrow. According to the survey results, the existing frustrations of residents in cities is going to intensify. Residents of cities such as Thessaloniki, Patras, Larissa and Lamia will be subject up to 20 more days of heat. Meanwhile, in Lamia, Larissa, Volos, Thessaloniki and Athens, the total rainfall will decrease, but is expected to grow by 10-20% extreme rainfall. In other words seem to increase the risk for both flood events and spreading suburban forest fires. Significantly affected and tourist destinations of our country. From 5 to 15 more are the days with heat in the relevant departments of tourism, and will increase further and the nights where the temperature will not fall below 20oC, especially on islands, such as Rhodes and Chania.

The ten largest rural districts in the country will also receive a lot of pressure from climate change, leading to increased heat days, the consecutive days without rain, reduced winter rainfall and thus greatly increase the risk of fire. For example, in Evia is more than 25 additional dry days than today, Serres and Larissa will live 20 more days of heat, while in Heraklion and Pella in the winter rainfall decrease by 15%. It also presents an increased risk for new land desertification and decrease in water availability.

Climate change is expected to pose a big test and National Parks, and an increase in days with high risk of fire occurrence in all the Parks in the country.

Furthermore, when the report was published in 2011, the Bank of Greece notes that the economic costs of climate change for our country is extremely high: in the worst case scenario, the total cost for the Greek economy in 2100 amounted to 701 billion , more than double our national debt in 2009. The authors of the report noted that the adoption of policies that protect the climate is the most economical option available. Since Greece dramatically reduce emissions under the corresponding global effort, the overall cost is reduced by € 265 billion to € 436 billion.

Causes climate change

The cause of climate change is the excessive use of fossil resources such as coal and lignite, oil and natural gas, the burning of which releases huge amounts of CO 2 into the atmosphere. In this way the 'blanket' GHG covering the Earth holds more and more energy which, in turn, increases the average temperature of the planet.

The human intervention in the natural cycle of CO 2 over the last 150 years has been crucial. The reckless burning of fossil fuels and livestock farming contribute to the emission of methane, combined with deforestation which absorb greenhouse gases, have irreparably disrupt the balance in the cycle of CO 2.

The large amount of CO 2 which is now concentrated in the atmosphere, has contributed to the warming of the planet, while the speed at which this increase occurs is significantly faster than any natural process. The result is the inability of natural systems to adapt to the new circumstances.

It is clear that global warming does not necessarily mean warmer climate for everyone in all regions of the world. As the planet warms, the climate change system, contributing to the increase of extreme and unpredictable weather. The result? Other areas will be warmer, others colder, while depending affected and humidity levels of planet-sometimes creating drought conditions, sometimes too much rainfall.

Adapting to climate change Greece has not yet designed a national

strategy to adapt to climate change, though geographically belonging to one of the most vulnerable areas of the Mediterranean. Adaptation of Greece is a necessity and not a luxury. The dependence of our country upon the natural environment is extremely large to be ignored, even in conditions of economic crisis.

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