Fighting Climate Change Impacts

by Hasan Zahid
August 3, 2011

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/1619/fighting-climate-change-impacts

There is no denying fact now that the climate pattern is changing across the globe. This change is attributed to the single effect of individual and interactive effects of global changes in atmospheric composition, landuse, biodiversity and climate. The present concerns regarding the greenhouse effect and depletion of the ozone layer causing global warming, will definitely further aggravate the natural disaster situation in the future.

Climate change is a global problem that requires real solutions. The causes of climate change and its impacts on the environment and human health are now more understood. Increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere, oceans, and landmasses of earth have been a great concern for world's scientists, thinkers and environmentalists especially for the last two decades. Now the topic has come to the forefront of the global agenda on environmental policies.

The phenomena of global warming are occurring around the world. The world's top climate experts were geared for a meeting in Paris (2006) to capacity building where they were set to launch a long-awaited update about the scientific evidence for global warming. The report was the first by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) since 2001 and the fourth since the body was launched in 1988. The IPCC's reports are highly regarded for their neutrality and caution, and they exert a big influence over government policies, corporate strategies and even individual decision-making. Along with other major environmental threats the global community are also confronted with the threat of global climate change because scientists now agree that greenhouse gas effect due to manmade activity are increasing global warming.

Since early 1900, with the advent of the industrial revolution in Europe, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased considerably because humans have burned large amounts of fuel in their homes and in factories. Carbon dioxide allows sunlight to reach the earth and warm its surface, but it prevents some surface heat from escaping out of the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect may raise the temperature near the ground.

The average surface temperature of earth is about 15° C. Over the last century, this average has risen by about 0.6 Celsius degrees. Scientists predict further warming of 1.4 to 5.8 Celsius degrees by the year 2100. This temperature rise is expected to melt polar ice caps and glaciers as well as warm the oceans, all of which will expand ocean volume and raise sea level by an estimated 9 to 100 cm, flooding some coastal regions and even entire islands. Some regions in warmer climates will receive more rainfall than before, but soils will dry out faster between storms. This soil aridity may damage food crops, disrupting food supplies in some parts of the world. Plant and animal species will shift their ranges toward the poles or to higher elevations seeking cooler temperatures and species that cannot do so may become extinct.

Some experts predict that an increase in global warming will result in unpredictable weather patterns, including storm surges in which wind piles up water in low-lying areas.

Scientists predict that during global warming, the northern regions of the Northern Hemisphere will heat up more than other areas of the planet, northern and mountain glaciers will shrink, and less ice will float on northern oceans. Regions that now experience light winter snows may receive no snow at all.

An increase in global warming will likely result in a rise in sea levels that could threaten many coastal areas around the world. Experts predict that parts of Bangladesh may become completely submerged if sea levels rise. Sea level changes will complicate life in many coastal regions. A 100-cm rise could submerge 6 per cent of The Netherlands, 17.5 per cent of Bangladesh, and most or all of many islands. Erosion of cliffs, beaches, and dunes will increase. Storm surges, in which winds locally pile up water and raise the sea, will become more frequent and damaging.

Bangladesh' Vulnerability:

Climate change is a matter of grave concern for Bangladesh. The country is much cited in the environment pages of the globe as one of the most vulnerable countries of the world. Cyclones, floods, tidal surges, droughts are very frequent. The cyclone Sidr that hit the country on 7 November 2007 is a burning example. In the recent past the country witnessed several cyclones and floods, which caused huge casualties with colossal damage to property and infrastructure. Bangladesh is a country of deltaic nature and is largely flat and nearly 50 per cent of the landmass has an elevation of less than 10 meters above sea levels. Several studies were undertaken on the vulnerability of Bangladesh to the climate change, particularly to the sea level rise due to global warming. What Bangladesh would do in this dismal silhouette since Bangladesh being the worst victim contributing insignificantly to the process of global warming? Even if a single country like Bangladesh cuts all of its emissions, the already concentrated carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would make the ice melted and the low-lying countries like Bangladesh would be inundated. As the country has no resources to combat the global warming, it is better to opt for adaptation with some mitigation policies foreseeing the future vulnerability. The country's voice in international forums should be even stronger to establish the 'polluters pay' policy. Bangladesh is a poor country and it does not have the capability to makeup the irreparable loss due to massive inundation. Bangladesh is a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol. Government has been putting much emphasis on this global issue. The country has participated in all conference of parties, working group meetings and has been able to draw the attention of the world community on the issue of the climate change vulnerability. But unfortunately, our participation in the international negotiations had not been as sharp and diplomatic as to achieve benefit to a desirable level.

What we are doing now as part of the adaptation and mitigation strategies, we are doing it at our own capacity which include, a number of conservation efforts including coastal green belt project to halt tidal surge and cyclone and to enhance carbon sinks. Ozone depleting substances (ODS) programs are also being carried out in the country.

Kyoto Protocol:

It is widely established that without concerted efforts of the nations and without international cooperation, successful reduction of greenhouse gases cannot be achieved. In 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 150 countries pledged to confront the problem of greenhouse gases and agreed to meet again to translate these good intentions into a binding treaty.

In 1997 in Japan, 160 nations drafted a much stronger agreement known as the Kyoto Protocol. This treaty, which has not yet been implemented fully, calls for the 38 industrialized countries that now release the most greenhouse gases to cut their emissions to levels 5 per cent below those of 1990. This reduction is to be gained no later than 2012. Initially, the United States voluntarily accepted a more ambitious target, promising to reduce emissions to 7 per cent below 1990 levels. The European Union, which had wanted a much tougher treaty, committed to 8 per cent; and Japan, to 6 per cent. The remaining 122 nations, mostly developing nations, were not asked to commit to a reduction in gas emissions. But later in 2001 the USA asserted that such carbon dioxide reductions in the United States would be too costly. The country also objected that developing nations would not be bound by similar carbon dioxide reducing obligations. The Kyoto Protocol will not be binding until nations accounting for 55 per cent of 1990 greenhouse gas emissions have ratified it.

National and Local Programs:

World's nations are working to reduce greenhouse emissions. Several European countries impose heavy taxes on energy usage, designed partly to curb such emissions. Norway taxes industries according to the amount of carbon dioxide they emit. In The Netherlands, government and industry have negotiated agreements aimed at increasing energy efficiency, promoting alternative energy sources, and cutting down greenhouse gas output.

In the United States, the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, product manufacturers, local utilities, and retailers have collaborated to implement the Energy Star program. This voluntary program rates appliances for energy use and gives some money back to consumers who buy efficient machines. The Canadian government has established the Fleet Wise program to cut carbon dioxide emissions from federal vehicles by reducing the number of vehicles it owns and by training drivers to use them more efficiently.

Although Bangladesh as developing country is not bound by carbon dioxide reducing obligations, yet the country can take part in the CDM (clean development mechanism) actions with cooperation from the developed nations. Through CDM programs the rich countries will benefit Bangladesh. This will encourage investments by other countries. Some of the CDM-oriented programs have already been undertaken in the country. CDM programs undertaken means lessening greenhouse gases to ease the efforts of adaptability policies for the country.

Conclusion:

The fact remains that the developing nations have fallen victims (as they have little resources to cope up), to the adverse effect of the indiscriminate use of energy by the industrialized nations, which appears to affect the entire globe. In this backdrop, what the world community need is to find ways to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a true global partnership. The earth has become a global village where every nation has its own responsibility. Recently concluded Cancun Summit (11 December 2010) came up with 'The Cancun Agreement' anchoring the pledges inscribed in the Copenhagen Accord (late last year, world leaders agreed on a path forward in the global effort to address climate change), which included the establishment of a Green Climate Fund that will be instrumental in mobilizing the financing needed to tackle the global challenge. Again, there was no clear cut indication to cut emission in Cancun. Historic Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. So the fate of the Kyoto Protocol maybe 'on its last legs.'

Under the present harsh reality, paradigm shift in our actions and new lifestyle should be our parameters to combat climate change vulnerability. Adequate practice for adaptation should be very timely and effective. Responsibility to work against greenhouse emissions by conserving energy in buildings, modernizing vehicles, and advising the public. Individuals, too, can take steps. The same choices that reduce other kinds of pollution work against global warming. Every time a consumer buys an energy-efficient appliance; adds insulation to a house; recycles paper, metal, and glass; chooses to live near work; or commutes by public transportation, he or she is fighting global warming.

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