1. Global Point of View
AP Environmental Science
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Columbia, South Carolina
2. Definition of Problem
Global Status Quo
• Population increases have contributed excessive
greenhouse gas emission, waste, and degradation of
natural capital
• Current climate trend has resulted in warmer and
drier conditions
• Increase in extreme weather events such as
droughts and heat waves
• A decrease in precipitation affects natural resources,
human health, and water resources
3. Definition of Problem
Global Status Quo
• Shorter duration of snowfall each year
•Water levels are rising, particularly in more isolated bodies of
water, like the Baltic Sea
• Plants have moved northwards due to the warmer climate
•The economy has suffered serious losses in the past twenty
years because of extreme weather events
•―Climate models predict that the average temperature at the
Earth's surface could increase from 3.2 to 7.2ºF above 1990
levels by the end of this century‖
(http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/basicinfo.html)
4. Definition of Problem
Global Target Situation
• ‖By decreasing use of other
fossil fuels, and improving
agricultural and forestry
practices around the
world, scientists believe we
could get back below 350 by
350.org
mid-century. But the longer we
remain in the danger zone—
above 350—the more likely that
we will see disastrous and
irreversible climate impacts.‖ –
James Hansen, NASA
5. Reasons and Causes of the
Problem
Global
•Government laws are in place to reduce CO2 emissions, but
they are avoidable to a point because of weak enforcement
•Factories, large cities, cars, landfills, waste treatment
methods, the importation of many goods, farmyard animals
cause the burning of harmful fossil fuels
6. Consequences of the Problem
Global
• Rising sea levels
• Hotter summers
• Serious health hazards for humans caused by increase in SO2
• Changes in precipitation
• Possible natural disasters
• Wind currents could change
• Delicate ecosystems could be irreversibly damaged
• Decrease in biodiversity
7. Possible Countermeasures
Global
• Switch to renewable forms of energy such as
hydroelectricity, wind, and solar
• Government laws that would enforce stricter
regulations on greenhouse gas emissions
• Greener and smarter transport systems
• Creation of cap-and-trade programs for
greenhouse gas emissions
8. North America
DEFINITION OF PROBLEM REASONS AND CAUSES
•2nd Highest fossil fuel and • Cities like Mexico City and
CO2 emitting continent in the New York City contribute to
world behind Asia high greenhouse gas
•Air pollution from the United emissions
States is carried in wind • Highly developed and rapidly
patterns across borders and developing economies with
damages the entire continent large industrial sectors
•Emission levels peaked in
2005, and have decreased
slightly since then
9. North America
CONSEQUENCES POSSIBLE COUNTERMEASURES
•Winds blow pollution from •Promote and provide tax
Mexico and United States to incentives when trading with
Canada, destroying North American countries in
ecosystems and biodiversity NAFTA agreement
10. South Asia
DEFINITION OF PROBLEM REASONS AND CAUSES
• Large population of 1.3 • Growing industrial sector
billion which contributes to • Large agriculture sector
excessive greenhouse gas • Enormous population that
emission, waste, and continues to grow
degradation of natural capital
• Lack of environmental
• Agriculture, area’s largest
protection legislation and
economic activity, is also industrial pollution
threatened by the issue of regulations
water scarcity
11. South Asia
CONSEQUENCES POSSIBLE COUNTERMEASURES
• Rising water levels have the • Governmental regulation of
demonstrated potential greenhouse gas and other
to completely submerge pollutant emissions
islands off the Indian • Building support for
coast, and continue to environmental initiatives at a
threaten coastal regions local level, with regards to
• Natural disasters conserving resources and
(floods, droughts, typhoons) reducing water pollution
will continue to increase in
intensity each year
• Industry/Agriculture
contribute to climate change
12. Europe
DEFINITION OF PROBLEM REASONS AND CAUSES
• Southern Europe and the • Germany and the United
Arctic have been particularly Kingdom are the largest
affected by rising temperatures contributors to European
• The carbon dioxide levels in pollution
the atmosphere have • Milan, Amsterdam, Frankfurt
increased to 375 ppm from the are the most polluted areas of
pre-industrial level of 280 ppm Europe, mainly due to
Europe’s steel and coal
industries
13. Europe
CONSEQUENCES POSSIBLE COUNTERMEASURES
• Wildfires, reduced forest •Countermeasures such as
area, reduced water green transport and cap-and-
availability and reduced crop trade programs would
yield implemented by national
•In central and eastern areas governments but enforced by
consequences are heat local governments
waves, reduced summer
rainfall and decreased forest
productivity
•In the north there will be
benefits such as reduced
heating demand, milder
winters and increased crop
yields
14. United States of America
DEFINITION OF PROBLEM REASONS AND CAUSES
• US supports 300 million • Industrialized cities such as
people New York and Los Angeles
• To keep the economy up which have a lot of
requires large amounts of pavement, buildings, and
energy, and most of these cars, absorbing heat and
sources are non-renewable inhibiting wind flow
• US is biggest emitter of
greenhouse gases in world
15. United States of America
CONSEQUENCES POSSIBLE COUNTERMEASURES
• Rising sea level - The Atlantic • ―President Barack Obama will
Ocean attend the U.N. climate
• Delicate ecosystems all over summit next month in
country could be irreversibly Denmark, taking with him a
damaged target to reduce U.S.
greenhouse gas "
• ―We need to reduce our
emissions and implement
more green
technology. We should take
advantage of the use of solar
panels and other renewable
energy sources, such as wind
and hydroelectric power‖
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
id/34147586/)
16. Southeast United States
DEFINITION OF PROBLEM REASONS AND CAUSES
•CO2 emissions for 2007: • The addition of greenhouse
• Virginia- 127.95 ppm gasses into the atmosphere
• Alabama- 145.24 ppm from
• Mississippi- 67.81 ppm • Large cities such as
• Georgia- 184.04 ppm Atlanta, Houston, Dallas
• Louisiana- 194.93 ppm
• Factories
• Florida- 256.27 ppm
• North Carolina- 153.56 ppm • Automobiles
• Arkansas- 63.70 ppm
• Kentucky-156.80 ppm
•Overall average is 150.033
ppm
17. Southeast United States
CONSEQUENCES POSSIBLE COUNTERMEASURES
• Shoreline retreat and • Improving transportation
inundation of inland areas • Conversion to cleaner air
• Rising sea temperatures are • Promotion of energy
expected to increase the conservation
frequency and strength of • Find and utilize alternative
hurricanes energy source
• Stronger storms with higher
• hydroelectric
wind speeds, more intense
• wind power
rainfall and more powerful
surges are expected to cause a • solar power
lot more damage • biomass
• geothermal
18. South Carolina
DEFINITION OF PROBLEM REASONS AND CAUSES
• After 1957, the annual • Each South Carolina
average temperature increased resident, per population
by nearly 1°F when compared average, produces
to the average approximately 20 Tons of
• Precipitation decreased 6% Carbon Dioxide each year
primarily due to lower than • #27th highest Carbon
average springtime rainfall Dioxide polluting state in
(http://www.dnr.sc.gov/climat the United States
e/sco/Publications/climate_ch (http://www.eredux.com/state
ange_impacts.php) s/state_detail.php?id=1136)
19. South Carolina
CONSEQUENCES POSSIBLE COUNTERMEASURES
• With warmer • Gov. Sanford formed the
temperatures, crops like corn Climate, Energy and Commerce
would cease to be profitable in the Advisory Committee (CECAC) in
Southeast, while heat-tolerant 2007, which recommended
crops like cotton could make a • A voluntary reduction in state
come back. carbon emissions to five
• The forestry industry will have a
percent below the 1990 level
by 2020.
dieback of the forests in the next
• Focus on bringing renewable
30 to 80 years, a loss of
nuclear fuel generators to the
biodiversity, conversion of forests state
to grasslands, and increased
• Expand bike and pedestrian
vulnerability to disease and pests opportunities, alternative fuel
infrastructure, mass transit
and carpooling options
• Begin forestland conservation
and methane reclamation
projects
20. Questions
Germany
•Canyou currently see the effects of climate change in your
country?
•What policies would you want the government to enforce to cut
greenhouse gas emissions?
•How often do you use public transportation as opposed to
automobiles? How far do you drive each week?
•How many km does your car get per liter? How much does gas
cost per liter?
•What percentage of your domestic waste is recycled?
•Which renewable energy source has the most potential in your
region?
21. Questions
India
•Can you currently see the effects of climate change in your country?
•What policies would you want the government to enforce to cut
greenhouse gas emissions?
•What forms of renewable energy do you view to be the most viable
for building a "greener" economy in your country?
•Do you think that historical Western usage of nonrenewable resources
justifies India’s current usage as the economy develops, given the
current knowledge of the environmental impacts?
