Responses to Global Warming & Climate Change (Edexcel IGCSE Geography)

International Responses to Global Warming & Climate Change

Spec point — 4GE1-S3.064

• Global warming and climate change require an international response because they affect the entire globe
• Responses can involve either adaptation or mitigation
• In 1988 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up to assess the 'risks of human-induced climate change
• This was followed by several international agreements

Earth Summit, Rio 1992

• Set out aims to stabilise greenhouse gas levels

Kyoto Protocol 1997

• Delegates from 150 countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• It stated that industrialised countries would reduce emissions to below the levels in 1990
• Developing countries including China and India were exempt from the agreement
• The USA did not sign up for the treaty
• Canada withdrew in 2011 stating that without China and USA, the treaty would not work

Paris Agreement 2015

• Global agreement to limit global warming to 2^oC (preferably 1.5^oC) above pre-industrial levels
• The agreement also includes reducing CO₂ emissions by at least 60% by 2050
• Signed by 196 countries including the USA and China (the USA withdrew in 2020 and rejoined in 2021)

Conference of the Parties (COP)

• The United Nations (UN) holds an annual (every year) meeting to discuss climate change.

• COP29 in 2024 was held in Baku, Azerbaijan

• All nations agreed to:

  • agreed to provide at least $300 billion per year to developing countries by 2035
  • take actions to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Example Case Study: UK Response

Spec point — 4GE1-S3.064

Case Study

• The UK is responsible for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

• It is signed up to both the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement

• There are several steps the UK has taken to adapt to climate change and mitigate future climate change

• The UK passed the **Climate Change Act (2008) **which:

  • sets out ways in which the UK can adapt to climate change
  • commits to cutting emissions by at least 80% from 1990 levels by 2050 since changed to 100%
  • requires the government to set carbon budgets to gradually reduce greenhouse gas emission

Adaptation

• The National Adaptation Programme identifies ways in which the UK can adapt to the impacts of climate change. They include:

  • improving flood defences - the Thames Barrier was built to protect London against rising sea levels
  • assess coastal erosion and increase defences where appropriate
  • change building regulations to ensure that houses are designed for increasing temperatures
  • reduce water wastage
  • the government has developed a Heatwave Plan and Cold Weather Plan to ensure the UK is prepared for weather extremes
  • wildfire prevention training

Mitigation

• The Net Zero Strategy (2021) sets out how the government plans to reduce emissions by 100%. It includes:

  • funding for electrification of UK vehicles to support the ban on sales of new hybrid and petrol/diesel cars by 2035
  • development of sustainable aviation fuel
  • carbon capture in north-east and north-west England
  • an investment of £1.5 billion in green technology research and innovation
  • investment in heat pumps to replace gas and oil boilers for heating
  • trebling woodland creation to create 30,000 hectares of new woodland
  • encouraging walking, cycling and using public transport instead of private cars

• Individuals are also encouraged to take action to reduce emissions by:

  • using less energy - taking showers instead of baths reduces energy and water use
  • buying energy-efficient appliances and** light bulbs**
  • insulating homes
  • installing solar panels or air-source heat pumps
  • installing double or triple-glazing

Example Case Study: Bangladesh Response

Spec point — 4GE1-S3.064

Example case study: Bangladesh's response

Case Study

• Bangladesh is responsible for 0.56% of the global greenhouse gas emissions

• As a developing country, it did not have to sign up to the Kyoto Protocol but Bangladesh did sign the Paris Agreement

• Despite its very low contribution to emissions, Bangladesh is extremely vulnerable to climate change

• The government has taken steps to adapt to climate change and mitigate future climate change

• The Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan was adopted in 2009. The plan:

  • Identified the risks and challenges of climate change
  • Outlines adaptions which can be made
  • Identifies the need to reduce carbon emissions - Bangladesh has pledged to reduce emissions by 22% by 2030

• It is estimated that Bangladesh will need US$5 billion a year to finance adaptation and mitigation projects. This is far more than the country can afford

Adaptations

• Bangladesh is already vulnerable to coastal and river flooding. This has been made worse as a result of global warming with:

  • Increased snow melt from the Himalayas
  • Increased frequency and severity of tropical cyclones
  • Rising sea levels

• Bangladesh has adapted in several ways

  • **Submersible roads **which can withstand flooding or raised roads
  • Over 2,200 shelters on stilts with a raised platform 'kills' nearby for livestock
  • Community-based early warning system for tropical cyclones
  • Flood protection and drainage schemes to protect urban areas
  • Coastal embankment projects involving 6,000km of embankments
  • Irrigation schemes
  • Agricultural research programme to develop saline, drought and flood resistant high yield varieties of crops
  • Mangrove planting long 9,000km of coastline

Mitigation

• Although Bangladesh's emissions are low it is looking at ways to reduce them including:

  • Improved agriculture practices to reduce the emissions of methane from rice fields
  • Encourage people to stop using biomass stoves for cooking and eating
  • Increase small-scale solar energy for homes

• The** Bangladesh Renewable Energy Policy (2008)** aims to increase the amount of renewable energy to over 10%

• The plans to build nine new coal plants have been abandoned

• Bangladesh aims to have 15% of registered vehicles powered by electricity by 2030

• The expansion of the public transport system - Mass Rapid Transit and Bus Rapid Transit in Dhaka as well as 798km of new rail lines by 2025