4.C - UK and Bangladesh case studies Flashcards
how much CO2 does Bangladesh emit?
0.21 tonnes of CO2 emitted/capita/annum
what are the OPPORTUNITIES presented by climate change for Bangladesh (socio-economic/environmental)?
- many farmers are now switching to more lucrative shrimp or crab farming in areas like the Sundarbans
- others are migrating to Dhaka, the capital or Bangladesh, where they may have a better standard of living.
- slowly the country is showing a changing ecosystem, which benefits some organisms
- flooding will provide increased fertility to the soils in the long term
what are the THREATS presented by climate change for Bangladesh (socio-economic)?
- 20 million people live just above the water line.
- Bangladesh at risk from cyclones and storm surges
- embankments at present are not high enough to protect against these, let alone when rising sea levels are taken into account
- groundwater is also being intruded by salt water, rendering it undrinkable
what are the THREATS presented by climate change for Bangladesh (environmental)?
- 10% of the country is within 1 metre above sea level.
- the land of the delta region is made up of alluvium deposited by the Brahmaputra and Ganges Rivers.
- this makes it vulnerable to both coastal and river flooding
- the Bay of Bengal has warm sea temperatures and is warming, meaning its coastline is at increased cyclone risk (and therefore storm surges are more likely)
what MITIGATION strategies are Bangladesh using?
- locally produced ceramic stones are now becoming more widespread in rural Bangladesh
- they are estimated to use less than half the fuel of a traditional open fire (therefore less CO2)
what ADAPTATION strategies are Bangladesh using?
- salt tolerant (halophytic) rice crops are grown rather than normal rice as the groundwater is now too saline.
- embankments have been raised in some areas to protect communities as well as farmland
- many farmers are switching to farming particularly shrimp
- desalination plants can be established
what are the CHALLENGES to MITIGATION in Bangladesh?
TECHNOLOGICAL:
- Bangladesh is unlikely to be able to invest in advanced renewable projects for producing energy
POLITICAL:
- Bangladesh is underrepresented at global meetings and does not have a specialist climate science envoy to represent their interest at COP meetings
SOCIO-ECONOMIC:
- Bangladesh has a poor population and literacy levels/standard of education is low.
- hard to get people to engage with why they should change practices to mitigate against climate change
what are the CHALLENGES to ADAPTATION in Bangladesh?
TECHNOLOGICAL:
- there is ongoing research into how desalination can best work for Bangladesh.
- this requires technological expertise and local people may find it hard to implement/maintain.
POLITICAL:
- decisions about where to build embankments will be difficult and given the cost, some areas will have to be left undefended
SOCIO-ECONOMIC:
- the drainage channels (over 600) that are needed to protect Dhaka (population 13 million) are expensive to build
- other areas will need these but will probably be left unprotected.
how much CO2 does the UK emit?
9.26 tonnes of CO2 emitted/capita/annum
what are the OPPORTUNITIES presented by climate change for the UK (socio-economic/environmental)?
- increased temperatures and a longer growing season would mean it may be possible to grow new crops such as olives (in Devon) and grapes (pinot noir in South of England)
- tourist destinations such as Blackpool may benefit as it develops a climate more akin with the Spanish Costas
- increased temps and longer growing season would mean increased NPP and therefore have benefits for biodiversity and ecosystems as a whole.
- rainbow fish are now a regular sight off the Cornish coast
what are the THREATS presented by climate change for the UK (socio-economic)?
- sea level rise (predicted to be as much as 37cm by 2050) will threaten low lying areas such as the Somerset Levels/Thames estuary
- worsening winter storms are a growing threat for the NW (Glasgow flooded 3 times in the last decade)
- while drought and water shortages could be an increasing problem for the populated SE/London int he summer months
- Urban Heat Island effect will raise temps in central London
what are the THREATS presented by climate change for the UK (environmental)?
- increased temperatures in places such as the north of Scotland is putting the ecosystem under threat
- the ptarmigan which depends on frost and snow for camouflage could disappear from places such as the Cairngorms
- an increase of invasive species such as the Colorado beetle threatens and may out-compete current native species.
what MITIGATION strategies are the UK using?
- Climate Change Act 2008
- setting aspirational targets: 34% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020 compared to 1990 levels. 80% by 2050.
- grants available to communities to sell surplus energy from renewable sources
- energy suppliers have to increase proportion of renewable sources used.
what ADAPTATION strategies are the UK using?
- investment in new coastal and flood defences
- investment in new infrastructure such as air cooling on the Jubilee line of the London Underground
- London also investing in green walls to help insulate buildings.
what are the CHALLENGES to MITIGATION in the UK?
TECHNOLOGICAL:
- nuclear power, which is a viable fuel shift, requires huge amounts of technological expertise and expense (£24bn).
- UK reliant on France and China
POLITICAL:
- Brexit may threaten investment in renewable energy (UK had received £4bill from the EU bank)
- Climate Change Act is aspirational and not codified - beyond political capability to achieve?
SOCIO-ECONOMIC:
- Nimbyism stopping 1 in 3 wind farms in the UK being established.
- People like the idea of renewable energy but not when its in their backyard.
- a new reservoir proposed outside Abingdon also put on hold due to local outcry.
