Challenges for the planet

Question 1

What is weather?

Answer 1

the state of atmosphere at any given time and place

Question 2

What is climate?

Answer 2

the average weather conditions over a long period of time

Question 3

How has the climate changed since the last ice age (8000BC)?

Answer 3

• after the last ice age there was a warmer period which caused the climate to fluctuate to a warmer temperature (6800 BC - 5 degreesC change)
• there was then a cool period causing a dip before it warmed up again in a warmer period (5000 BC - 1 degreesC decrease to 4000 BC - 2 degreesC increase)
• afterwards there was another cooler period before the medieval warm period at 0 AD (1500 BC - 2 degreesC to 0 AD - 1 degreesC approx increase)
• there was a little ice age from 1200 to 1800 AD with about a 1 degreesC decrease in temperature

Question 4

How much is the temperature projected to increase?

Answer 4

projected to increase to a 7 degreesC temperature change which is 2 more degreesC than currently (2000 AD to 2300 AD)

Question 5

What are the external and internal factors affecting the world’s climate?

Answer 5

External)

• solar output
• orbital geometry (shape and tilt)

Internal)

• volcanic activity
• surface reflection
• change in atmospheric gases
• tectonic activity

Question 6

Explain how solar output affects the world’s climate:

Answer 6

• this is the energy that comes from the sun which changes over time
• in the 1980s, the total amount reaching earth had decreased by 0.1%
• if the trend continue then it could greatly influence global climate
• a 1% change in solar output could make the temperature rise or fall by 0.5-1 degreesC
• it is thought to be influenced by activity of sunspots on the sun’s surface
• there was a period of drastically reduced sunspot activity between 1645 to 1715 which may have been the cause of the little ice age

Question 7

Explain how orbital geometry affects the world’s climate:

Answer 7

1) Shape
- the shape of the earth’s orbit around the sun varies from circular to elliptical and back every 95000 years
- cold glacial periods occur when the earth’s orbit is circular and warmer periods when it is more elliptical

2) Tilt
- the tilt of the earth’s axis varies over time from 21.5 to 24.5 degreesC
- this variation occurs over a 41000 year time span
- the greater the tilt, the hotter the summers are and the colder the winters are
- when the angle is greater the earth usually experiences warmer peiods

Question 8

Explain how volcanic activity affects the world’s climate:

Answer 8

• volcanic eruptions release large amounts of sulfur dioxide and ash into the atmosphere
• these act like a cloak reducing the amount of solar radiation energy reaching the earth’s surface
• in 1815, mt. Tambora erupted - the following year it was unusually cold and 1816 was known as the year without summer

Question 9

Explain how surface reflection affects the world’s climate:

Answer 9

• during cooler periods when there is a larger amount of snow and ice on earth, global temperature will drop due to it reflecting sunlight back to space
• if the planet warms up, snow and ice will diminish and the earth will continue to get warmer

Question 10

Explain how change in atmospheric gas affects the world’s climate:

Answer 10

• there is a clear relationship between amount of CO2 and temperature variations in the atmosphere
• CO2 is primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect which keeps heat within the earth’s atmosphere by absorbing long-wave radiation
• without it, the average global temperature would be -18 degreesC rather than 15 degreesC

Question 11

Explain how tectonic activity affects the world’s climate:

Answer 11

• movement of continents caused by plate tectonics affects the global pattern of atmospheric and ocean circulation
• the changing shape of the earth’s surface causes wind and ocean currents to change
• this process is too slow to have much effect on climate over the relatively short geological time span of 10000

Question 12

What are the causes of current climate change (on a local and global scale)?

Answer 12

• burning of fossil fuels

- increase of methane in the atmosphere

Question 13

How does the burning of fossil fuels affect climate change?

Answer 13

• produced from coal, oil and natural gas
• used to produce energy in power stations and to supply fuel to vehicles
• in China, 75% of energy is produced from coal
• when fossil fuels are burnt they release gases such as CO2 that build up in the atmosphere
• CO2 contributes to the greenhouse effect and the generation of power accounts for 25% of global CO2 emissions

Question 14

How does the increase of methane in the atmosphere affect climate change?

Answer 14

• methane is a greenhouse gas so it can trap heat in the earth’s atmosphere
• makes up 20% of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and is 20x more potent than CO2
• comes from organisms that were alive many years ago, recently dead rotting organisms and those which are alive today
• 30% released into atmosphere was formed underground many years ago and comes to the surface when fossil fuels are mined

Question 15

What are examples of modern methan sources?

Answer 15

• wetlands (including marshes and swamps)
• the growing of rice
• landfills containing rotting vegetable matter
• burning vegetation
• the bowels of animals

Question 16

Why have the levels of methane in the atmosphere been rising by 1.5% a year for the past decade?

Answer 16

• an increase in the mining of fossil fuels
• rising temperature, which causes an increase in bacteria emissions from wetlands
• an increase in rice production due to growing populations in rice growing countries
• an increase in the number of cattle and sheep for meat reflecting an increase in western-style diets

Question 17

Explain the greenhouse effect?

Answer 17

1 heat energy from the sun beams down onto the earth- some of it passes through a blanket of gases in our atmosphere
2 some of the heat energy escapes back into space
3 greenhouse gases form a blanket around the earth which traps the heat energy in the atmosphere
4 the energy which does not escape back into space is reflected back to earth
5 the main greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide

Question 18

What are the 3 main negative effects of climate change?

Answer 18

• changing patterns of crop yields
• rising sea levels
• retreating glaciers

Question 19

What is the impact of climate change on changing patterns of crop yields?

Answer 19

• countires closest to the equator will have crop yields dcrease
• e.g. Africa, in countires such as Tanzania and Mozambique, there will be longer droughts and shorter growing seasons (could lose 1/3 of maize crop)
• e.g. India, there will be a 50% decrease in the amount of land available to grow wheat due to hotter and drier weather

Question 20

What is the impact of climate change on rising sea levels?

Answer 20

• between 1993 and 2006, sea levels rose by 3.3mm a year (research published 2007 by The Hadley Centre for Climate Change at Exeter)
• this will lead to an 88mm rise in sea levels by the end of the century
• e.g. this will threaten areas of low-lying coastal land including major world cities like London, New York and Tokyo
• e.g. islands in the pacific ocean are already affected, 2 of the kiribati islands are now covered with sea water causing people to evacuate from other low-lying coral atolls

Question 21

What is the impact of climate change on retreating glaciers?

Answer 21

• vast majority of world glaciers are retreating/melting (some more quickly) but this is due to the increase in temperatures caused by climate change
• e.g. 90% of glaciers in Antarctica are retreating (also causes ocean water movements at poles and melting ice in the arctic could cause the gulf stream to be diverted further south which would lead to colder temperatures in western Europe- mathcing temperatures found across Atlantic- below 0 winter and 8-10 in summer 10 degreesC lower than average in Uk)

Question 22

Give examples of how climate change is affecting specific locations:

Answer 22

• Australia) rising temperatures means the Great Barrier Reef could be dead in 30 years with warmer sea
• Bangladesh) coastal flooding if sea levels rise by 1m then they will lose 17.5% of their land
• Kenya) droughts occur every 3 years instead of 10 and in 2006 there was the worst one for 80 years where many farmers lost all their cattle
• Peru) in the Colca region the lack of snow means there is no water supply so many villages have been abandoned
• UK) storms and floods will increase and damage costs will increase if houses continue to be built on flood plains
• Russia) Wrangel island nature reserve has a loss of sea ice
• USA) Glacier National park Montana has most of its glaciers retreating
• Tuvalu) islands are suffering from rising sea levels

Question 23

What have been the global scale responses to climate change between nations?

Answer 23

• 1988) the United Nations (UN) set up the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the first report shows the earth has warmed by 0.5 degreesC in the past century, recommending strong measures…
• 1922) UN held meeting in Rio de Janeiro June known as ‘The Earth Summit’ in response to climate change which was the first environmental treaty aiming to stabilize greenhouse emissions and the UN framework convention on climate change was signed by 154 countries and also set targets for the reduction of these emissions
• 1997) the Kyoto Protocal was agreed (December) which went into action February 2005 and agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2% from 1990 global levels, in addition placed national limits on emissions as a carbon allowance (countries could either cut emissions or trade carbon credits) 178 countries signed and by 2008 this was 181
• 2007) Bali conference on climate change in Indonesia- the IPCC confirms that there is a greater than 90% chance that global warming in the past 50 years is caused by human activity and they agreed to negotiate a deal to tackle climate change by 2009 which did not happen

Question 24

What is the current information on the Kyoto Protocal (update)?

Answer 24

• very complicated
• some countries that initially signed up to it now no longer do e.g. Canada and others never fully signed up to it e.g. USA
• proved very difficult to get countries to commit to legally binding targets and the future of global agreement is uncertain
• next major event will be December 2015 when representatives from more than 190 countries will meet in Paris to discuss the next steps
• the following is likely to be agreed: Eu will cut emissions by 40% compared to 1990 levels by 2030, US will cut emissions by 28% compared with 2005 levels by 2025 and China will agree that its emissions will peak by 2030

Question 25

What are the global responses to climate change of non-governmental organisations?

Answer 25

• Greenpeace campaign: focus on climate change with use of fossil fuels and wish for energy to be produced more sustainably
  Inefficient power stations–> should become combined heat and power stations with renewable sources
  Transport–> should have low carbon cars, more efficient public transport and less air traffic
  2005–> industry required to reduce emissions or buy carbon credits if they exceed targets

Question 26

What are the local responses to climate change?

Answer 26

School)

• ‘live simply campaign’ 2007 resources for schools to make students think about impact on world and sustainability (catholic church)
• energy efficient water and central heating systems run from renewable resources such as wind turbines or solar panels

Local councils)

• UK target to cut emissions to 15% below 1990 levels by 2010 and 20% by 2020 influenced homeowners since April 2008
• government funded £4 million to help
• cut carbon emissions… giving away free low energy light bulbs, combined heat and power schemes
• best councils e.g. Eastleigh, London, Barking + Dagenham, Middlesborough etc

Local interest groups)

• e.g. ‘Manchester is my planet’ runs a pledge campaign for individuals to cut their carbon footprint
• started 2005, working with local council - green energy projects and 20000 individuals pledged
• pledges: green badge parking permit to reward those for low emissions with 25% discount for 12 month permit for NCP car parks

Question 27

CASE STUDY: Marks and Spencer Plan A

How are they developing more sustainably?

Answer 27

• environmental and ethical plan
• started 2007 with the aim to change 100 things for the better over 5 years with major aim to make UK business carbon neutral
• achieved goals and have now moved onto Plan A 2020 which consists of 100 new and revised existing commitments with the ultimate goal to become the world’s most sustainable major retailer
• achieved by sourcing responsibly, reducing waste and helping communities
• shwopping: working with oxfam to resell, reuse and recycle unwanted clothes, 1 million people did this which raised £2.5 million for oxfam (they also recycled millions of hangers)
• reduced carrier bags taken by 80% and 5p charge supports charity, also reduced packaging by 20% and 90% of packaging used is widely recycled
• reduced carbon emissions by 20% and received carbon trust
• source products sustainably and responsibly e.g. ‘Forever Fish’ WWF approval lines instead of trawling and protect endangered sea life and habitats, fairtrade cotton (sold more than any other retailer), wood, work closely with local producers etc, free range eggs and pay premium to farmers for good herd welfare etccc
• made healthier food taking away additives, preservatives and extra msg
• developed green factories (5) helping reduce waste and water

Question 28

What is sustainable development and where did this definition come from?

Answer 28

development which meets the needs of the present without comprising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
1980 United Nations Brundtland report from concerns over uncontrolled development affecting the environment etc

Question 29

To formulate the sustainable development definition, what 3 areas did the Brundtland report focus on?

Answer 29

• the conservation and enhancement of the environment by the development of new technologies
• the achievement of social equality by developing countries being allowed to meet their basic needs of employment, food, energy, water and sanitation in a sustainable
• the economic growth of all countries in the world
  (these ideas have been developed over 30 years and the values were reiterated in 1997 at a UNESCO meeting which focused on providing for future generations)

Question 30

What are the four key sustainable areas that have been identified in the UK?

Answer 30

• climate change and energy) reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the UK and worldwide while at the same time preparing for the climate change that cannot be avoided e.g. London Flood Barrier, evacuating people from low-lying land
• natural resources) the limits of the resources that sustain life i.e. water, air and soil are understood so they can be used more efficiently (and renewable energy resources)
• sustainable communities) places that people live and work in need to be looked after by implementing ideas such as ecotowns and green energy e.g. Guardian campaign ‘keep it in the ground’ to not use all fossil fuels
• sustainable consumption and production) the ways that products are designed, produced, used and disposed of should be carefully controlled e.g. CHPs -combined heat and power systems and recycling etc

Question 31

How can sustainability be increased in a workplace?

Answer 31

• video conferences (instead of wasting energy and fuel for people to travel, helps to reduce transport emissions with less people travelling which reduces company’s carbon footprint)
• only do the necessary number of washes (saves energy/electricity from being wasted and reduces water usage and soap powder e.g.Travel Lodge)
• recycling with separate waste bins (saves energy needed to sort things and makes sure more is recycled, schools often do this coupled with being encouraged to switch off lights and control computers)
• emails instead of letters (saves paper and many companies aim to become paperless in the future)
  (tourist destinations- provide a variety of ways to recycle waste e.g. sustainable development in Dartmoor national park)

Question 32

What does sustainable transport mean?

Answer 32

maintaining the standard of transport that is required for society and the economy to function efficiently without placing too much pressure on the environment

Question 33

In the Sustainable Development Strategy for the UK, what are the 5 things the government has stated that it needs to do?

Answer 33

1 take action to control the rate of traffic growth- could increase tax rates on cars
2 improve the performance in vehicles- make cars more efficient, give rewards to sustainable car manufacturers, set guidelines, road tax (less tax for more efficient car)
3 make the public aware about the environmental impacts of polluting emissions from transport- advertisement, campaigns e.g. Act on CO2
4 encourage people to reduce car dependency
5 provide affordable alternative public transport systems (to allow reduced car dependency)

Question 34

Why are people becoming more dependent on the use of private cars?

Answer 34

• don’t have to worry aboput cancellations or time limitations of public transport - reliability
• available all the time - convenience
• long distance commute jobs creates dependency on cars
• freedom - can choose where you go
• can take lots of stuff
• in control

Question 35

Why is it easier to develop public transport in some cities rather than others?

Answer 35

• some have more public transport already
• some are more developed and harder to change than others e.g. sewer systems
• HICs have tourism etc and can afford to do it but LICs may struggle

Question 36

What are the aims of congestion charging?

Answer 36

• to reduce the number of vehicles entering the city which will ease traffic congestions and therefore lower pollution costs
• it will hopefully lead to more sustainable form of transport like walking, cycling or public transport being used

Question 37

CASE STUDY: London congestion charging zone
fist city to introduce a congestion charge was Singapore in 1974 and other such as Oslo and Stockholm … when was it set up in London, what are the benefits and why is it still controversial?

Answer 37

When:
- introduced in 2003
- by 2008 there were obvious benefits
Benefits:
- traffic levels reduced by 21%
- 65000 fewer car journeys daily
- increase of 29000 bus passengers entering zone during morning peak push period
- 12% increase in cycle journeys within the zone
- 12% reduction in emissions of nitrous oxide and fine particulates
Controversial:
- charge is £11.50 per day between 7:00 - 18:00 monday to friday but can reduce costs by £1 per day with autopay
- residents living in the area can get a 90% discount and there is no public charge in public holidays, weekends etc

Question 38

What other sustainable transport schemes are operating in cities today?

Answer 38

• car sharing (if 1/2 UK motorists shared a lift one day a week, vehicle congestion and pollution would be reduced by 10% and traffic jams by 20%)
• designated cycle and walking paths within urban area (e.g. Milton Keynes with 273km cycle paths)
• road lanes that only allow cars with at least 2 passengers to use them
• pedestrianised areas which restrict public vehicle access but allow buses and trams to operate
• road lanes which give priority to buses, ensuring they get passage through congested areas (bus lanes)
• restricting car parking in central urban areas so motorists are forced to use public transport

Question 39

What are the 2 ways to manage traffic in urban areas?

Answer 39

1
respond to increasing demand by building more roads- this might help congestion but will eventually lead to even more vehicles and an increase in pollution levels e.g. M25 road built from success to 15 years down the line being congested
2
reduce traffic with a range of sustainable schemes- a wide range of sustainable transport schemes have been introduced around the world to alleviate the problems of congestion and pollution

Question 40

CASE STUDY: Cambridge park and ride

How has this helped to manage congestion?

Answer 40

• developed in the 1980s and introduced 1994, focusing on custom needs
• central business district is the oldest part of the city and not able to cope with traffic flows (narrow roads) which had been increasing with commuters and increased car ownership etc
• park and ride helped to solve problems such as traffic jams, saved millions in not having to install traffic lights, lowered pollution levels in city centre, saved lost work hours and helped increase parking
• easily accessible and the sites are all well lit with security systems along with facilities such as waiting rooms and toilets
• e.g Trumpington, Cowley Road, Madingley Road
• park in car park off M11/A14 with around 4500 spaces, get bus to main centre (£2.20 per day), each bus carries up to 70 people running every 10 minutes monday to saturday and every 15 minutes on sunday
• however, traffic can still occur with some deciding to travel in private cars into city ‘for free’

Question 41

CASE STUDY: Santander cycle hire scheme in London

How does it work as a sustainable transport scheme?

Answer 41

• lots of docking stations
• available 24 hours a day
• members can have key access
• requires debit/credit card
• 14+ to ride, 18+ to purchase
• can hire up to 4
• docking stations 300-400 metres apart
• ride: first 30 mins free and additional periods up to 30 mins is £2, hire: £2 for 24 hour access
• return: within 24 hours, £300 fine if damaged/unreturned

reduces congestion and is more sustainable with less pollution

Question 42

CASE STUDIES: the effects of resource extraction from tropical rainforests
- learn the locations but check folder for more information

Answer 42

Mining in Brazil) uses wood to power pig iron plants–> annual deforestation of 6100km2, mercury used in gold mining–> very toxic, 90% of fish contaminated, conflict between Indigenous people and gold prospectors

Oil extraction in Ecuador) toxic water with crude oil seeps out of unlined pits–> pollutes surrounding area and freshwater, higher miscarriage rate amongst the indigenous people as hydrocarbons in water is 200-300 x more than permissible to drink and stomach cancer is 5 x more frequent, many plants becoming endangered e.g. periwinkle used as cure for childhood leukemia

Gas project Peru) deforestation–> destruction of habitats, threat to animals, changed drainage patterns, causes landslides and soil erosion–> silts river = less fish to be caught = higher malnutrition rate, indigenous people caught diseases they aren’t immune to from employees, only 1 in 4 Nanti live to be teenagers, many roads have been built which causes people to settle and destroy forest further by building farms

Logging in Cameroon) roads built by logging companies has opened the forest up to illegal loggers and commercial hunting of mammals such as elephants, employ indigenous Baka Pigmies to show people to best trees which destroys their home, Baka Pigmies are also employed in saw mills but not given protective clothing from toxic products which get into their lungs

Mining in Indonesia) 285000 tonnes of untreated waste is dumped in the river Aghawagon each day–> pollutes river and coastal area poisoning fish, locals have a water shortage, crocodiles and tortoises in area of Teluk Etna now on brink of extinction and locals are exploited with lowest paid jobs

Question 43

CASE STUDIES: examples of tropical rainforest management

- learn places and look a folder for more details

Answer 43

French Guinea) refused IAMGOLD Canadian company access to build goldmine in Kaw swamp as it would have affected the biodiversity of 700 plant species, 100 different animals and 254 bird species

Venezuela) since 2008, government not issued any more permits to mine for gold/diamonds in Imataca rainforest reserve as it does not have to exploit minerals for economic reasons due to oil reserves- can protect biodiversity and local people who had been attacked

Costa Rica) developing rainforest in a sustainable way through eco tourism and its plant species- tourist facilities such as zip wires through forest and government has allowed the American company Merch to look for plants to make medicines/fragrances and they will receive a share of profits

Madagascar) 2001, Givaudan, a Swiss company sent a team there to survey for new fragrances and developed 40 new aromas which were then sold- the company shared the profits with local communities through conservation and development initiatives

Malaysia) government rejected plans to build coal-fired power plant at Silam (island of Borneo), as it was too close to ecologically sensitive areas, did not want to pollute area and wanted to find more environmentally friendly forms of energy–> trying not to exploit resources at expense of rainforest and is instead developing eco tourism to emphasise natural attractions in the biologically diverse tropical rainforest