IR 002: Lecture 22 Flashcards
When was the ozone hole created over the Antarctic?
1970s
What are the consequences of the ozone hole?
- Skin cancer
- Eye cataracts
- Impairment of immune systems
- Degradation of Crops
What is the current state of the ozone hole?
It has been shrinking for the past 10 years
Approximately how many oil tanker accidents occurred between 1970 - 2008?
1700 spills releasing ~5.7 million tons of oil
How many hectares of forest have been depleted since 1990?
~80 million hectares
What are the consequences of deforestation?
- Less biodiversity
- Acceleration of global warming
What is the main consequence of global warming?
- Higher average temperatures (less suitable farm land and high possibility of extinction for many species)
What represents 80% of global carbon dioxide?
Fossil fules
What are the security consequences of global warming?
- 400000 deaths yearly
- Air pollution
- Food/water scarcity
- Rising sea levels
- Heat and droughts (leads to famine)
- Spread of disease
- Increased frequency of natural disasters
- Climate refugees
What are some the reasons for growing conflicts among states due to global warming?
Competition for:
- Land
- Resources
- Access/passage
- Water
What past events have informed our current understanding of global warming and fought against it?
- Late 1960s: Industrial production processes
- 1987 Bruntland report: Concept of sustainable development
- 1933 Rio Summit: Linked human activities to climate change
- 1997 Kyoto Protocol: Pledge to reduce greenhouse gases but no obligation
- 2015 Paris Agreement: Keep the rise of global temperatures below 2°C (196 signatures but no enforcement)
Why should we be optimistic about the future of global warming?
- Transition to green energy is close
- We can mitigate the worst aspects of climate change
- We may soon be able to do geoengineering (scientific techniques to change weather patterns)
Why should we be pessimistic about the future of global warming?
- The situation is worsening fast
- Obstacles to global mobilization remain significant
- China is the worst polluter and the main green energy investor
- Climate change mitigation will stir conflicts