University Requirement

All Programs

Module : Climate Change and Sustainability (ESD 217)

Climate Change
&
Sustainability
Lectures schedule
 Climate Change Concept
 Sustainability Concept
 Climate vs. Weather
 Climate change over years
 Climate change causes
 Climate System
 Climate indicators
 Climate data
 Sustainable Development Goals
Course Assessment

 Midterm 20%

 Project 30%

 Final exam 50%

Citizens in every country need to understand climate change
and what it means for them and the world.

The course introduces key climate actions, such as

adaptation, low carbon development, climate finance, and
climate negotiations. Moreover, it introduces sustainability
concept and sustainable development goals
WHOA!
Climate Change

Sustainability

Sustainable Development
 Climate

The Climate defined as the "average weather", or as the statistical description in

terms of the mean and variability of relevant quantities over a period of time
ranging from months to thousands or millions of years.
 Weather

The weather is the mix of events that happen each day in

our atmosphere. Even though there's only one atmosphere
on Earth, the weather isn't the same worldwide. Weather is
different in different parts of the world and changes over
minutes, hours, days, and weeks.
 Climate vs. Weather
 “Weather is one football game, climate is the history of the National Football League.”

 Climate tells you what clothes to buy, weather tells you what clothes to wear.
 Weather vs. Climate

Weather Climate

Refers to short-term changes in Describes what the weather is

the atmosphere like over a long period of time
in a specific area
 Climate vs. Weather

 Different regions can have different climates. To describe the Climate of a place, we might say what
the temperatures are like during different seasons, how windy it usually is, or how much rain or
snow typically falls.

 When scientists talk about Climate, they're often looking at averages of precipitation, temperature,
humidity, sunshine, wind, and other measures of weather that occur over a long period in a
particular place.

 In some instances, they might look at these averages over 30 years. And, we refer to these three-
decade averages of weather observations as Climate Normal.
 Can you distinguish Weather from Climate?
It feels hotter than usual right now in Bali (Weather- Climate)

Freezing temperature in Toronto for 7 days in a row (Weather- Climate)

The dry season in Kenya is from June to October (Weather- Climate)

Thailand has high humidity all year around (Weather- Climate)

The climate system is the result of a delicate energy balance...

Out going Energy The balance

Incoming Energy Absorbed Energy

 Incoming Energy

 The sun is the single most important source of energy for the earth.

 The temperature on our planet results from the balance between

energy coming into the earth from the sun (solar radiation) and the
energy leaving the Earth into outer space (Energy balance)

 an estimate of 343 watts per m2 reaches the planet, but only 240
watts per m2 passes through the atmosphere
 Outgoing energy

 About half the solar radiation striking the Earth and its atmosphere is
absorbed in the surface.

 The other half is absorbed by the atmosphere or reflected back into

space by clouds, small particles in the atmosphere, snow, ice and
deserts at the earth’s surfaces.

 Part of the energy absorbed at the earth’s surface is radiated back or

re admitted to the atmosphere and space in the form of heat or thermal
energy.
 Absorbed energy

 Solar energy is absorbed by the Earth’s surface and warms it.

 The conversion of energy into heat causes the emission of long-

wave (infrared) radiation back into the atmosphere

 Not all radiation makes it out into space –some is trapped by clouds
and greenhouse gases and is reemitted back to the Earth’s surface
 The balance

 The temperature we feel is the balance of the heat energy that is

trapped on Earth by the planet’s atmosphere.

 The thermal radiation absorbed and reflected back to the Earth’s

surface by Greenhouse gas allows for an average temperature on Earth
of around 14°c well above 19 °c

 More GHG in the atmosphere can trap more heat, and lead to a gradual
increase in temperature and changes in the climate
How has the climate on Earth evolved in the
past?
Past 2 billion Years

55 Million years

500,000 - 100,000 years ago

10000 years until now

Past 2 billion Years
During the last 2 billion years the Earth's climate has alternated between a frigid "Ice House",
and a steaming “Hothouse", like the world of the dinosaurs. During the ‘greenhouse’ period,
there is a lot more liquid water on the planet, while during ‘icehouse’ world the climate is cold
enough to support large sheets of ice, sometimes covering the entire planet
 55 Million years
The most recent transition between those phases occurred about 55 million years ago when
the temperature reached a thermal maximum followed by a long period of cooling, which we
are currently experiencing.
500,000 - 100,000 years ago
500,000 - 100,000 years ago a period of hot and cold fluctuations occurred. Samples from
the Arctic ice show that over a period of several hundred thousand years, the great ice
sheets that covered parts of North America and Europe have melted in a series of
temperature surges, each one occurring approximately every 100,000 years. This leads us
to the last 10,000 years.

10000 years until now

The last 10,000 years are known as the Holocene. They have been uniquely stable and
warm. Sea level stabilized at its current level about 7,000 years ago. This has allowed
human civilization to develop. Even though temperatures were fairly stable compared to
previous periods, there have still been slight climate variations in the recent climate history,
such as a temperature decline between about 1600 and 1850, known as the Little Ice Age.
 What causes changes in climate?
Earth’s climate does not change without a reason. Many factors may influence it over long periods of time.
Such factors are known as "climate forcing".

Solar variability Volcanic activities Changes in the Carbon

cycle
 Solar variability

Solar variation, the change in the amount of

radiation emitted by the Sun, or small
changes in the Earth’s rotation in orbit may
change the amount of energy Received by the
sun. However in the past 140 years, we have
experienced very little solar variation
 Volcanic activities

Unpredictable volcanic eruptions can also

cause climate disruption. Large eruption inject
aerosols into the atmosphere, which cools the
earth’s surface.
Changes in the Carbon cycle

When is the amount of carbon dioxide and

other Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
increases, this has a direct casual effect on
changes in the climate.
Climate system
 Climate System

Sun Geosphere Atmosphere Hydrosphere Biosphere

01. Sun
Sun is the source of an enormous amount of energy,
a portion of which provides Earth with the light and
heat necessary to support life
02. Geosphere
Massive rocky material

 It breakdown to form soil – to grow plants

 99% of carbon is founded in rocks and sediments
 03. Atmosphere
• Nitrogen N2 78%
• Oxygen O2 21%
• Other gases
 Greenhouse gases
• Water vapour
• Carbon dioxide
• Methane
• Nitrous oxide
Aerosols
• Ozone Shiny Aerosols ------------ Reflect lights
Dark Aerosols ------------- Absorb lights
04. Hydrosphere
Water

• Oceans 97%
• Glaciers and ice sheets 2%
• Water droplets

Dark Oceans …………………… Absorbs Lights

Ice and clouds ………………… Reflects Lights
 05. Biosphere
• Human Part of the biosphere – Deforestation
• Living things – exchange carbon and oxygen with atmosphere

Vegetation ………………… absorbs Lights

Desert /grass lands …………………… reflects lights
In the oceans ……….life releases carbon
Rocks Water

Climate
system

Life Gases
 Global Carbon
Temperature dioxide

Climate
Indicators

Sea level rise

Ocean heat

Precipitation
 Climate Indicators

Global tempreture Carbon dioxide (CO2)

• 2017 the warmest years in record • CO2 = 403 PPM in 2016

• 2013- 2017 were the warmest 5 years on record

 Climate Indicators

Ocean heat Sea level rise

Ocean absorb 94% of the heat due to increased Co2 It causes Ocean heat + melting ice

ice melting – sea ice the 8th lowest summer minimum in2017
 Climate Indicators

Precipitation

Precipitation is a form of water from the atmosphere. It is a term in meteorology, and

includes rain, snow, sleet, ice pellets dew, frost, and hail. These form by condensation
from atmospheric water vapor, and fall under gravity. Fog and mist are not precipitation
but suspensions.
 What has changed in Numbers and Graphs
Surface Temperature
• Warming since the mid-18th century is estimated to be around 1.1 degree Celsius.

• The surface temperature has been increasing by 0.1 degree Celsius every 5-6 years since
the 1970s.

• 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 are the four warmest years on record.
 Greenhouse Gases

• In 2017, the global levels of CO2 concentration in the atmosphere passed 405 parts per
million (ppm) and will not decrease for generations to come. This does not include other
greenhouse gases or aerosols, which also affect the climate.

• The concentration of other greenhouse gases such as CH4 and N2O were also the highest on
record in 2018.

• Together, land-use change and fossil CO2 emissions reached an estimated 41.5 ± 3.0 billion
tons of CO2 in 2018. You might find this also expressed in gig tons or GtCO2.
 Ocean Heat

• More than 90% of the energy trapped by greenhouse gases goes into the oceans. The global
surface temperature has been rising slowly because our oceans have been absorbing most of
the excess energy in the climate system.

• Warming of the upper (0–700 metres) ocean accounted for about 64 % of the total heat
uptake.

• Recent observations also show substantial warming of the deeper ocean (between depths of
700 and 2,000m and below 3,000m).
 Sea Ice

• The extent and volume of Arctic sea ice have declined rapidly since global data became
available, especially in summer.

• In each year between 2007 and 2018, Arctic summer sea ice extent was lower compared to any
previous year since the introduction of satellites in 1979.

• The largest bodies of ice, the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, have been losing large
amounts of ice at an increasing rate since 1992.
 Sea Level

• Global mean sea level in 2016 was the highest yearly average since measurements started in
the late 19th century.

• The rate of sea level rise since 1993, when satellite measurements became available, is around
3 mm/year, compared to 1.2 to 1.7 mm/year prior.

• In 2018, the total sea level change since 1993 was 78 mm.
Ocean Acidity

• In the past decade, the oceans absorbed around 25% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide
emissions. The absorbed carbon dioxide reacts with seawater and leads to ocean acidification.

• Ocean surface pH has declined from 8.2 to below 8.1 over the industrial era as a result of the
increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations. This decline corresponds to an increase in
oceanic acidity of about 30 %.

• Ocean acidification in recent decades has been occurring 100 times faster than during past
natural events over the last 55 million years.
Greenhouse Gases
 The global climate indicators have been tracked for a fairly
long time, in some cases since the 1850s. There is a vast
amount of data that shows what has changed since.

 Everything on our planet is connected - every rock, every

plant and every drop of water are affecting and being
affected by the Earth's climate.

 Each degree matters, each year matters, and each decision

matters: not acting today is adding to the burden of the
next generations. Limiting global warming to 1.5°C is not
impossible but requires strong and immediate policies.
 Greenhouse gases affect our climate. How the Earth's
climate will change in the future depends on the amount of
greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere.
 We use climate indicators, such as temperature, sea level and
ocean acidification, to describe and track the state of the
climate.
 Greenhouse gas emissions have caused a 1.0°C rise in the
global temperature over the past 150 years.
 The ocean has become hotter and more acid. Glaciers and sea
ice are losing mass.
 These global changes will continue as carbon dioxide
continues to accumulate.
 Carbon futures

By adding carbon data into climate models, scientists have

come up with different possible emissions pathways leading
us to the year 2100. Depending on the amounts of
greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, different global
mean surface temperature changes are projected.
2018:
carbon dioxide emission is 41.5 GtCO2/ Year if this trend continues the global temperature will
increase by over 3 degrees Celsius

0:
In this scenario there is no further climate policy implemented and, being consistent with current pledges by
countries, the emissions continue to increase driving the temperature up to 3 degrees and more.
P1: No overshoot

A scenario in which social business and technological innovations results in lower energy demand up to 2050
while living standards rise, especially in the global south a downsized energy system enables rapid
decarbonization of energy supply. Afforestation is the only carbon dioxide removal option considered

P2: limited overshoot

A scenario with a broad focus on sustainability including energy intensity, human development, economic
convergence and international cooperation, as well as shifts towards sustainability and health
consumption patterns, low carbon technology innovation and well managed land system with limited
societal acceptability for carbon capture and storage .
P3: Middle of the road
A scenario in which societal as well as technological development follows historical patterns. Emission
reduction are mainly achieved by changing the way in which energy and products are produced and to a lesser
degree by reduction in demand

P4: Higher overshoot

A resource and energy intensive scenario in which economic growth and globalization lead to widespread
adoption of greenhouse gas intensive lifestyles, including high demand for transportation fuels and
livestock products. Emissions reductions are mainly achieved through technological means, making
strong use of carbon dioxide removal through the deployment of carbon capture and storage
 Projected changes in climate indicators in numbers.
A global surface temperature change of 1.5°C is among the most optimistic scenarios.
Yet, it will still significantly affect our climate indicators.

Sea level 0.26 to 0.77 m global mean sea level rise (relative to 1986–2005)
Coral reefs are projected to decline by a further 70–90%.
Ocean heat and acidification
Global annual catch for marine fisheries will decrease by 1.5 million tones
3°C hotter extreme hot days in mid-latitudes
Temperature anomalies
4.5°C warmer extreme cold nights in high latitudes
Source: IPCC, 2018: Summary for Policymakers. In: Global Warming of 1.5°C.
 Projected changes in climate indicators in numbers.
Carbon emissions leading to a 2°C temperature change is the greatest tolerable change.
It will still vastly affect our climate indicators.

0.30 to 0.83 m global mean sea level rise (relative to 1986–2005)

Sea level
10 million more people exposed to sea-level rise risks (relative to >1.5°C)

Coral reefs are projected to decline by 99%

Ocean heat and
acidification
Global annual catch for marine fisheries will decrease by 3 million tonnes

4°C hotter extreme hot days in mid-latitudes

Temperature anomalies
6°C warmer extreme cold nights in high latitudes

 Higher risks from heavy precipitation and droughts

Other  Higher risks from forest fires

 Risks from some vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever

Source: IPCC, 2018: Summary for Policymakers. In: Global Warming of 1.5°C.
 Climate Data
To understand climate; long time series of data covering

 Decades

 100 years

 50 years

Main reference

Pre- industrial period (1850-1870) – beginning of observational record

 World metrological organization (WMO)
 Weather forecasting

 Climate analysis

Collect Data

National Regional Specialized

centers centers centers
National meteorological and hydrological services
 They collect data every day and every hour

 They collect data on Temperature, snowfall, sunshine

We use data not only for track climate behaviour but also to predict scenarios of future
climate

 GHG concentration is only measured globally

What is the Role of Credible Data and Analysis
 It is hard to trust one's senses when it comes to credibly assess climate change.
Over time, a complex system that collects data and produces credible analysis has been developed.
Forecasts
 A weather forecast is a prediction of what the weather will be like in the short to medium term.
 Weather forecasts are typically accurate up to 7 days in advance.
 A climate forecast or climate prediction is generated on a seasonal, inter-annual or long-term
timescale.
Projections
 Climate projections help us predict the response of the climate system to actors such as the
concentration of GHG emissions.
 Projections depend on assumptions about future socioeconomic and technological
developments.
For example, the uptake of renewable energies.
Models
 A climate model is a complex software which aims to reproduce as faithfully as possible the real
climate system through mathematical simulations.
 Because of the numerous variables related to those complex processes, climate science prepares
different models and compares them
The Global Climate Observing System
The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) was established in 1992 to ensure that the observations and
information needed to address climate-related issues are obtained and made available to all potential users.

The goal of GCOS is to provide comprehensive information on the total climate system, including a range of
physical, chemical and biological properties and atmospheric, oceanic, hydrologic, cryospheric and
terrestrial processes.

The infographic below sums up the various indicators and measurement methods that comprise this
complex system
Did you know that ocean and upper-air observations are
crucial in understanding changes in the climate?

Ocean observed variables

Upper air- observed variables
Is the climate becoming more extreme?
• Extreme weather events have been occurring for 1000s of years

• Not everything it happens entirely due to the climate change

• Scientists can calculate contribution of climate change to extreme weather events

 Attribution science
Attribution science compares climate models at the pre-industrial level of GHG and at the current level of
GHG. If there is a difference in the likelihood of exceeding average meteorological indicators (such as
temperature or rainfall), it can be attributed to man-made climate change.

1.Running a global climate model without climate change (pre- industrial of GHG)

Difference

2.Running a global climate model with climate change (current level of GHG)
Is the climate becoming more extreme?
Option 1
Choose an index such as heat
What is the likelihood of exceeding certain threshold under the two model ?

Option 2
Running a model many times
Does the event occur more frequently with climate change ?
Evidence of Extreme Climate
Heatwaves
• 2018 was the fourth warmest year on record - the fourth one in a row! In itself, this does not
constitute an extreme heat event, which occurs when the daily maximum temperature of more
than five consecutive days exceeds the average maximum temperature by 5 °C (9 °F), the normal
period being 1961–1990.
Evidence of Extreme Climate
Tropical Storms
Tropical storms are known as typhoons, hurricanes and cyclones depending on where they happen in
the world. In 2018, the number of tropical cyclones was above average.
Evidence of Extreme Climate
Flooding and Extreme Rainfall
In August 2019, the south-west Indian state of Kerala suffered major flooding, reportedly the worst
since 1924. Total economic losses were estimated at US$ 4.3 billion.
A Decade of Climate Extremes
• The first decade of the 21st century was the warmest decade recorded since modern
measurements began around 1850.
• It saw above-average precipitation, along with a number of extreme weather events.
• A decadal perspective makes it possible to assess trends and anticipate the future. It can also
inform efforts to develop operational climate services that provide information and forecasts for
decision-making in agriculture, health, disaster risk, water resources and other sectors. Some of
the major heatwaves of the 2001–2010 decade of extremes are highlighted on the map.
A Decade of Climate Extremes
 Canada: warmest and most humid summer 2010
 USA: persistence heatwaves (2005/2007)
 South America: persistence atmospheric blocking pattern (temperatures reached between 35 -40
and it is above the average, which ranges between 20-28)
 Europe: extreme heatwaves in 2003
 Northern Africa: extreme heatwaves 2003 (43 – 44 – 47)
 Western Africa: abnormally high temperature 2002 (50)
 Russia: extreme hot weather condition
 Southern Asia: extreme heatwaves (2002- 2003-2005) (50)
 Japan and china: hottest summer on record (2010)
 Australia: disastrous bush fire (2009)
There is a clear scientific link between the increase in
extreme weather events (such as heatwaves, hurricanes,
and floods) and changes in the climate. The negative
consequences of climate change can be felt anywhere in
the world.
Climate change impact
Risk assessment

 Exposure
 Risk

Climate change can affect

Insurance Public Disaster
1.The species sector health reduction

2.Economic activity
Climate change impact

Exposure
Hazard

Risk

Vulnerability
 Hazard:
Natural or human induced physical events that may have adverse effects on systems.

 Exposure
Presence of human and natural assets in places where hazards may occur

 Vulnerability
The extent to which exposed assets can suffer adverse impact when affected by hazards

 Climate risk
A function of hazards exposure and vulnerability
Climate change impact
The impact is a function of the vulnerability of the exposed assets
Increasing vulnerability, exposure, or severity and frequency of climate hazards increases the climate
or disaster risk.

Example

 In urban areas exposure due to urbanization is high

Sea level rise affects
 Coastal areas
 Island states

Ocean acidification affects

 Coral reefs
 Marine economy
 Food security

Temperature increase affects

 Agriculture
 Human health
Identify the category hazards or exposed assets

Road
Sea-level rise cyclones
networks

changes in Irrigation
Heat waves systems
precipitation
Climate risk in different Regions
Polar Regions
• The Arctic (North)
• The Antarctica (South)

The Arctic is a region centered around the North Pole, which includes the ice-covered Arctic Ocean and
landmasses from Scandinavia, Greenland, Canada, and Alaska. It is the warmer pole, and parts of it are
habitable year-round.

The Antarctica is a continent centered around the South Pole. It holds 90% of the world's ice and 70% of
the freshwater and is the world's coldest corner. The continent doesn't have native people or large
terrestrial mammals but boasts an incredibly diverse marine life with microscopic plankton, whales, and
about 100 species of fish.
How is the Climate changing there?
• The permafrost is thawing
• The coastal sea ice is melting
• The sea level is rising
• Weather intensity is increasing
• All of these are happening at very high rates
• The Temperature is increasing faster than in any other regions (especially the Arctic)
• A nearly ice-free Arctic Ocean in September is likely before 2050
Small Island and the Developing States or SIDS

They are a distinct group of 58 countries located in the Caribbean Sea, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Oceans,
and the South China Sea. SIDS have a special case status because of their small size, remoteness, and
narrow resource base, which, in comparison with other countries, make them inherently vulnerable to
climate change. Their total population of around 65 million people has contributed less than 1% of
global GHG emissions.
How is the Climate changing there?

 Sea-level rise inundating low-lying areas

 Changing rainfall patterns
 Warming and acidification of coastal waters (coral bleaching)
 Storms and flooding (destroying tourist resorts and residential area)
 Land erosion
 Changes in the global water cycle (moving fisheries away)
 Saline intrusion into terrestrial systems
 Degrading ecosystems and habitat loss
 Species shifts in terrestrial systems
 Climate-induced diseases
 Increased weather intensity (casualties and damage)
Oceans
The Earth has one big Ocean. It is often thought of as different ocean basins, such as the Pacific, Atlantic,
Indian, Southern, and Arctic. Holding 97% of all water on Earth, the Ocean is an essential physical
feature of our Planet. It constantly interacts with the atmosphere, cryosphere, and biosphere and
ultimately makes the Earth habitable. The Ocean is actively involved in the Earth's climate system and
the carbon cycle. Changes affecting the Ocean have profound consequences on many physical, chemical,
biological, economic, and social processes on the Planet.
 What is sea-level?

Sea-level is the average height of the Ocean with respect to land, irrespective of tides. Plate tectonics,
ice caps on land melting or growing, ocean water warming/expanding, and cooling/contracting can
affect the sea-level by changing the volume of ocean basins.
How is the Climate changing there?

 Sea surface temperature and heat content of ocean water increase (sensitive marine species and
ecosystems; Temperature plays a key role in many biological processes, such as reproduction and
migration)
 Sea-level rise due to thermal expansion of the Ocean due to warming plus water from melting
glaciers and ice sheets (coastal flooding, increasing penetration of storm surges into coastal areas
and saltwater intrusion of aquifers)
 Changes in the ocean circulation, wind and waves (ocean circulation moves towards the poles and
changes the way nutrients are transported from the deep Ocean)
 Ocean acidification, with lower pH (sensitive marine organisms, coral bleaching)
 Surface salinity is changing (largely unknown impacts)
 Oxygen concentration is decreasing (sensitive marine organisms, leading to seasonal 'dead zones'
Mountains
A mountain typically refers to a landform, possibly underwater, that rises significantly above its
surroundings. Some famous mountains are the Alps in Europe, the Himalayas in Asia, the Andes in South
America, the Urals in Central Asia and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the Atlantic Ocean. Mountains are home
to about 800 million people and are crucial for the provision of water and ecosystem services. Along
their altitude mountains create different microclimates. On a bigger scale, they can also affect the local
Climate by acting as a climatic barrier to air currents or the monsoon flow.
How is the Climate changing there?

 Temperature increases are stronger over land than over the Ocean
 Temperature increases are stronger at high latitudes than in the tropics
 Temperature increases in the tropics are stronger at high altitudes than near the ground (glaciers
retreating, snowpack reducing, albedo effect, permafrost decay and glacial lake formation)
 Important environmental boundaries such as snow lines and freezing lines will move higher up in
the future (shifts in vegetation up or down)
 Changing seasonal precipitation patterns and increasing rainfall at the expense of snowfall (affects
access to water)
 Shorter snow season
 Extreme events such as storms, landslides, avalanches and rockfalls may become more common and
intense in mountain areas
Drylands
Around 40% of the Earth's land surface is made up of drylands, such as the subtropical Sahara Desert
and Australia's outback and the temperate Central Asian steppes as well as western USA and parts of the
Mediterranean.

How is the Climate changing there?

• Drylands will likely continue to expand during the twenty-first century (water scarcity, vegetation die-
offs and land degradation)
• About a third of the temperate drylands may convert to subtropical drylands
• Deep soil layers could be increasingly dry during the growing season (major shifts in vegetation and
ecosystem service delivery)
• Higher density of woody plants, such as shrubs
Small Islands

Waters of Paradise - Adapting to Climate Change in the Maldives

Impacts of climate change on Human life

Slow onset Rapid events

Desertification Hurricanes

Acidification Floods

Sea level rise

Warsaw mechanism for loss and damage

Region Public Losses Private Losses

Social sector
- Education
- Health
Production sector
- Agriculture crops
- Fisheries
- Industry
- Water resources
Infrastructure sector
- Roads
- communication
Total
Climate sensitive sectors

Food and Agriculture

• Change in crop region
• Impact of extreme events
• Effects on food supply
Climate sensitive sectors
Health
• Water borne diseases
• Vector _ borne diseases
• Air borne diseases
Climate sensitive sectors
Energy
• Impact on existing energy system
• New renewable energy source are climate sensitive
Climate sensitive sectors

People
• Exposure
• Gender
• Disaster risk reduction
• Vulnerable communication
• Level of economic development
How do adapt to Climate Change?
 How do adapt to Climate Change?
In human systems, climate change adaptation is the process of
adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects, in order to
moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities..
 Impacts on Various Economic Sectors
Many key economic sectors are affected by long-term changes in
temperature, precipitation, sea-level rise and extreme events, all of
which are impacts of climate change. Those sectors are
 Energy
 Water
 Transport
 Health Care
 Agriculture
 Tourism
Energy
For example, energy is used to keep buildings warm in winter and cool in summer. Changes in
temperature would thus affect energy demand. Climate change also affects energy supply through the
cooling of thermal plants, through wind, solar and water resources for power, and through transport
and transmission infrastructure.
Water
Water demand increases with rising temperature but falls with rising carbon dioxide (CO2)
concentrations. Water supply depends on precipitation patterns and temperature, and water
infrastructure is vulnerable to extreme weather.
Transport
While transport infrastructure is designed to withstand a particular range of weather
conditions, climate change would expose this infrastructure to weather outside historical
design criteria.
Health care
Health care systems are also impacted, as climate change affects a number of diseases and
thus the demand for and supply of health care.
Agriculture
Agriculture is arguably the most climate-sensitive sector. A warming climate has a negative
effect on crop production and generally reduces yields of staple cereals such as wheat, rice, and
maize, which differ between regions and latitudes.
Tourism
Recreation and tourism is one of the largest sectors of the world economy. Many of the
activities in that category are weather-dependent. As holidays are typically planned in advance,
tourism depends on the expected weather and will thus be affected by climate change.
A Case in Point: Agriculture
Agriculture
• This is the sector that is most vulnerable to climate change. The combined effect of climate change
and increasing food demand will pose large risks to food security globally and regionally. Explore the
table below, which demonstrates impacts on crops and livestock, forestry and fisheries, the main
agriculture sub-sectors

• Climate change is a fundamental threat to global food security and a significant hunger risk multiplier

• Food security: exist when all people at all the time have a physical and economic access to sufficient,
safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and
healthy life.
Food security dimensions

 Availability

 Access

 Utilization

 Stability
Food security dimensions
Food security has three dimensions: availability of sufficient quantities of food of appropriate
quality, supplied through domestic production or imports; access by households and individuals
to adequate resources to acquire appropriate foods for a nutritious diet; and utilization of food
through adequate diet, water, sanitation, and health care.
How do we adapt to climate change?
There are three approaches to climate change adaptation

 Risk mitigation or Planned adaptation

This approach is applied when the climate risk is of high frequency and low or medium loss. In
Tuvalu, the climate risk that is explored is a decline in freshwater. To cope with climate risk,
Tulavu developed its National Adaptation Programme of Action.
There are three approaches to climate change adaptation

 Risk transfer or Contingency adaptation

This approach is applied when the climate risk is of low frequency and medium to high loss.
Some extreme events can fall into this category, such as long-term droughts. Risk pooling
mechanisms or approaches to manage migration flows might address this risk.
*Risk pooling = collection and management of resources so that large, unpredictable individual
risks become predictable and are distributed among all members of the pool.
There are three approaches to climate change adaptation

 Coping or Loss acceptance

This approach is applied when the hazard is devastating but very unlikely to happen. Severe
extreme events can fall into this category, such as unprecedented cyclones. Relief support and
humanitarian measures are taken in these cases.
Example
1: Viet Nam
Viet Nam has made considerable progress in recent years to increase collaboration between
state agencies responsible for disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation through the
planning and implementation of joint initiatives. Each state agency keeps distinct mandates,
roles and responsibilities, in accordance with Viet Nam's National Adaptation Plan.
2: India
In India, the urban population is projected to grow by approximately 500 million over the next 50
years. Increased drought and flooding in the very densely populated Indo-Gangetic and
Brahmaputra basins, and in the coastal plains, may precipitate waves of migration into Indian
cities. Indian cities and regions need to manage and absorb such migration flows