Climate Ch

ange: UN
Presentati
on
Madelyn Coble, Stella Higgs, Madison Lawson, John
Hession, Karson Van Scoyoc, Alex Georgiev
1.Is Earth’s Climate
Warming?
Causes/Human Activity
Although there are natural contributors to climate change such as volcanic eruptions, humans are
emitting far more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than the natural sources of carbon emissions.
Our dependence on fossil fuels for energy contributes to climate change because burning fossil fuels
releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

● The transportation sector is the leading contributor of energy-related emissions. This includes internal combustion engine
vehicles that burn fossil fuels and emit greenhouse gases (GHG) as byproducts. The transportation sector also includes
commercial trucks, air transportation, and railways.
● The industrial sector’s factories and power plants also burn fossil fuels. Emissions come from energy use associated with
manufacturing processes such as iron and steel production, mining and refining materials, and construction.
● The residential sector is associated with greenhouse gas emissions as well because most people derive their energy from the
grid. The environmental impact of energy consumption depends on the electricity generation mix (percentage of nonrenewable
and renewable sources that make up the grid’s energy supply) of the grid. A majority of the emissions come from space heating
and cooling. Other things that consume energy includes appliances, water heating, lighting, and electronic devices.
● Agriculture is a human-driven contributor for climate change because farm animals (such as cows) produce methane when they
digest their food. These emissions are magnified with the large amounts of animals raised on a single farm.
 i ss i ons
O₂ Em
a n C
Hum
Confidence
On an international scale, climate scientists appear to agree on the issue of climate change.
The general consensus among all of these scientists is that not only are global warming
and climate change real, but that humans are the primary contributor.

● According to NASA, 97% of scientists agree that global warming is real.

● The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is one of the more
significant contributors to this issue.
Research
While GHGs are a major contributor to global warming, scientists are becoming more worried about another factor that could
drastically affect the climate system. This is known as secondary changes or climate feedback. The reason for concern over
these factors is because they could double the warming we are experiencing. Scientists need more information on these
secondary changes to better understand global warming

● Snow and Ice

○ When permafrost melts due to global warming, it releases large amount of methane into the atmosphere
○ In addition to this, with snow and ice levels reducing, the sun’s energy is no longer being reflected as much but rather
being absorbed which brings more energy into the Earth
● Water Vapor
○ Water vapor contributes to ⅔ of greenhouse warming making it a major concern to climate scientists
● Clouds
○ Clouds at the moment having a cooling effect due reflecting more of the sun’s energy than they absorb from greenhouse
gases
○ Climate scientists are worried about if this could change in a warmer climate where clouds could absorb more energy
than they reflect
● The Carbon Cycle
○ For water, global warming reduces the amount of dissolved carbon dioxide that oceans can hold
○ In the instance of land, the carbon sinks will not be as effective once plants reach saturation
2. What Choices do
Humans Have to
Combat Climate
Change?
Personal Choices
● Using public transportation, biking, walking for commutes to reduce emissions.
(Flying less)
○ Personal transportation, especially cars emit very high levels of greenhouse gasses per capita, while
public transportation does not.
● Reducing home energy use by altering personal preferences.
○ Keeping your home warmer in summer months and colder in the winter can drastically reduce energy
consumption. Other activities, like reduced water use can also contribute to increasing sustainability.
An example of this would be shortening your shower time.
● Eating less meat, especially beef.
○ Cows produce large amounts of methane because of the way their digestive systems work. This excess
methane contributes to the greenhouse gas effect.
● Utilizing renewable energy sources.
○ This includes installing geothermal wells for residential heating and cooling, and installing solar panels
on rooftops.
Local Choices
● Implementing sustainable living methods in both residential and commercial zones.
○ Urban planners have an important role in working with local officials and residents to plan for the future.
● Creating communities that are “walkable”
○ Shops, housing, and recreation areas should all be within walking distance of one another. This decreases the need for
personal vehicles that contribute to excessive carbon dioxide emissions.
● Utilizing green rooftops
○ Traditional roofing contributes to the urban heat island effect. Green rooftops solve this issue by reducing the surface area
for sunlight to be absorbed and re-emitted. Instead of panelling, roofs are covered with gardens. The plants absorb excess
carbon dioxide and the sun’s UV rays.
● Including innovative building design within communities
○ These include whole-house systems approach focused on all variables that affect energy use within a home, cool roofs
that reflect more sunlight, and ultra-efficient homes that incorporate active and passive solar heating systems.
● Increasing the availability of electric charging stations for cars and hydrogen refueling stations for fuel cell vehicles.
● Increasing the percentage of the grid’s electricity generation mix that consists of renewable energy sources.
Green Rooftops
-Benefits include improved air quality
and stormwater management, increased
biodiversity, and management of the
urban heat island effect.

-Plants help to cool cities during warm

months through evaporation and daily
dew. Plants covering black rooftops also
leads to a cooling effect. Green rooftops
reduce the distribution of dust, which
can be a contributor to smog and
reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
National Choices

● Funding Research
○ Allocating resources to researching renewable energy and other sustainability technologies like carbon
capture to allow more efficient reduction of emissions and overall impact.
● More restrictive emissions caps/corporate taxes
● Participation in international agreements
○ National participation in international agreements not only streng
● Protecting land/bodies of water
○ In addition to conserving biodiversity, protecting land, specifically forests, protects major carbon sinks
from being harvested and released into the atmosphere.
Global Choices
● Increase accessibility to and efficiency of clean and renewable energy sources to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
○ According to C2ES.org, renewable sources (hydropower, biomass, wind, etc) accounted for 26.2% of all energy
consumption in 2018 and is expected to rise to 45% by 2040.
● Incorporate sustainable urban planning methods within capital and landmark cities.
○ Cities are landmarks for their countries. Five cities known for their sustainability are Copenhagen, Denmark;
San Francisco, California; Vancouver, Canada; Stockholm, Sweden, and Singapore.
○ For example, Copenhagen set a goal to become the world’s first carbon neutral capital by 2025. Its energy
efficient district heating and cooling system saves nearly 70% of the energy compared to traditional systems.
Encouraging other cities to follow this model will catalyze diffusion throughout the world.
● Cooperation between nations and continuation of sustainability studies.
○ Developed nations will take advantage of their research facilities to develop technologies and methods that can
distribute sustainability to developing nations who do not have access to these resources.
○ Annual UN climate conventions between scientists of developed and developing countries can discuss new
findings and encourage cooperation between nations.
3. What Policy
Recommendations Do
You Have for UN
Member States?
Global Economic Choices:
● Carbon Taxes:
Directly discourage excessive corporate carbon emissions by taxing them heavily.
● Clean Energy Financial Incentives/Tax Reductions:
Similar to carbon taxes, but offering an incentive for development rather than a
penalty for failure to become sustainable.
● Carbon trading schemes: (see next slide)
Carbon Trading Schemes
● Carbon Trading Schemes:
Carbon trading schemes allow for entities to
sell off their “carbon debt” to others, who
are then responsible for negating and ideally
profiting from it. The goal is to have a net
reduction in overall carbon emissions, and
has been proven effective in both the EU
and Australia.
Global Social and Political Options:
● UN member countries should organize treaties and agreements in order to hold
each other accountable for their actions in response to climate change.
○ Shared policies should focus on increased use of renewable resources, monitoring of
greenhouse gas emissions, and other efforts to reduce climate change
● These movements should strive to meet shared goals and data should be collected
in order to keep countries accountable for their actions or lack of actions.
● Aside from treaties, the countries of the United Nations should fund new
discoveries and more sustainable energy sources.
Industrialized vs. Developing Countries
● Different countries from various parts of the world will need to respond in
different ways
○ Industrialized countries that are already financially developed should invest
in plans that attack the greenhouse gas emissions they have already
produced.
○ Developing countries need support and financial aid to develop their
industry using sustainable practices. The main focus of developing countries
should be to grow their economy starting with energy-efficient goals.
Encouraging Sustainable
Development: A Key
Priority
Extra Sources Cited:
https://climate.nasa.gov/faq/17/do-scientists-agree-on-climate-change/

https://www.un.org/en/sections/what-we-do/promote-sustainable-development/

https://www.koshland-science-museum.org/explore-the-science/earth-lab/causes

http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/tar/wg2/index.php?idp=298

https://climaterealityproject.org/blog/five-sustainable-cities-making-difference-planet

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union_Emission_Trading_Scheme

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/GlobalWarming/page1.php