Climate change



                                                                www.nytimes.com 

Carrie Fung, who is a sustainability consultant working on sustainability fields with reducing human's impact on planet earth aims, told us about Climate change and its impact on our life then started to sort the causes of this phenomenon. I could realise more about it when the simulator website www.Climateinteractive.org was introduced to me by her. Everything Was possible on it and we can act and make a decision like governments for each country by changing different factors such as carbon removal, transport, population growth and nuclear energy usage and assess their impact on climate change by using bar charts and line graphs. 
          


About UK and according to assets.publishing.service.gov.uk, The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the resulting restrictions introduced across the UK had a major impact on various aspects of society and the economy in 2020 and 2021 and this had a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions in the UK over this period.

• Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the UK are provisionally estimated to have increased by 6.3% in 2021 from 2020, to 341.5 million tonnes (Mt), and total greenhouse gas emissions by 4.7% to 424.5 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). Compared to 2019, the most recent pre-pandemic year, 2021 CO2 emissions are down 5.0% and total greenhouse gas emissions are down 5.2%. Total greenhouse gas emissions were 47.3% lower than they were in 1990.
• This increase in 2021 is primarily due to the increase in the use of road transport as nationwide lockdowns were eased, along with increases in emissions from power stations and the residential sector. CO2 emissions from transport rose 10.0% in 2021, accounting for almost half of the overall increase from 2020, and in power stations they rose by 9.2% due to an increased demand for electricity and the first increase in the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation from power stations since 2012. CO2 emissions from the residential sector increased by 5.8% due to the colder weather in 2021 compared to 2020.

                                                          
                                                                                    www.lboro.ac.uk

 

Upcoming change to Global Warming Potentials

 As detailed in the introduction section, emissions of each greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, fluorinated gases) are expressed in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e), recognising the different global warming potentials (GWP) of the different gases.
Figures for GWPs are set out in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Reports (AR). In this publication, emissions estimates are primarily based on 100- year AR4 GWPs, consistent with international reporting and carbon trading protocols up to 2020. While this report covers the period up to 2021, we've retained the use of AR4 GWPs for consistency with our final GHG emissions 1990-2020 publication from February. We've included AR5 GWPs in the dataset accompanying this publication and an alternative AR5 version of one of the tables, ahead of the full transition to AR5 GWPs next year.
In November 2021, it was agreed by the international community at COP26 that greenhouse gas emissions shall be reported under the Paris Agreement transparency framework using 100-year AR5 GWPs (without climate-carbon feedback).Therefore, emissions estimates will primarily be based on 100-year AR5 GWPs in this publication next year.
As carbon dioxide is the base against which other greenhouse gas emissions are weighted and reported (MtCO2e), it’s GWP always remains 1, so there is no change to carbon dioxide emissions estimates. Therefore, as most UK greenhouse gas emissions are from carbon dioxide (80.4% in 2021 using AR4 GWPs), the difference in total emissions when reported in AR5 instead of AR4 is small: a 1.0% increase in 1990 and a 0.8% increase in 2021. The difference in non-CO2 emissions when reporting in AR5 compared to AR4 results in an increase of 4.1% and 3.8% for 1990 and 2021 respectively.
andemic and the resulting restrictions introduced across the UK had a major impact on various aspects of society and the economy in 2020 and 2021 and this had a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions in the UK over this period.
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the UK are provisionally estimated to have increased by 6.3% in 2021 from 2020, to 341.5 million tonnes (Mt), and total greenhouse gas emissions by 4.7% to 424.5 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e). Compared to 2019, the most recent pre-pandemic year, 2021 CO2 emissions are down 5.0% and total greenhouse gas emissions are down 5.2%. Total greenhouse gas emissions were 47.3% lower than they were in 1990.
• This increase in 2021 is primarily due to the increase in the use of road transport as nationwide lockdowns were eased, along with increases in emissions from power stations and the residential sector. CO2 emissions from transport rose 10.0% in 2021, accounting for almost half of the overall increase from 2020, and in power stations they rose by 9.2% due to an increased demand for electricity and the first increase in the use of fossil fuels for electricity generation from power stations since 2012. CO2 emissions from the residential sector increased by 5.8% due to the colder weather in 2021 compared to 2020.

Global warming effects

Global warming, also known as climate change, refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature caused by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Here are some of the effects of global warming:

  1. Rising temperatures: The global average temperature has increased by about 1°C since pre-industrial times, and is projected to rise by 1.5°C to 5°C by the end of this century. This rise in temperature causes changes in weather patterns, including more frequent and severe heat waves, droughts, and heavy rainfall events.

  2. Melting ice and rising sea levels: As the Earth's temperature rises, ice in glaciers and polar regions melt, causing sea levels to rise. Sea levels have risen about 8 inches (21 centimeters) since 1880, and are projected to rise another 1 to 4 feet (0.3 to 1.2 meters) by the end of this century. This can cause flooding, erosion, and loss of habitat for many species.

  3. Changes in precipitation: Global warming can cause changes in precipitation patterns, with some areas experiencing more frequent and intense rainfall events, while others experience prolonged droughts. This can lead to food and water shortages, and can also cause landslides and other natural disasters.

  4. Extinction of species: Many species are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns, and habitat loss. As a result, many species are already experiencing declines in population, and some are at risk of extinction.

  5. Health impacts: Global warming can also have negative impacts on human health, including increased risk of heat-related illnesses, respiratory problems from air pollution, and the spread of diseases carried by insects.

These are just a few examples of the effects of global warming. It is important to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change to protect the planet and its inhabitants.


All in all, natural systems around the world are being affected by regional climate changes, particularly temperature increases, and that these temperature increases are very likely to be the result of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. 





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