Responses to climate Change Global scale responses - Global agreements between nations June 1992 UN held meeting in Rio called Earth Summit, decision made by most powerful countries in the world about their response to climate change. Result of meeting was first international environmental treaty aimed to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions. Treaty led to the Kyoto Protocol signed at the Kyoto conference in December 1997 and came into force in February 2005. Countries that signed and ratified protocol agreed to cut greenhouse gas emission by 5.2% compared with 19990 levels globally. Each country agreed to national limit on emissions ranging from 8% for EU, 7% for USA, 6% Japan, 0% Russia. Also allowed increases of 10% for Iceland and 8% for Australia as they weren't using all their carbon allowance. In order to achieve targets countries could either cut emissions or trade with other countries in carbon. Meant countries could buy carbon credits from another country ex. Iceland could trade 2% of its carbon credits with the EU to enable EU to meet its target of 8%. By 2008 181 countries had signed the Kyoto Protocol. In December 2007 further Climate Change conference took place on island of Bali, Indonesia where representatives of more than 180 countries were present. Result of meeting was the Bali Road map in which initiatives were agreed to try reach a secure future climate.

Actions of non-governmental organisations:
NGO's like Greenpeace focusing campaign against climate change on the use of fossil fuels, they're trying to get governments, especially UK government, to change their policies so that energy is produced in a more sustainable way - have number of solutions on their website: www.greenpeace.org.uk

Local scale responses By schools:
'Livesimply' campaign ran throughout the whole of 2007, initiated by Catholic Church to encourage students to consider how they make choices in life, provide a number of resources for schools which made students think about their impact on the world and sustainability. many schools introducing energy efficient water and central heating systems run from renewable sources like wind turbines or solar panels, schools also have notices to switch off lights.

By local councils:
Uk's target to cut carbon emissions to 15% below the 1990 levels by 2010 and 20% by 2020, government believes that the local councils are important in the reduction of carbon emissions as they have an influence on local home owners - 15% of UK's carbon emissions are produced by houses. Since April 2008 local councils' success in cutting carbon emissions has been one of their targets. To help them meet these targets the government has given them 4 million pounds, idea is for those local councils that have already introduced ideas to cut carbon emissions to help those that haven't worked. Six best councils are Eastleigh Borough Council, City of London, Barking and Dagenham, Middlesbrough, Woking Borough Council and Worcestershire County Council. These councils have all introduce schemes which have cut carbon emissions. Changes can be as simple as giving away free low energy light bulb or more sophisticated as Woking's CHP (combined heat and power) scheme.

By local interest groups:
One group is 'Manchester is my planet'. Group is running a pledge campaign to encourage individuals to reduce their carbon footprint and become involved in a number of green energy projects - group started in 2005 and works with the local council. Now 20,000 individuals who have pledged to work towards a low carbon future. One of the initiatives is the Green Badge parking Permit - people who own cars have been recognised as having low carbon emissions can apply for a Green Badge parking Permit which allows car owners to buy an annual parking permit for NCP car parks within Greater Manchester at a 25% discount, permit is valid for 12 months.

Attitudes towards climate change:

Some think cars don't make that much difference
Trees being cut down in Amazon but think enough are being replanted in UK and USA
Some think just another warm period gives reason for melting glaciers and rising sea levels
Monitoring in the South Pacific shows that sea levels are rising but at a normal rate - no acceleration. Just the media reporting the worst case scenario and ignoring and 'good news'.
Scientists estimated the sea levels rose by 15 to 20 cm during the twentieth century this cannot be allowed to continue as many of our larger cities like London or New York are on the coast.
Believe technology will lead to solutions for climate change
Experts seem to be always arguing about rising sea levels - evidence is conflicting causing some not to believe.
Issue of cows really emitting so much methane and how cows have always been in UK can't understand the problem

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Pertaining to Unit 1

Climate change: Case studies