Global Warming factsheet - Animal Aid · Global warming is probably the greatest environmental...

GGlloobbaall wwaarrmmiinngg iiss pprroobbaabbllyy tthhee ggrreeaatteesstt eennvviirroonnmmeennttaall tthhrreeaatt ffaacciinngg ppllaanneett EEaarrtthh ttooddaayy.. TThhiiss ffaaccttsshheeeett llooookkss aatt tthhee ppootteennttiiaallllyy ddeevvaassttaattiinngg iimmppaaccttss ooff tthhiiss cclliimmaattee cchhaannggee oonn tthhee EEaarrtthh’’ss eeccoossyysstteemm aanndd wwiillddlliiffee,, aanndd ssuuggggeessttss ssoommee tthhiinnggss tthhaatt eevveerryyoonnee ccaann ddoo ttoo hheellpp..

SSoollaarr rraaddiiaattiioonn ffrroommtthhee ssuunnppaasssseess tthhrroouugghhtthhee EEaarrtthh’’ssaattmmoosspphheerree

SSoommee ooff tthhee rraaddiiaattiioonn eemmiitttteedd ffrroomm tthheeEEaarrtthh’’ss ssuurrffaaccee iiss aabbssoorrbbeedd aanndd rree--eemmiitttteedd bbyyggrreeeennhhoouussee ggaasssseess iinn tthhee aattmmoosspphheerree

TThhiiss ccaauusseess tthhee EEaarrtthh’’ss ssuurrffaaccee aanndd lloowweerraattmmoosspphheerree ttoo wwaarrmm uupp

EEAARRTTHH

ATMOSPHERE

SSPPAACCEE

lower atmosphere to heat up .The more of these gases we pumpinto the atmosphere, the warmerthe Earth will get.

This was a totally natural processbefore we interfered. Without any greenhouse effect at all, the planetwould be a lifeless icy wastelandwith an average temperature of 16 oC below freezing!

The trouble is, people are pollutingthe atmosphere and causing the planet and its climate to warm upso fast that people and animalscannot adapt to the change.

WWhhaatt iiss tthhee ggrreeeennhhoouussee eeffffeecctt??

The water vapour (H2O) in the earth’s atmosphere, which causesmost of the greenhouse effect, has always been there and is nota problem. The other greenhouse gases, such as CO2 andmethane, have also always existed in the atmosphere. The problem with these, however, is that human activity is increasingtheir concentrations, enhancing the greenhouse effect and causing the Earth to warm up. Carbon dioxide is the pollutantproduced by people that is most responsible for increased global warming.(1) It is released when fossil fuels (such as petrol, oil, coal

and gas) are burnt, and during deforestation, when trees areburned or left to rot. The destruction of the tropical rainforest isa major source of CO2 emissions. Methane is another importanthuman-produced greenhouse gas.(1) Livestock farming is responsible for 30 to 40% of the methane emissions causingincreased global warming.(2)

In summary, the main causes of global warming are: (1)

11)) EEnneerrggyy ggeenneerraattiioonn ffrroomm ffoossssiill ffuueellss 22)) IInndduussttrriiaall pprroocceesssseess 33)) TTrraannssppoorrttaattiioonn 44)) LLiivveessttoocckk ffaarrmmiinngg 55)) DDeeffoorreessttaattiioonn

WWhhaatt aarree tthhee ccaauusseess ooff gglloobbaall wwaarrmmiinngg??

WWhhaatt iiss tthhee eevviiddeennccee ssoo ffaarr??Since 1750, carbon dioxide concentrations in theEarth’s atmosphere have increased by 31%, andmethane concentrations in the Earth’satmosphere have increased by 151%.(3)

Measurements from every part of the planet,except Antarctica, show that the Earth is getting warmer. In fact, the Earth is warmingfaster than at any time in the past 10,000years.(4) The average global temperature hasrisen by between 0.5 - 0.6 oC in the last 100years(5). 1998 is reported to have been thewarmest year so far, and the 1990s thewarmest decade in the last 1,000 years.(5)

(See graph opposite.)

Spring is coming earlier, glaciers are melting and the Earth’s ice cover is meltingat a faster rate than at any time sincerecords began. There is evidence that sea ice inthe Arctic ocean has thinned by more than 40% inthe last 40 years(6) and there are signs that several icesheets in the Antarctic are already beginning to disintegrate.(7)

As the water of the oceans warms, it expands causingthe sea level to rise. Scientists estimate that thermal

expansion of the oceans and melting of glaciers andland-based ice sheets have caused sea levels to riseglobally by about 10 - 20 cm in the last 100 years.(8)

11

CLIMATE CHANGE

ANIMAL AID INFORMATION SHEET ANIMAL AID INFORMATION SHEET

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44SSoollaarr rraaddiiaattiioonn

iiss aabbssoorrbbeedd bbyy tthhee EEaarrtthh’’ssssuurrffaaccee aanndd wwaarrmmss iitt

22

22

22

IInnffrraarreedd ((hheeaatt))rraaddiiaattiioonn iiss eemmiitttteedd ffrroomm tthhee EEaarrtthh’’ss ssuurrffaaccee

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55

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55

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A - Past carbon dioxide concentrations measured from ice cores taken from ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctic.B - Carbon dioxide concentrations measured at the top of the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii.

14.40

14.39

14.28

14.17

14.06

13.94

13.83

13.72

13.61

1880

1890

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1940

1950

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1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

Glob

al A

vera

ge T

empe

ratu

re0 C

CO2

Conc

entr

atio

n (p

pmv)

Year

Global Average Temperature and Carbon Dioxide Concentrations, 1880 - 2004

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390

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350

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330

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(1) Global temperaturesCO2 (ice cores) ACO2 (Mauna Loa) B

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Greenhouse gases in the Earth’satmosphere, such as water vapour(H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) andmethane (CH4), act like a blanketkeeping the Earth’s heat in.

Shortwave solar radiation from the sun passes easily through theatmosphere and heats theEarth’s surface . The warmedEarth gives off heat in the form oflongwave infrared radiation .While some of this escapes intospace, most of it is absorbed andre-emitted by the greenhouse gasmolecules in the atmosphere ,causing the Earth’s surface and

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Around the world, a great variety of ecosystems have evolved inbalance with their local climate. These ecosystems range fromtropical rainforest, savanna and hot dry desert in the tropics, tofrozen Arctic tundra and ice at the poles.

As the world’s temperature increases due to global warming,these climate zones will shift towards the poles. The ecosystemand their wildlife habitats will have to try and migrate as the climate changes. Some adaptable plants and animals will be ableto keep up. But others will be threatened with extinction. Manyspecies are already under stress due to human activity and will beless able to cope.

If temperatures increase by 3 oC by the end of the century - ascould happen - more than a third of all species could face extinction.(11) A World Wildlife Fund study predicts that extensiveareas of habitat may be lost to global warming.(12)

It is feared that much of the coniferous boreal forest of NorthAmerica and Russia will disappear. Siberian tigers, Canadian lynx,beavers, black and grizzly bears and moose will all be threatenedwith extinction.(12)

In arid areas, such as parts of Africa around the Sahara, it is possible that desertification will spread, and forests andgrasslands will die from drought.(12)

The small animals who are responsible for building the world’scoral reefs in tropical waters are very sensitive to changes inwater temperature. There is evidence that many of the world’s

coral reefs are already dying because of higher sea temperatures.

Most Arctic marine species depend on the presence of sea ice.There is already evidence that Arctic sea ice is beginning to meltdue to global warming. Computer models predict a reduction ofsea ice area of between 10 - 50% due to a doubling of atmospheric CO2 levels.(4) This could spell disaster for many Arcticspecies.

Polar bears subsist largely on ringed seals, who they catchthrough holes in the ice - they cannot catch them in the water.They could become extinct if the Arctic ocean is free of summerice for long periods.(14) Arctic sea ice could disappear within 70years, and polar bears with it.(13) Walruses use the sea ice as aplatform from which to feed on sea floor shellfish. Several speciesof seal (including harp, spotted, ringed, ribbon and bearded) rely on the sea ice as a platform to give birth and nurse theiryoung.(14)

11.. RReedduuccee CCOO22 aanndd mmeetthhaannee eemmiissssiioonnss bbyy eeaattiinngg lleessss mmeeaatt,, oorr bbeetttteerrssttiillll bbyy aaddooppttiinngg aann aanniimmaall--ffrreeee ddiieett -- sseeee ooppppoossiittee..

22.. WWrriittee ttoo yyoouurr MMPP aanndd aasskk hhiimm oorr hheerr ttoo ssuuppppoorrtt tthhee iinnttrroodduuccttiioonn ooffaa ssttrroonngg CClliimmaattee BBiillll.. TThhiiss BBiillll wwiillll ccoonnttaaiinn lleeggiissllaattiioonn ttoo eennssuurree aannnnuuaallccuuttss iinn tthhee UUKK’’ss ccaarrbboonn ddiiooxxiiddee oouuttppuutt.. SSeeee wwwwww..ffooee..ccoo..uukk//ccaammppaaiiggnnss//cclliimmaattee ffoorr mmoorree iinnffoorrmmaattiioonn..

33.. HHeellpp ccuutt ddoowwnn CCOO22 eemmiissssiioonnss bbyy ssaavviinngg eenneerrggyy iinn yyoouurr hhoommee aanndd aattsscchhooooll,, ccoolllleeggee oorr wwoorrkkppllaaccee::-- uussee eenneerrggyy--eeffffiicciieenntt lliigghhtt bbuullbbss aanndd ttuurrnn ooffff lliigghhttss wwhheenn nnoott iinn uussee-- ttuurrnn tthhee cceennttrraall hheeaattiinngg tthheerrmmoossttaatt ddoowwnn ttoo aa mmiinniimmuumm-- ddoonn’’tt lleeaavvee eelleeccttrriiccaall aapppplliiaanncceess oonn ssttaannddbbyy -- ttuurrnn tthheemm ooffff pprrooppeerrllyy-- ddoonn’’tt bbee aa ‘‘ccoonnssuummeerr jjuunnkkiiee’’ -- bbuuyy lleessss aanndd wwaassttee lleessss..

44.. RReedduuccee yyoouurr CCOO22 eemmiissssiioonnss bbyy uussiinngg lleessss ppeettrrooll aanndd aavviiaattiioonn ffuueell..UUssee ppuubblliicc ttrraannssppoorrtt ((bbuuss oorr ttrraaiinn)),, oorr bbeetttteerr ssttiillllwwaallkk oorr ccyyccllee iinnsstteeaadd ooff ttaakkiinngg tthhee ccaarr.. EEnnccoouurraaggeeyyoouurr ppaarreennttss ttoo bbuuyy aann eenneerrggyy--eeffffiicciieenntt ccaarr.. TTeelllltthheemm ttoo ssllooww ddoowwnn -- ssppeeeeddiinngg bbuurrnnss mmoorree ffuueell aannddccaann kkiillll..

55.. BBooyyccootttt nnoonn--ssuussttaaiinnaabbllyy pprroodduucceedd ttrrooppiiccaall ttiimmbbeerr pprroodduuccttss.. TTrrooppiiccaall rraaiinn ffoorreesstt ddeessttrruuccttiioonn iiss aa mmaajjoorr ssoouurrccee ooff tthhee CCOO22 rreelleeaasseedd iinnttoo tthhee aattmmoosspphheerree..

TThhiinnggss yyoouu ccaann ddoo ttoo hheellpp mmaakkee aa ddiiffffeerreennccee

For more information on animal issues, contact Animal Aid, The Old Chapel, Bradford Street, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 1AWTel: (01732) 364546 ll fax: (01732) 366533 ll website: www.animalaid.org.uk ll email: education@animalaid.co.uk

If we continue to burn fossil fuels, rear livestock and clear forests,the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will keep rising.It is predicted that CO2 levels could double by the year 2100unless we take dramatic action to reduce emissions.(9)

It is very difficult to judge what will happen to the world’s climate as a result. Scientists use complex computer models of theEarth’s climate and oceans to try and make predictions. Theseindicate that the world’s average global temperature could riseby between 1.4 - 5.8 oC and that sea levels could rise by between20 - 60 cm by 2100.(10) These changes may not sound much butthe consequences could be catastrophic.

There will be regional difference that are difficult to predict.Some areas of the world may warm up more than others. It isthought that temperatures will increase most in the Arctic andAntarctic regions, causing ice sheets to melt. Other areas mayexperience heat waves and wildfires. In some parts of the world,rainfall will increase causing flooding, while elsewhere rainfall willdecrease causing severe drought. Agricultural yields will probably fall in most parts of the world.(11) The rise in sea levelswill lead to the flooding of low-lying coastal areas.

No one really knows what will happen for sure - it’s rather likeusing the Earth in a giant climatic experiment!

WWhhaatt wwiillll bbee tthhee iimmppaacctt oonn wwiillddlliiffee??

SSoo wwhhaatt wwiillll hhaappppeenn??

AA rreecceenntt rreeppoorrtt bbyy tthhee UUnniitteeddNNaattiioonnss’’ FFoooodd aanndd AAggrriiccuullttuurraallOOrrggaanniissaattiioonn ((FFAAOO)) ssttaatteedd tthhaattaanniimmaall ffaarrmmiinngg iiss rreessppoonnssiibbllee ffoorr 1188%% ooff aallll gglloobbaall ggrreeeennhhoouussee ggaass eemmiissssiioonnss aanndd tthhiiss ‘‘eennoorrmmoouuss’’iimmppaacctt iiss ggrreeaatteerr tthhaann tthhaatt ooffaaiirr,, sseeaa aanndd llaanndd ttrraannssppoorrtt ccoommbbiinneedd..(2) FFaarrmmeedd aanniimmaallssaarree oonnee ooff tthhee mmaaiinn ssoouurrcceess ooffmmeetthhaannee.. TThhiiss iiss pprroodduucceedd bbyy bbaacctteerriiaa iinn tthhee ssttoommaacchhss ooffsshheeeepp,, ccaattttllee aanndd ggooaattss,, aanndd iiss

ffaarrtteedd aanndd bbeellcchheeddoouutt bbyy tthhee aanniimmaallss.. CCaattttllee ggrraazziinngg iiss aallssoo rreessppoonnssiibbllee ffoorrllaarrggee ssccaallee rraaiinnffoorreesstt ddeeffoorreessttaattiioonn -- aa mmaajjoorr ccaauussee ooff CCOO22 eemmiissssiioonnss..

PPeeooppllee wwhhoo eeaatt aa vveeggeettaarriiaann oorr vveeggaann ddiieett hhaavvee aa mmuucchhssmmaalllleerr ‘‘ccaarrbboonn ffoooottpprriinntt’’ bbeeccaauussee ggrroowwiinngg vveeggeettaabblleesspprroodduucceess mmuucchh lleessss ccaarrbboonn ddiiooxxiiddee aanndd mmeetthhaannee tthhaannrreeaarriinngg aanniimmaallss ffoorr mmeeaatt..

SSoo ggoo ggrreeeenn -- ggoo vveeggggiiee!!

See Animal Aid website for details of references used in text.

CCoowwss pprroodduuccee mmeetthhaannee

TThhiinnkk bbeeffoorree yyoouu ttaakkee aa bbiittee iinnttoo tthhaatt bbuurrggeerr!!

©Greenpeace/Daniel B