GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, STABILIZATION THROUGH

SUPPLY AND DEMAND MEASURES

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, STABILIZATION THROUGH

SUPPLY AND DEMAND MEASURES

United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development

May 9 2006

United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development

May 9 2006

The last time global temperature was 1 degree C higher than now

The last time global temperature was 1 degree C higher than now• 125,000 years ago• Sea level was 7-8 meters higher• Crocodiles and hippopotamuses

lived in London, England• Atmospheric CO2 was 30% lower

than it is today

• 125,000 years ago• Sea level was 7-8 meters higher• Crocodiles and hippopotamuses

lived in London, England• Atmospheric CO2 was 30% lower

than it is today

The Framework Convention on Climate Change is a treaty to stabilize greenhouse gases, temperature, and sea level, but a treaty to stabilize their rate of increase

The Framework Convention on Climate Change is a treaty to stabilize greenhouse gases, temperature, and sea level, but a treaty to stabilize their rate of increase

• If no more coal, oil, and natural gas is burned,starting today, climate change will eventually greatly exceed that of 125,000 years ago

• If continued use of fossil fuels causes runaway global warming, sea level rise could exceed 150 meters

• If no more coal, oil, and natural gas is burned,starting today, climate change will eventually greatly exceed that of 125,000 years ago

• If continued use of fossil fuels causes runaway global warming, sea level rise could exceed 150 meters

• Business as usual is a death warrant for coral reefs and fisheries, but many more ecosystems will follow

• Climate change models greatly underestimate long term changes because they miss most of the positive feedback mechanisms in the climate system, and have too short a time horizon

• Business as usual is a death warrant for coral reefs and fisheries, but many more ecosystems will follow

• Climate change models greatly underestimate long term changes because they miss most of the positive feedback mechanisms in the climate system, and have too short a time horizon

• To stabilize the climate system requires reducing CO2 sources (supply) and increasing sinks (demand)

• Tidal, solar, and biofuel energy can reduce sources

• Large scale reforestation and addition of charcoal to soils can increase sinks and increase soil fertility and water holding capacity

• To stabilize the climate system requires reducing CO2 sources (supply) and increasing sinks (demand)

• Tidal, solar, and biofuel energy can reduce sources

• Large scale reforestation and addition of charcoal to soils can increase sinks and increase soil fertility and water holding capacity

Harvard Environment Group’s best case

scenario assumes coal is the only possible

future energy option:

Harvard Environment Group’s best case

scenario assumes coal is the only possible

future energy option:

RED = COAL, THE DIRTIEST FOSSIL FUEL!

SOURCE HARVARD MAGAZINE MAY-JUNE 2006

THIS IS ONLY BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT IMAGINE THAT RENEWABLE ENERGY HAS THE CAPACITY TO REPLACE FOSSIL FUELS AT COMPETITIVE COST, AND BECAUSE THEY IGNORE INCREASED SINKS. SOIL CARBON SINKS ARE NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE CDM.

THIS IS ONLY BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT IMAGINE THAT RENEWABLE ENERGY HAS THE CAPACITY TO REPLACE FOSSIL FUELS AT COMPETITIVE COST, AND BECAUSE THEY IGNORE INCREASED SINKS. SOIL CARBON SINKS ARE NOT RECOGNIZED BY THE CDM.

WE MUST DO BETTER!WE MUST DO BETTER!

THIS SCENARIO IS A RECIPE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL

DISASTER, A DEATH SENTENCE FOR CORAL REEF

COUNTRIES, LOW LYING ISLAND STATES, AND MANY

OTHER ECOSYSTEMS.

THIS SCENARIO IS A RECIPE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL

DISASTER, A DEATH SENTENCE FOR CORAL REEF

COUNTRIES, LOW LYING ISLAND STATES, AND MANY

OTHER ECOSYSTEMS.