Europe Christine YangLakshmi Singh, Mahmudur Rahman,Morgan Hu,Ndeye Gningue

EuropeThis region is home to six of the top 20 annual global CO2 emitters, including Russia, which ranks third globally.Though Russia is not part of the EU

EU (European Union) = 27/52 European countries

Impact of global warming in Europe

• Europe experienced a 0.95°C average increase. Escalating temperatures and unpredictable weather conditions are causing concern about the future in Europe

Impact of global warming in Europe

• heat waveso2003 - $15 million in agriculture

destroyed• climate change = health risks

omore micro-bacteria affecting water quality

oworse air pollutiono longer pollen seasono increasing risk of skin cancero2080 - 1/2 plant species endangered

Impact of global warming in Europe

warmer winters• water run-off is expected to lead to forest

growth and an increase in agricultural productivity 

• BUT= more flooding,coastal erosion and melting of glaciers and permafrostoelevation of nearly 3 feet by 2100o2080 = disappearance of European

winters o2080 = 2.5 million people's homes lost 

Impact of global warming in Europe

United Nations Environment Program

UNEP mandated by the General Assembly on December 1972 • uniform policy for environment

programs• create and implement them• review the world environmental

situation• exchange environmental knowledge 

EU's Green Technology Roadmap

Introduce green technology to developing nations

Promote the establishment of strict environmental policies/regulations

Providing assistance to Member States in strengthening their national green laws and institutions;

Enhancing cooperation among States to address environmental issues of common concerns collectively.

EU's Green Technology Roadmap

Goals for 2020• reduce the emission levels by 20% of the

levels in 1990• get 20% of energy would from renewable

sources• increase energy efficiency by 20%

The EU is determined to spend up to $375 BILLION a year to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050 compared to 1990 levels.

Kyoto Protocol

• Sets targets for European community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

• Global emission reduction regime that will stabilize GHG emissions

• Allows future international agreement on climate change.  

•  

Kyoto Protocol to Carbon Trading

• targets = levels of allowed emissions, or “assigned amounts"

• Article 17 of the Protocal allows emission trading 

• trading of emissions became known as Carbon market

Carbon Trading

What it is: • Countries are given an "allowance" of carbon  • Can sell their remaining carbon allowance to

other countries in need of more carbon emissions.  

• Gradually over time, carbon allowances for all nations will decrease 

• Goal is to ultimately become more carbon efficient. 

Carbon Trading

Why it's not working • Trade component actually DOES NOT reduce

any carbon emission.o allowances were given for free to polluters, in

an amount EXCEEDING their emissions o companies GAIN billions of dollars for

nothing • The carbon capping does not cap anything• Carbon offsets loosen the cap 

 

Carbon Trading 

Successes

Feed-in tariffs - provides a guaranteed price for electricity from renewable sources• led to a massive increase in the amount of

renewable energy projectso Ex: Norway gets over 99 percent of its

electricity from renewable sources, often producing more than it requires and exporting the energy to other countries.

•  More than 16 nations in Europe produced 15 percent or more of their electricity from renewable sources

Europe the Leader

Bibliography

1. "Carbon Trading." Transnational Institute. Drupal, September 2009. Web. 27 May 2011. http://www.tni.org/primer/carbon-trading .

2. Climate Action. "Climate Action - EU action against climate change - European Commission." EUROPA - European Commission - Homepage. N.p., 15 Apr. 2011. Web. 19 May 2011. http://ec.europa.eu/climateaction/eu_action/index_en.htm.

3. Climate Hot Map." Union of Concerned Scientists. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2011. Web. 20 May 2011. <http://www.climatehotmap.org/global-warming-solutions/europe.html>.

4. Cogan, Douglas G.. "Corporate Governance and Climate Change." The Banking Sector. Ceres, n.d. Web. 23 May 2011. <www.un.org/ga/president/62/ThematicDebates/gpicc/cgccbs.pdf>. 

  

Bibliography continued1. European commission new green technology roadmap." Green

Pepper. N.p., March 10, 2011. Web. 20 May 2011. <http://www.green-pepper.org.uk/european-commission-new-green-technology-roadmap/>.

2. European Union. What's causing climate change?. European Union, October 18,2010. Web. 20 May 2011. <http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/brief/causes/index_en.htm>. 

3. Harnessing the potential of green energy transfer." Environmental Technologies Action Plan April 2009: 1-4. Web. 27 May 2011. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/etap/published_files/04052009_newsletter_issue15.pdf . 

4. "Patents." Energy Island. Energy Island Ltd., n.d. Web. 20 May 2011. <http://www.energyisland.com/technologies/patents/patents.html>.

Bibliography continued1. Sherer, Kyle. "Energy Island: unlocking the potential of the ocean

as a renewable power source." gizmagJanuary 28,2008: 1. Web. 20 May 2011. <http://www.gizmag.com/energy-island-otec/8714/>.

2. Vertis Environmental Finance. "Vertis Environmental Finance - Taking a closer look at the net carbon balance." Vertis Environmental Finance - Welcome to Vertis Environmental Finance. Vertis, n.d. Web. 23 May 2011. http://www.vertisfinance.com/index.php?page=news&newsid=134&l=1.

3. UNFCCC. "Kyoto Protocol ." United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change . N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2011. <http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php