GLOBAL WARMINGAli Emad Jehad P71084

GLOBAL WARMING

is the rise in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans since the late 19th century and its projected continuation. Since the early 20th century, Earth's mean surface temperature has increased by about 0.8°C (1.4°F), with about two-thirds of the increase occurring since 1980.

The map shows the 10-year average (2000–2009) global mean temperature anomaly relative to the 1951–1980 mean.

MITIGATION

Reducing the amount of future climate change is called mitigation of climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines mitigation as activities that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, or enhance the capacity of carbon sinks to absorb GHGs from the atmosphere. Studies indicate substantial potential for future reductions in emissions by a combination of emission-reducing activities such as energy

ADAPTATION

Other policy responses include adaptation to climate change. Adaptation to climate change may be planned, either in reaction to or anticipation of climate change, or spontaneous, i.e., without government intervention. Planned adaptation is already occurring on a limited basis. The barriers, limits, and costs of future adaptation are not fully understood.

SEA LEVEL RISING

Sea levels around the world are rising. Current sea-level rise potentially affects human populations (e.g., those living in coastal regions and on islands) and the natural environment Between 1870 and 2004, global average sea levels rose 195 mm (7.7 in). From 1950 to 2009, measurements show an average annual rise in sea level of 1.7 ± 0.3 mm per year, with satellite data showing a rise of 3.3 ± 0.4 mm per year from 1993 to 2009, a faster rate of increase than previously estimated. It is unclear whether the increased rate reflects an increase in the underlying long-term trend.

ISLAND NATIONS

IPCC assessments suggest that deltas and small island states are particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise caused by both thermal expansion and ocean volume. Sea level changes have not yet been conclusively proven to have directly resulted in environmental, humanitarian, or economic losses to small island states, but the IPCC and other bodies have found this a serious risk scenario in coming decades.

Island countries in the world

ADAPTATION

Adaptation approaches to sea level rise can be grouped as follows:

PROTECT

is a reactive strategy to protect people, property and infrastructure from sea level rise and is typically the first response considered. Protecting the coastline through structural mechanisms such as dikes, seawalls and groynes has been the traditional approach to dealing with sea level rise in many parts of the world. It is natural for property owners and residents to want to protect existing assets and lifestyles. With increasing sea level rise and coastal vulnerability, this strategy may be prohibitively expensive and have limited long-term effectiveness in highly vulnerable locations.

Coastal protection efforts on west Vancouver, B.C. Seawall

ACCOMMODATE

is an adaptive strategy that allows continued occupation of coastal areas while changes are made to human activities and/or infrastructure to adapt to sea level rise. Accommodation can also involve retrofitting a building or making it more resilient to the consequences of sea level rise. Other accommodation measures may include liability reduction, for example a covenant indemnifying governments from the consequences of coastal hazards regardless of protection works that are undertaken.

The Maeslantkering, the largest storm surge barrier in the world, is located on the west coast of The

Netherlands and closes automatically when the seas rise with a storm.

RETREAT

refers to any strategic decision to withdraw, relocate or abandon private or public assets at risk due to sea level rise and associated coastal hazards. Retreat is an adaptive strategy to limit the use of structural protection, discourage development in areas subject to sea level rise, and plan for the eventual relocation of buildings and infrastructure to areas with no risk or a lesser risk

Retreating inland, creating habitable defense structures and building out into the sea

AVOID

involves ensuring development does not take place in areas subject to coastal hazards associated with sea level rise or where the risk is low at present but will increase over time. This may involve identifying future "no build" areas within local government planning documents. A wide range of planning tools may be involved, leading to a decision to avoid development in areas subject to moderate to high risk. Regulatory tools may include the designation or zoning of lands for limited development or non-habitable uses. An avoid strategy may include land acquisition or restriction tools such as a land trust, or the transfer of development potential to areas with low or no risk due to sea level rise.

To avoid potentially dangerous sea level rise, we could cut emissions of short-lived pollutants even if

we cannot immediately cut carbon dioxide emissions

These adaptation strategies are not mutually exclusive. They could apply to different geographical areas of the same local government or change over time for the same local government.

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