Download GeMUN 2012 Environment Commission Research Report

GeMUN 2012
Environment Commission
Research Report-Topic 1
Implementing measures to prevent changes in climate and environment caused by pollution
Student Officer: Ecenur ORTAC
1.Guidelines
2.Introduction
3.Involved Countries and Organizations
4. Key Vocabulary
5.Important Events & Chronology
6.Possible Solutions
7. Graphs-Maps-Diagrams
8.Works Cited and Further Reading
GUIDELINES
All across the world,people are taking action because climate change has serious
impacts,locally and globally. Climate includes patterns of temperature, precipitation,
humidity, wind and seasons. "Climate change" affects more than just a change in the weather,
it refers to seasonal changes over a long period of time. These climate patterns play a
fundamental role in shaping natural ecosystems, and the human economies and cultures that
depend on them.
INTRODUCTION
Climate change has often occurred on earth due to natural causes over timescales that vary
from decades to hundreds of thousands of years.However,on the basis of considerable
evidence,there is strong consensus in the climate science research community that the changes
that have been observed over the past few decades are mainly caused by human activity.The
human influences on climate change arise from the usage of fosil fuels and changes in land
use. The burning of coal,oil and natural gas,as well as deforestation and various agricultural
and industrial practices are altering the atmosphere and contributing to climate change. These
human activities have led to increased atmospheric concentrations of a number of greenhouse
gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and ozone in
the lower part of the atmosphere. The main human activities that change the reflectivity of the
earth's surface and atmosphere are:
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Fossil fuel combustion; industrial processes; and biomass burning release aerosols and
other pollutants into the atmosphere, changing its capacity to reflect or absorb solar
radiation.
Deforestation, agricultural practices and urbanisation change the reflectivity of the
earth's surface.
Up until the 19th century,the mankind was living in full harmony with nature.No complex
techniques,mechanisms or devices were used in daily life to ease problems in shorter time
periods.However,after the technological breakthrough in the 19th century,the cycle of
consumption and production sped up little by little.The consumption damaging our nature is
food,water,fossil fuels and trees.
Since the industrial revolution,global emissions have risen and emissions of greenhouse gases
caused by human activity are recognized as the primary factors triggering observed climate
change.
Here is the list of emissions of greenhouses and carbon emmisions by various countries:
Carbondioxide Emissions
Our environment is being destroyed every day and under this topic of Environment
Commission, we will be trying to recover our damaged environment and find solutions to one
of the most crucial problems of our precious world.
INVOLVED COUNTRIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
A great number of UN agencies are actively engaged in adressing climate change through
tongoing programmes.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
IPCC is an international body which was established in 1988 in order to assess the risk of
human-induced climate change.The IPCC collects scientific information and tries to asess the
most recent,technical and socio-economic information regarding climate change.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
In 1992, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was
adopted as the basis for a global response to the problem of climate change.It is an
international environmental treaty whose first task is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Japan
The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto,Japan in December 1997.It is an international
agreement developed under the UFCCC which brings 37 industrialized countries together in
order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) . In addition,the Protocol has outlined
trading, clean development mechanism and joint implementation.
Netherlands
Netherlands has a research programme which aims raising awareness in order to make sure
that the effects of climate change is taken into account in long term decision making.
KEY VOCABULARY
Climate Change: It is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather
patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years.
Greenhouse Gas : Many greenhouse gases occur naturally, such as water vapor, carbon
dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Others such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs),
perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) result exclusively from human
industrial processes.
IMPORTANT EVENTS & CHRONOLOGY
1976
According to 1975 CFC studies,it is found that methane and ozone can contribute a lot to the
greenhouse effect.Also deforestation and the other changes occured in the ecosystem are seen
as the most crucial factors in the future of climate change.
1979
The conference,sponsored by World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is held in
Geneva,Switzerland.It is decided that greenhouse effect in the atmosphere requires urgent
action.
1992
A confereence held in Rio de Janero.The conference is mostly about the world economy and
its effects on the world environment.
1997
Kyoto Protocol is held in Japan and they started to set targets in order to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
1.Establishing laws banning the production of greenhouse gases in order to slow down the
rate of ozone depletion aand global warming.
2.Cutting consumption of fossil fuels.
3.Providing regenerative grassland management in order to hold the potential to significantly
reduce the amount of greenhouse gas in the air.
GRAPHS-MAPS-DIAGRAMS
WORKS CITED AND FURTHER READINGS
http:// www.ourecology.com
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/whatis.html
www.un.org
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/carbon-emissions
http://www.globalwarming.org.in/
http://ecoswitch.com/the-global-warming-and-climate-change-controversy/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Global_Carbon_Emission_by_Type.png
http://www.gechs.org/aviso/05/figure