Download Basic Climate Change Science, Human Response and

Basic Climate Change Science, Human
Response and the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC)
Prepared for the National Workshop on Capacity
Development for the Clean Development Mechanism
(CD4CDM)
26-27 March 2003, Sunway Hotel, Phnom Penh
by Mr. Chea Chan Thou,
Member of the National Technical Committee for Climate Change
Content of the Presentation
I. Greenhouse Effect
II. Climate Change Impacts
III. Human Response and the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC)
IV. Cambodia’s Activities Related to Climate Change
V. Summary
I. Greenhouse Effect (1)
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Greenhouse effect is a natural geophysical process, it
allows us to exist on earth
The gases known as greenhouse gases are naturally found
in the atmosphere are: water, carbon dioxide, methane,
nitrogen oxide, ozone, and cloroflurocarbons
These gases trap heat close to the earth’s surface
Without the greenhouse effect, the earth’s surface
temperature would be –180oC
The natural greenhouse effect warms the temperature of
the atmosphere to 15 oC at the Earth’s surface
This natural warming allows water to exist on the Earth’s
surface, the basis of life supports
I. Greenhouse Effect (2)
I. Greenhouse Effect (3)
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Emissions from human activities are increasing the
concentration of atmospheric GHGs
Enhanced greenhouse effect occurs due to
atmospheric buildup of GHGs that are released by
human activities
The main sources of GHG emissions are:
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Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas)
Mining activities
Industrial activities
Food production activities
Burning and exploiting forests
Land use change
Waste management
I. Greenhouse Effect (4)
II. Climate Change Impacts (1)
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Potential climate change impacts include:
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries,
 Human and animal health
 Water resources
 Coastal areas
 Species and natural areas.
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II. Climate Change Impacts (2)
III. Human Response and the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (1)
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The First World Climate Conference recognized
climate change as a serious problem in 1979
A number of intergovernmental conferences
focusing on climate change were held in the late
1980s and early 1990s
In 1990 IPCC (Panel of 2,500 scientists) released
its first assessment report concluding that
Climate change is real and human activities are
contributing
III. Human Response and the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (2)
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The United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) is a foundation of global
efforts to combat global warming.
The UNFCCC Objective is “Stabilization of greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent
dangerous antropogenic human-induced interference with climate
system. Such a level should be achieved within a time-frame
sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate
change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to
enable economic development proceed in a sustainable manner”.
 The Convention sets out some guiding principles:
 Precautionary principle;
 Principle “Common but differentiated responsibilities”;
 Needs of developing countries for sustainable
development.
III. Human Response and the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (3)
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The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) was signed by 154 countries (plus the EC)
in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro. To date, 186 countries have
ratified the Convention
The Convention entered into force on 21 March 1994
The Conference of the Parties (CoP) held its first
session in Berlin ( Germany) in 1995
The Parties meet every year (CoP), this year will be in
Italy
The CoP-3 in Kyoto (Japan) in 1997 established the
Kyoto Protocol
III. Human Response and the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (4)
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Both developed and developing countries
accepted a number of general commitments:
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National communications containing inventory of
greenhouse gas emissions and sinks
Climate change mitigation national programs
Strategies for adapting to climate change
Promote technology transfer and the sustainable
management, conservation, and enhancement of sinks
Take climate change into account in their relevant policies
Cooperate in scientific, technical and education matters
Promote education, public awareness, and exchange of
information related to climate change.
III. Human Response and the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (5)
III. Human Response and the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (6)
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Industrialized countries undertake several
other specific commitments
The richest countries shall provide “new
and additional resources” and facilitate
technology transfer
A financial mechanism provides funds on
a grant basis
IV. Cambodia’s Activities Related to Climate
Change (1)
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Cambodia ratified the UNFCCC on 18 December 1995,
and the UNFCCC entered into force on 17 March 1996
In August 1998, Cambodia and UNDP/GEF signed the
project document named “Enabling Cambodia to
Prepare its First National Communication in response
to the UNFCCC (Cambodia’s Climate Change
Enabling Activity Project: CCEAP)
CCEAP is the first climate change-related project
implemented in Cambodia with the aim of preparation
of the first National Communication
The Ministry of Environment is the National Focal
Point of the UNFCCC and the implementing agency of
the CCEAP
IV. Cambodia’s Activities Related to Climate
Change (2)
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The project has produced a number of significant
outputs:
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National GHG inventory for 1994;
GHGs mitigation analysis in energy and transport, land
use- land use change and forestry, and agriculture sector;
Vulnerability and adaptation assessment to climate
change in Cambodia;
Cambodia’s Initial National Communication;
Improvement of activity data and emission factors for
forestry sector in Cambodia;
Assessment of GHGs mitigation technologies in
Cambodia; and
Establishment of the project website:
www.camclimate.org.kh
V. Summary
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Human activities are increasing the concentration of GHGs in the
atmosphere
The increase of GHG concentration will lead to unprecedented
increase in average global temperature
Rising temperature are predicted to lead to disruptions in climate
patterns, have adverse impacts on food supply, fresh water
resources, human health, coastal areas, species and natural
areas
The international community has worked together to create an
agreement on how to address climate change known as the
UNFCCC
The Convention is a United Nations agreement to stabilize
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, at a level that would
prevent dangerous changes to the climate
To date, 186 countries have ratified the climate change
convention, including Cambodia
The Kyoto Protocol is the first concrete step toward cutting GHG
emissions