Download WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?

Transforming the Future: Impacting the World
The Role of Agricultural Extension in Addressing
Climate Change Issues and its Global Impact
Global Change
Climate Change
Global Warming
WHAT IS GLOBAL CHANGE?
Changes in the global environment (including
alterations in climate, land, oceans, water resources,
atmospheric chemistry and ecological systems) that
may alter the capacity of the earth to sustain life.
This perspective also recognizes the profound
socioeconomic and ecological implications of
global environmental change.
WHAT ARE THESE CHANGES?
Changes in the natural and human-induced
forces affecting the earth system
Changes in ecosystems
Changes and variability in earth system
attributes that directly affect natural
and human activities
Changes in human communities,
organizations, societies, and economies
WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE?
Climate change refers to the variation in the Earth's global
climate or in regional climates over time. It describes
changes in the variability or average state of the atmosphere
over time scales ranging from decades to millions of years.
These changes can be caused by processes internal to the
Earth, external forces (e.g. variations in sunlight
intensity) or, more recently, human activities.
GLOBAL CHANGE IS THE RESULT OF CLIMATE FORCING
Climate is the average weather, including
seasonal extremes and variations, locally,
regionally or across the globe.
Climate is controlled by the longterm balance of energy of the
earth and its atmosphere.
PHYSICAL CONTROLS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Solar Radiation: changes in solar output directly influence
the radiative environment and energy budget at the earth’s
surface, the response of the climate system and the response
of all life forms.
Atmospheric composition: changes in atmospheric
composition directly influence the transfer of radiative
energy throughout the atmospheric column and therefore
the energy balance throughout the earth’s surface.
WHAT IS GLOBAL WARMING?
Global warming is the increase in the average
temperature of the Earth's near-surface air
and oceans in recent decades and its
projected continuation.
The term "global warming" is a specific example of
the broader term climate change, which can also
refer to global cooling. In common usage the term
refers to recent warming and implies a human
influence.
Global Change
Climate Change
Global Warming
Climate change can be caused by processes
internal to the Earth, external forces (e.g.
variations in sunlight intensity) or, more recently,
human activities.
The United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) uses the term
"climate change" for human-caused change, and
"climate variability" for other changes. The term
"anthropogenic climate change" is sometimes
used when focusing on human-induced changes.
"Warming of the climate system is
unequivocal."
"Most of the observed increase in globally
averaged temperatures since the mid-20th
century is very likely due to the observed
increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas
concentrations."
INTERACTIONS AMONG CLIMATE SYSTEM COMPONENTS
$25 Million Offered In Climate Challenge
Tycoon Hopes to Spur Milestone Research
By Kevin Sullivan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, February 10, 2007
LONDON, Feb. 9 -- British billionaire entrepreneur Richard
Branson, with former vice president Al Gore at his side, offered
a $25 million prize Friday to anyone who can come up with a
way to blunt global climate change by removing at least a
billion tons of carbon dioxide a year from the Earth's
atmosphere. The winner of the contest must devise a plan to
remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere without
creating adverse effects. The first $5 million would be paid
upfront, and the remainder of the money would be paid only
after the program had worked successfully for 10 years.
Climate Change Worries Military Advisers
Morning Edition, April 16, 2007 · We're used to hearing scientists warn us
about climate change. Now a group of retired generals and admirals says
global warming could provoke serious national security threats.
Climate change could create land loss, mass migrations, loss of natural
resources, and increased demands on water that may exacerbate or cause
conflict — "all things that could have some sort of effect on our security
interests around the world," says retired Gen. Anthony Zinni, a member of
the military advisory panel.
Findings:
1. Projected climate change poses a serious threat to America's national
security.
2. Climate change acts increases the potential instability in some of the most
volatile regions of the world.
3. Projected climate change will boost tensions even in stable regions.
4. Climate change, national security and energy dependence are a related set
of global challenges.
Climate Change a Homeland Security Issue at Senate
WASHINGTON – At a Committee hearing on April 19, 2007,
entitled, “Dangerous Exposure: The Impact of Global Warming
on Private and Federal Insurance,” the Government
Accountability Office (GAO) released a report – commissioned
by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., and Ranking
Member Susan Collins, R-Me., Lieberman and Collins two
years earlier –assessing the fiscal impacts that unchecked global
warming will have on the taxpayer-funded Federal Crop
Insurance Corporation and National Flood Insurance Program.
Through those programs, American taxpayers are exposed to
many billions of dollars in claims for the losses that result from
the very weather catastrophes that are projected to intensify
due to global warming.
NJ enacts anti-global warming law
New Jersey became the third state in the nation to enact a
comprehensive greenhouse gas reduction law Friday,
requiring the Garden State to significantly cut emissions
of global-warming gases. California and Hawaii have
adopted similar laws, and eight other states are
considering them.
The legislation requires the state to reduce global
warming gases to 1990 levels by 2020, and to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 2006 levels
by 2050. New Jersey is the first state to set global
warming targets so far into the future, environmentalists
said, and the first to require that energy imports adhere
to New Jersey's standards.
Agriculture is the production
of food, feed, fiber, fuel and
other goods by the systematic
raising of plants and breeding
and feeding animals.
Agri is from Latin ager,
meaning "a field", and culture
is from Latin cultura, meaning
"cultivation"
Development of agriculture is considered one of the
foundations of civilization because the active culture of
useful plants and animals promoted population growth
and a transition from mobile to settled life.
When farmers became capable of producing food beyond
the needs of their own families, others in the
tribe/nation/empire were freed to devote themselves to
ambitions and enterprises other than food acquisition.
Agricultural progress has been a crucial factor in
worldwide social and economic change, including wealthbuilding and militaristic specializations
The effect of climate on agriculture is related to variability in
local climates rather than in global climate patterns.
Consequently, agronomists consider any assessment has to be
individually consider each local area.
On the other hand, agricultural trade has grown in recent years,
and now provides significant amounts of food, on a national
level to major importing countries, as well as comfortable
income to exporting ones. The international aspect of trade and
security in terms of food implies the need to also consider the
effects of climate change on a global scale.
Climate change impacts on agriculture:
Productivity, in terms of quantity and quality of
crops.
Agricultural practices, through changes of water
use (irrigation) and agricultural inputs such as
herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers.
Environmental effects, in particular in
relation of frequency and intensity of soil
drainage (leading to nitrogen leaching), soil
erosion, reduction of crop diversity.
Rural space, through the loss and gain of
cultivated lands, land speculation, land
renunciation, and hydraulic amenities.
Problems on the Ground
Crop Yield Forecast
Unpicked tomatoes rotting in the field
because of unusually high rainfall in
Camarillo, CA
Land Use Planning
A wild coyote looking for lunch
on a golf course in Sun City, AZ
The agricultural sector is a driving force in the gas
emissions and land use effects thought to cause climate
change.
In addition to being a significant user of land and
consumer of fossil fuel, agriculture contributes directly
to greenhouse gas emissions through practices such as
rice production and the raising of livestock.
Transforming the Future: Impacting the World
Adaptation involves taking action to minimize the effects
of anthropogenic climate change and lessen civilization's
vulnerabilities to its negative effects.
Mitigation involves taking actions aimed at reducing the
extent of anthropogenic climate change and its negative
effects.
Breeding new plant species and
crops which are more tolerant to
changed climate conditions
Improving water use efficiency, planning for
alternative water sources, such as treated wastewater,
and making changes to water allocation and pricing
to combat less available water.
Agriculture can make an important contribution to
climate change mitigation while providing benefits to
both farmers and the general public.
Agriculture can reduce the net greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions that cause climate change by:
• Storing carbon in soils and plants;
• Producing fuels and electricity to replace fossil fuels;
and
• Reducing emissions from livestock operations and
agricultural lands.
Improved crop and grazing land management to
increase soil carbon storage; restoration of
cultivated peaty soils and degraded lands.
Forestation; reforestation; forest management;
reduced deforestation; harvested wood product
management; use of forestry products for bio-energy
to replace fossil fuel use.
Tree species improvement to increase biomass
productivity and carbon sequestration. Improved
remote sensing technologies for analysis of vegetation/
soil carbon sequestration potential and mapping land
use change.
Employ research based information and education
programs to meet the needs of local clientele.
Extend research-based
knowledge to the public and
engage people in life-long
learning.
GRAND CHALLENGE
A Global Change Commitment and Strategy for the
National Association of County Agricultural Agents
Vision: Reflects the optimistic view of the
organization or its clientele's future.
“A clean and sustainable environment for the
production of food, feed, fiber and fuel”
“An educated public on the issues of climate change”
GRAND CHALLENGE
A Global Change Commitment and Strategy for the
National Association of County Agricultural Agents
Mission: Defines where the organization is going now, basically
describing the purpose, why this organization exists.
“To educate the public about anthropogenic climate change issues
and promote measures to adapt and mitigate its consequences”
“A globally conscious workforce of county agricultural agents”
GRAND CHALLENGE
A Global Change Commitment and Strategy for the
National Association of County Agricultural Agents
Values: Main values protected by the organization during the
progression, reflecting the organization's culture and priorities.
“People, Partnerships, Environment, Education, Science”
GRAND CHALLENGE
A Global Change Commitment and Strategy for the
National Association of County Agricultural Agents
Goals or Objectives: Specific time bound statements of intended
future results and continuing statements of intended future results.
“In 5 years all NACAA members will understand
the basic issues of climate change.”
“In 10 years NACAA members will be a primary source of
climate change adaptation and mitigation information.”
Transforming the Future: INTEGRATION
The Road to Success
• Offer an excellent product and service.
• Believe in your product and service.
• Understand the needs of those who are seeking your
product and service.
• Believe that your clientele needs your product and
service.
• Embody the values and ideals of your product and
service.
• Effectively market your product and service
• Do not give up in the face of adversity or rejection.
From “How to sell swimsuits in the Arctic” by Adam Hamilton