Climate Council Creating Sustainable Futures Communique - Term Paper Example

Climatic Change Name: Unit: Course: Supervisor: Date of submission: Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 PART 1 3 1.1: Background 3 1.2: Green House Gas and Economic systems 4 PART 2 5 2.1: Vision for sustainable future 5 2.2.1: Divestment from fossil fuels 6 2.2.2: Reduce the environmental footprint of production and consumption. 6 2.2.3: Improve people’s health 7 PART 3 7 3.0: Actions for achieving positive and sustainable futures 7 3.1: Individual in a community context 7 3.2: Local government 8 3.3: Federal government 8 4.0: Conclusion 9 5.0: References 10 PART 1 1.1: Background The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has the role of assessing the scientific, technological, economic, environmental and the social aspects of climate change. This is in line with the sustainable development that originally was based on context of stability and equilibrium and the harmonious co-existence of the nature (National Geographic 2010, p.4). The sustainable development was used as part of economic and population growth. The word sustainable from an ecological perspective entails the maintenance of integrity of the ecology; this implies the harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature (Brown & Ulgiat 2011, p. 7). The increased mechanization of the economic systems has increased use of the fossil fuels to aid the economic system. According to Weart (2008, p.91) the fossil fuel is one of the main drivers of greenhouse gas due to the emissions of the carbon dioxide. The greenhouse or the global warming is great challenge to the world and it is responsible for the climatic changes. According to UPCC 2014 report, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the industrial processes have been on the rise since 1970. This is attributed to the industrialization, increased population growth that has led to increased demand of different products and hence increased use of the fossil fuels. 78% of the total green house gas (GHG) has been related to the CO2 being emitted by the fossil fuels (IPCC, 2014). The UPCC (2014), reported the emissions related to the CO2 from the fossil fuels hit 32 (±2.7) GtCO2 / yr for the period of2000-2010. Between 2010 and 2011, emission increased by about 3% and 1-2% between 2011 and 2012. Since 1970, the emissions have been increasing. Despite of the mitigation measures being taken, the GHG have continued to grow by a factor of 1.0 gigatonne of carbon dioxide which is approximated to 2.2% per. The highest emissions were recorded between 2000-2010; which reached 49 (±4.5) GtCO2eq / yr. the global economic crises reduced the emissions by a very slight factor. With the increasing economic systems, the world is posed to a worst climate of times preceded by environmental degradation (Randel et al 2009, p. 163). 1.2: Green House Gas and Economic systems The term development when used in the context of sustainable development signifies the economic growth. Therefore, the economic sustainability development directly relates to various economic systems that form the basis of many crucial operations intended at expanding the economy (Brown & Ulgiat 2011, p. 11). However, the different economic systems have the consequences on the nature. Nature is diverse; it includes the immediate environment such as vegetation and consequently the climate of a given place. The IPCC is obligated with the assessment of the technological, economic and social aspects of climate change. According to Brown and Ulgiat (2011, p.11) the economic systems comprises of the various agencies, bodies and the consumers that make up the structure of a community. These economic system thus forms the process of the production and the exchange of goods. This forms a chain of producing the goods from the farm, transporting them to factories for value addition by processing/manufacturing, transportation of the goods to the intended customers and the use and disposal of the goods. The activities form an economic system, in all these activities there are happenings, which affect the nature and subsequently the climate (Ramanathan & Carmichael 2008, p.225). For instance, most of the economic systems have been modernized and mechanization has been the way of driving the economic systems. According to Rowan, Bowen and Jonathan (2007, p.352), global warming is attributed to the ever increasing concentration of the greenhouse gases which result from different human activities. The main human activities include the burning of coal and oil commonly referred to as fossils and deforestation. It is estimated that the use of the fossil fuels by people around the globe results in releasing of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere in amounts significant to the natural sources. The additions of the carbon dioxide thus results to the greenhouse effect that has been the main problem associated with negative climatic changes on climate being experienced. The contribution of the human activities to global warming has been cited to be a major problem. If measures are not taken to integrate sustainable practices, the result will be catastrophic climatic changes. The climatic changes resulting from the greenhouse effects have been associated with the problem of droughts, heavy rains that result to destructive floods, reduction in the snowfall, increasing number of destructive hurricanes, rising sea levels, heat rise and pollution of the ozone, which negatively affect the health of the living organisms (Weart 2008, p.102). There is thus the need for urgent measures to avert the continued climatic changes mainly to the economic systems set by human beings. PART 2 2.1: Vision for sustainable future Scientists and economists have noted that environment comprises set of resources for a given economic system, therefore the economic market serves as the most efficient way to allocate resources for the environmental sustainability (Becker & Jahn 2001, p.14). This means that environment forms part of the economic resources, without which, the market demand will not be met, it is thus imperative to ensure that environmental matters are part of the arena of resource allocation in an economic system. This will entail creation of synergies to exist between the economy and the environment. This understanding will forms the basis for the vision for a sustainable future which synergy is created at all levels of economic system, from the buyer (individuals), private sector (manufacturers) and policy makers in government (Morris, et al 2006, p. 889). The synergy created will ensure that economic systems that ensure natural resources are utilized sparingly are integrated. An economic system determines the factors of production and has direct impact on the food production, water supply to homesteads and the energy requirements. The factors of production should be based on the high quality for the current resources and putting in perspective the future of generations to come (EPA 2007, p. 463). The key to the sustainable development will be producing what is enough for the market. Adopting production methods that minimize on the usage of the fossil fuels and ensuring that production processes remain economically responsible by making profits. 2.2.1: Divestment from fossil fuels The sustainable future should entail boosting energy efficiency. Scientists have found out that the energy used to power factories, heat and cool homes and business premises contribute greatly to the global warming (Carrington 2010, p.1). If technologies that are energy efficient are adopted less energy will be used and consequently the effects of excessive emissions to the atmosphere will be reduced. For instance, technological advancements have resulted to increased need of energy to power different plants, most of the sources of the energy that are used result to emissions of carbon hence resulting to global warming. To ensure technological advancement and at the same time reduce global warming could be a great milestone in solving the problem of global warming. For example, exploring nuclear power options that will result to avoiding the use of the power generated using the fossil fuels. For example, nuclear power does not have excess emissions that lead to global warming. However, caution should be taken due to security issues, waste disposal, proliferation and cost issues that relate to nuclear energy (EPA 2007, p. 457). 2.2.2: Reduce the environmental footprint of production and consumption. Human beings are tasked with organising the factors of production. To solve the challenges of climate change, there is need to adopt sustainable practices that will ensure maximised production by use of the least natural resources (Snell 205, p. 27). For instance, the adoption of sustainable housing practices such as permaculture practices based on the understanding of the connection that exist between natural resources at disposal and ability to create economic value from the resources. 2.2.3: Improve people’s health The basis of an economic system is health individuals who act as drivers for the economic system. The sustainable practices should ensure the quality of the planet resources by ensuring clean water, air and food sources which will reduce injury and hence ensure people have good lives and energy to allocate resources to environment conservation (Thons 2004, p. 59). PART 3 3.0: Actions for achieving positive and sustainable futures The IPCC report of 2014 points that the climatic change main cause is the ever increasing use of fossil energy for various economic needs and hence the production of carbon dioxide which accounts for 76% of the total GHG. To reduce this, adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar could be a milestone to significant reduction of the green house effect (Weart 2008, pp.105-110). These renewable sources include solar, wind, geothermal and bio-energy. These energies have the potential to meet most technological needs that have been powered by fossil fuels. In addition, the renewable energies are cost effective and they significantly reduce pollution. To realize this change, there are must be a paradigm shift at both the individual, local government and at the federal government levels. 3.1: Individual in a community context The path to a sustainable future is a collective responsibility of the society, however, it starts with individual change of attitude towards adoption of processes that energy efficient by minimization of carbon pollution (Horward & Chamerlain 2011, p. 1). At home, environmental conservation starts by maximizing the efficiency of energy, adoption of renewable energy and elimination of the fossil fuel pollution. This will entail choosing energy systems at home that are energy efficient. For instance, the setting of solar energy system to be used in the water heating system instead of relying on electrify from the national grid. In addition, individuals need to change the attitude on travel means and adopt means of transportation that reduce green house gas. For instance, it will be prudent to set a personal conviction of using public train to go to work instead of using personal car. Many cars result to a lot of usage of the fossil fuels and hence contribute to the carbon dioxide emissions (De Grout et al 2010, p. 271). Individuals need to adopt use of bicycles to go work, this will not only reduce the CO2 emission to zero (Coutt, Forkink and Weiner 2014, p. 1007), but will also serve as a healthy practice. These practices will form part of community culture and hence each individual will be working towards a sustainable future. 3.2: Local government The local government, has the obligation of ensuring that there is proper waste disposal, maintain the environment around the homes in the urban areas. It is in charge of the management of traffic entering the towns. It is thus the obligation of local government to enact legislations that will encourage people adopt practices that energy efficient. For instance, it should come up with rebates for individuals who have adapted sustainable housing practices. The disposal of the waste should also be done in manner that discourages burning, as this is a contributory to GHG. It should adopt recycling policies starting at home levels, such as use the organic waste for gardening purposes (Dupuis & Knoepful 2013, p. 5). 3.3: Federal government The federal government needs to formulate policies that promote sustainable leaving. The policies should relate to energy usage in the manufacturing processes. This include shift from the use of fossil to alternative energy sources that are clean such as the nuclear energy (Deschenes & Kolsted 2011, p. 366). In addition, the government should work with private sector to adopt mechanisms in which emissions from industries are not released to the atmosphere. There are new technologies which ensure that carbon produced by different plants is stored underground. Scientists have pointed that such a technology is possible; there is thus the need for resources to be allocated to improve and test such technologies as they could act as the turning point in reduction of global warming. In collaboration with all the other stakeholders, the government should enhance measures that promote aforestation, which is integral to tapping the carbon dioxide. The government is mandated to ensure that green transportation is encouraged by adopting low carbon fuels, coming with ways to reduce vehicle miles traveled and coming up with more efficient mass transportation means (Carl 2005, p.4379) . 4.0: Conclusion The effects of climatic changes are already being witnessed in the world. If mitigation measures are not taken, the people around the globe will certainly face worse effects associated with the global warming. The rise in sea level, heat waves, health problems and extreme weather conditions are some of far reaching to be experienced. It is therefore the duty of all people to embrace ways that reduce heat trappings in the atmosphere. This will be possible if the individuals and governments change attitudes and adopt sustainable practices that are economically viable and friendly to the natural environment. 5.0: References Becker, E. and Jahn, T. (eds.). 2001. 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