Water-readings

Global emissions by sector

Changing our lifestyles to reduce our carbon footprint in our homes is already one important action, we should all be doing. However, climate change is a complex phenomenon with many causes, and the residential activities is a relatively small CO₂ contributor, globally.

We can only make informed decisions and undertake responsible climate action -as students, citizens and voters-  if we are well aware of the broader picture: We need to know the causes, by sector, at a global and at a country level, as well the eventual impact of our actions in anyone of these sectors. For example, advocating for a green mayor who is committed in adopting renewable energy resources throughout the city may be a more effective action than switching off the lights at home.

The following pie chart presents the global greenhouse gas emissions by sector.

Each sector represents the sum of the following activities:

• Energy: emissions from electricity production, public heating, manufacturing and construction industry.
• Transport: emissions from aviation, road & rail transport, shipping, or other transportation.
• Residential & commercial: emissions from heating our homes and shops and offices, from cooking etc.
• Industry: emissions from processing minerals, chemicals, metals etc. and from producing paper, food, drink, electronics & electrical equipment, including cooling devices.
• Waste: emissions (mostly CH4) from solid waste disposal and incineration, sewage treatment, other waste handling.
• Agriculture: emissions (mostly CH4 and NOx) from enteric fermentation; manure management & application in soils; rice cultivation; synthetic fertilisers; crop residues & burning etc.
• Land use: emissions from the net conversion of forest; cropland; grassland and burning biomass for agriculture or other uses.
• Other sources: emissions from fossil fuel fires & other anthropogenic sources.

Group activity

GROUP ACTIVITY

Visit this website and compare the sectoral global greenhouse gases emissions to your county’s.

• How are these two different?
• Make your country’s “pie diagram” to represent its profile when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Is your per capita greenhouse gas emission higher or lower than the global average?

All around the world countries, cities, companies, but also people already undertake a series of adaptation and mitigation measures for climate change.

Mitigation refers to actions for reducing or preventing further greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere. These actions can be undertaken from the home level to global level. Mitigation examples: switching to renewable energy sources, making devices more energy efficient, recycling, making pathways and bike-ways in cities, renewing the public transport fleet, improving forest management, changing consumer behaviour, etc.

Adaptation: As changes in climate are already inevitable, we should get prepared and take action to minimise the damage and disruption they may cause. These adaptation actions can take place from individual to global level. Examples of adaptation: changing crops to more water-resistant ones; constructing  water permeable roads & pavements in densely built cities; maintaining & restoring wetlands as flood regulators, improving the forest management, e.g. by removing aged trees, etc.

GROUP ACTIVITY

For each sector you have identified in your country’s pie diagram give one example of remedy actions to take:

• at a personal or home or city level, and
• at a country level (policy, law, etc.)

Your examples could refer to the present (what your country is already doing) or the future (what the country should do). Make sure you propose mitigation as well as adaptation measures.

Present them in class.

Stop and wonder

Climate Justice

Countries do not contribute equally to climate change, and unfortunately, they do not bear its impacts in a fair way. As you may assume, the poorer countries typically contribute lower CO₂ emissions, while they may be more susceptible to some impacts, such as to droughts or floods. For example, African countries account for only 3% of the world’s greenhouse gases emissions. On the contrary, Europe and North America, with about the same population as Africa, together account for the 2/3 of the emissions. This makes clear that the richer countries enjoy a consumer lifestyle at the expense of the poorest ones.

Sadly, inequalities exist also within the countries: the poorest citizens are often the most affected, e.g. because they live in degraded areas and homes, vulnerable to floods or heatwaves.

Some good news! In recent years, due to bold climate policies and technology advances, some rich countries (i.e. Scandinavian) have succeeded to drop their emissions below global average without giving up their high  living standards.

Can you think of an example of climate injustice from your country or region?

Can you propose an action to address it?

Water-readings

International Agreements on Climate

The fact that climate change affects areas beyond countries’ borders imposes solutions that are irreversibly global and should be the result of international cooperation and agreements. Such agreements set the global goals for tackling climate change in a fair way and establish efficient mitigation as well as adaptation measures for countries to meet their differentiated targets.

Milestone agreements on climate, so far:

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)

In early 1990s, the international community finally decided to create a formal body for addressing climate change, that came into being at the famous Earth Summit in Rio, in 1992. This body is called the “United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change” (UNFCCC) and since then it has been the global driver for climate agreements, being the highest decision-making forum in the world, delivering, among others, the Kioto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

The Kyoto Protocol (1997)

In 1997, for the first time ever, there was an agreement by countries to reduce their greenhouse gases emissions. The Protocol was based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities: Recognising that developed countries are mainly responsible for most of the existing CO2 emissions (as a result of more than 150 years of industrial activity), the Protocol placed a heavier burden on these countries: The Protocol set specific reduction targets only for developed countries.

The Kyoto Protocol entered into force in 2005 and it was partly successful: Despite the 36 developed countries that actually reduced their carbon emissions, the global carbon emissions kept rising. This was due to the development of poor countries e.g. in Asia and also due to the withdrawal of some rich countries from the Protocol.

The implementation of the Kioto commitments would go as far as 2020. So what would happen next? In recent years, and as the CO2 emissions kept rising, negotiations pushed for a new universal agreement in which all countries –not just developed ones– have some responsibility and specific reduction targets , and the result was the Paris Agreement.

The Paris Agreement (2015)

In 2015, the leaders of 196 countries took a historic decision in Paris. Recognising that a bigger than 2°C global temperature rise (compared to pre-industrial levels) would be unpredictably catastrophic, they agreed to take measures to keep the increase below 2°C ; and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 °C. Since the average global temperature has already risen by 1.2°C* then it becomes obvious that we are running out of time.

Under the Paris Agreement, each country determines its own plans, takes adaptation and mitigation measures and regularly reports on its CO2 emissions. Often, local authorities set their own goals and mechanisms for tackling climate change.

SDGs: 17 Goals for people and the planet

2015 was a  milestone year for one more reason: the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and improve the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. The 17 Goals were adopted by all UN Member States, who agreed on a 15-year plan to achieve them. The Goals call for action by all countries -rich and poor alike – and address a range of topics including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.

*IPCC report , 2015

Group activity

Collective Action on Climate

Living our climate values in small ways in our daily lives shows ourselves and others that we care, so it is a great starting point. But we should not stop there. Real change comes when citizens come together to demand changes that work. Making real change takes all kind of citizens. When you realise what you are good at and what you like to do Acting for Climate is not so hard. Whatever you have to offer, a better future needs it.

The following activity  can be an opportunity to ask yourself “what kind of changer am I?” Our climate emergency needs all kinds of talents of people: investigators, advocates, communicators, activists, networkers, teachers, etc.

GROUP ACTIVITY

In your groups discuss about the following and fill in the table below.

• What could the various actors of the school community do to address the issue of climate change? Identify examples of actions e.g. start a bike-to-school campaign, or adopt meat-free day, etc.
• How could you motivate the actors to undertake these actions? Talk to them to find out what is preventing them from undertaking the needed action, and consider how you can motivate to do more pro-active for climate.

Way forward

Surfing around the Internet

Climate Action Tracker: A platform to track and measure government climate action against the Paris Agreement targets. It also provides a space for countries to measure, manage and disclose their GHG emissions.

Drawdown: To propose climate solutions, it’s important to understand emission sources by sector, as well as and nature’s carbon sinks. This website demonstrates how effective our actions in each sector can be (suggested for ages 10+).

En-ROADS: A global simulation online model that focuses on how changes in the energy, economic, and public policy systems could affect greenhouse gas emissions and climate. Can be played also as a role play (suggested for ages 12+).

Dive in…

The Rainwater Harvesting Systems in practice and Greywater recycling in practice to learn how rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling respectively can support us to deal with the climate change challenges.

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