Saving the planet with appropriate biotechnology: 1. Diagnosing the problems

We give a plain language guide to the Earth’s carbon cycle by briefly summarising the observations and origins of increased levels of greenhouse gases, mainly CO2 but including CH4 and N2O, in our atmosphere. The only tenable explanation for our atmosphere’s present state is that it is the consequence of mankind’s excessive use of fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution onwards. We deal with the arguments that deny the truth of this, then illustrate the Earth’s global carbon cycle, which was almost exactly in equilibrium for several thousand years while humans were evolving, before industrial humans intervened. We describe how the excess greenhouse gas emissions are projected to change the global climate over this century and beyond and discuss ‘dangerous anthropogenic interference’ (DAI), ‘reasons for concern’ (RFCs) and climate tipping points. Finally, we give a short account of the various improved management, engineering and natural climate solutions advocated to increase carbon storage and/or avoid greenhouse gas emissions across global forests, wetlands, grasslands, agricultural lands, and industry. This review concludes with our basic message, which is that cultivation of aquatic calcifiers (coccolithophore algae, corals, crustacea and molluscs) offers the only effective and permanent carbon sequestration strategy.

Thailand’s Policy and Law on Atmosphere Management for People’s Welfare: The Fight Against Climate Change

It is so true that climate change becomes the common concern of humankind which does not adversely affect any individual country only, but its effects also threaten the global community as a whole. As provided by international framework, climate change should be mitigated with the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a safe and appropriate level. Although Thailand is not one of industrialized countries contributed to greenhouse gases emissions, it should take actions to cooperate with those countries to comply with such international framework. This article focuses on exploring and examining Thailand’s policy and law adopted to reduce greenhouse gases emissions in order to prove how Thailand is highly potential to comply and cooperate with the global community. This will reflect the substantial creation of low carbon society in Thailand where Thai people will be finally secured against the dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

Combining temperature rate and level perspectives in emission metrics

The ultimate goal of the United Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is reconfirmed by the Paris Agreement, is to stabilize the climate change at level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic interference, and it should be achieved within a time frame that allow the natural systems to adapt. Numerous emission metrics have been developed and applied in relation to the first target, while very few metrics have focused on the second target regarding rate of change. We present here a simple and analytical physical emission metric based on the rate of global temperature change and link that to a metric based on a target for the temperature level. The rate of change perspective either can supplement the level target or can be considered together in one commitment that needs one combined metric. Both emission metrics depend on assumptions on a temperature baseline scenario. We give some illustrations on how this framework can be used, such as different temperature rate and level constraints based on the Representative Concentration Pathways. The selection of the time horizon, for what time period and length the rate constraint is binding, and how to weight the rate and level metrics are discussed. For a combined metric, the values for short-lived climate forcers are larger in periods where the critical rate is binding, with larger temporal increases during the rate constraint period as the atmospheric perturbation timescale of the species becomes shorter. Global CO2 emissions remain the most important, or among the most important, drivers of temperature rates even during periods of binding rate constraints.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change—The Basis for the Climate Change Regime

This chapter delves deeper into the development and structural organization of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which forms the basis of the climate change regime. As a framework, the Convention urges action to preserve human safety where risks are high even in the face of scientific uncertainty. Its overarching aim, however, is not to reverse the greenhouse effect but rather, to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. The Convention establishes a number of institutions to further its work: a Conference of the Parties (COP) that makes decisions necessary to promote the effective implementation of the Convention, a Permanent Secretariat, and two subsidiary bodies: the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI).

On determining the Point of no Return in Climate Change

Earth's Global Mean Surface Temperature (GMST) has increased by about 1.0 °C over the period 1880–2015. One of the main causes is thought to be the increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs). If GHG emissions are not substantially decreased, several studies indicate there will be a dangerous anthropogenic interference (DAI) with climate by the end of this century. However, there is no good quantitative measure to determine when it is "too late" to start reducing GHGs in order to avoid DAI. In this study, we develop a method for determining a so-called Point of No Return (PNR) for several GHG emission scenarios. The method is based on a combination of stochastic viability theory and uses linear response theory to estimate the probability density function of the GMST. The innovative element in this approach is the applicability to high-dimensional climate models as is demonstrated by results obtained with the PLASIM climate model.

Differential climate impacts for policy-relevant limits to global warming: the case of 1.5 °C and 2 °C

Robust appraisals of climate impacts at different levels of global-mean temperature increase are vital to guide assessments of dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. The 2015 Paris Agreement includes a two-headed temperature goal: "holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C". Despite the prominence of these two temperature limits, a comprehensive overview of the differences in climate impacts at these levels is still missing. Here we provide an assessment of key impacts of climate change at warming levels of 1.5 °C and 2 °C, including extreme weather events, water availability, agricultural yields, sea-level rise and risk of coral reef loss. Our results reveal substantial differences in impacts between a 1.5 °C and 2 °C warming that are highly relevant for the assessment of dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. For heat-related extremes, the additional 0.5 °C increase in global-mean temperature marks the difference between events at the upper limit of present-day natural variability and a new climate regime, particularly in tropical regions. Similarly, this warming difference is likely to be decisive for the future of tropical coral reefs. In a scenario with an end-of-century warming of 2 °C, virtually all tropical coral reefs are projected to be at risk of severe degradation due to temperature-induced bleaching from 2050 onwards. This fraction is reduced to about 90 % in 2050 and projected to decline to 70 % by 2100 for a 1.5 °C scenario. Analyses of precipitation-related impacts reveal distinct regional differences and hot-spots of change emerge. Regional reduction in median water availability for the Mediterranean is found to nearly double from 9 % to 17 % between 1.5 °C and 2 °C, and the projected lengthening of regional dry spells increases from 7 to 11 %. Projections for agricultural yields differ between crop types as well as world regions. While some (in particular high-latitude) regions may benefit, tropical regions like West Africa, South-East Asia, as well as Central and northern South America are projected to face substantial local yield reductions, particularly for wheat and maize. Best estimate sea-level rise projections based on two illustrative scenarios indicate a 50 cm rise by 2100 relative to year 2000-levels for a 2 °C scenario, and about 10 cm lower levels for a 1.5 °C scenario. In a 1.5 °C scenario, the rate of sea-level rise in 2100 would be reduced by about 30 % compared to a 2 °C scenario. Our findings highlight the importance of regional differentiation to assess both future climate risks and different vulnerabilities to incremental increases in global-mean temperature. The article provides a consistent and comprehensive assessment of existing projections and a good basis for future work on refining our understanding of the difference between impacts at 1.5 °C and 2 °C warming.

Investigate the level of disclosure of emissions of the top ten manufacturing companies in South Africa

Throughout the world, countries and companies are directing their attention towards actions to protect the planet. An important focus area during various initiatives is the aim to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climatic system. Various targets are set by governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the South African Government is, among others, investigating a carbon tax policy to facilitate their transition to a greener economy. This paper analyzes the sustainability reports of the top ten manufacturing companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and the disclosures of emissions were evaluated against a checklist that was developed through a literature review comprising various sources. From the results of the research, it is evident that all the companies reviewed are aware of the importance of emissions disclosure and the impact that emissions have on climate change. Companies, in general, adhere more to the qualitative, narrative type of requirements than to the more quantitative, performance-related reporting of emissions. In this study the reporting of the companies specifically on Scope 3 emissions were inadequate. More attention should be given to measure performance and to improve their systems to quantify data