CLIMATE CHANGE INTERVENTION & POLICY FRAMEWORK
QUICK REVISION NOTES FOR MCQ PREPARATION
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SECTION 1: BASIC CONCEPTS
1. CLIMATE vs WEATHER
• Climate = Average daily weather over extended time at a location
• Weather = Short-term atmospheric conditions (minute-to-minute, hourly, daily)
• Climate has spatial + temporal components
• Includes: weather events, periodicities, intensities, dynamism
2. CLIMATE CHANGE - DEFINITION
• Change in average weather of area/region over time
• Includes: temperature, wind patterns, precipitation
• Natural phenomenon since Earth's formation
• Global sense - concerns Earth as whole
3. CLIMATE CHANGE - SCOPE
Includes:
• Ocean current changes
• Melting of ice
• Loss of biodiversity
• Temperature rise
• Sea level rise
• Flooding
• Intensified cyclones
• Ozone layer depletion
• Vegetation change
• Drought
4. IPCC DEFINITION
"Climate change refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to
natural variability or human activity"
5. GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
• Identifiable change in Earth's climate lasting decades+
• Natural processes = global climate variability
• Human-forced changes = atmosphere alterations
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SECTION 2: CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
1. NATURAL CAUSES
• Volcanoes
• Tectonic plate movement
• Changes in the sun
• Shifts in Earth's orbit
• Natural greenhouse gas changes
2. HUMAN ACTIVITIES (Post-1750)
• Burning fossil fuels
• Cutting down rainforests
• Farming livestock
• Release of CO2 + heat-trapping gases
• Industrial revolution began 1750
3. EARTH'S ENERGY BALANCE
Three factors affecting balance:
1) Variations in sun's energy reaching Earth
2) Changes in Earth's atmosphere/surface reflectivity
3) Changes in greenhouse effect
4. KEY PERCENTAGES
• 30% radiation reflected back by clouds, ice, snow, sand
• Climate change prior to 1700s = natural causes
• Post mid-20th century warming ≠ natural causes alone
5. RADIATION TYPES
• UV radiation = shorter wavelength, higher energy
• IR radiation = longer wavelength, weaker energy
• Light + UV + IR strike Earth's atmosphere
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SECTION 3: IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
1. POLAR ICE & GLACIERS
• Greater summer melting
• Diminished snowfall (later winters, earlier springs)
• Greenland + Antarctica ice sheets melting accelerated
• Meltwater + seawater seeping beneath ice sheets
2. SEA LEVEL RISE - CAUSES
1) Thermal expansion (water expands when warmed)
2) Loss of land-based ice (glaciers, ice sheets)
3. CONSEQUENCES
• Flooding + erosion of coastal/low-lying areas
• Extreme weather events
• Forest fires/wildfires
• Droughts
• Heat waves
4. FUTURE EFFECTS
• Warming + sea level rise will continue for centuries
• Some effects permanent
• Coral systems can't handle higher temperatures
• Wildfires increase
• Up to 30% species at extinction risk
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SECTION 4: INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS & CONFERENCES
1. KEY MILESTONES (CHRONOLOGICAL)
• 1972 - UN Conference on Human Environment, Stockholm
• 1985 - Vienna Convention (Ozone Layer Protection)
• 1987 - Montreal Protocol
• 1988 - IPCC formed (by UNEP + WMO)
• 1992 - Rio Earth Summit, UNFCCC opened
• 1994 - UNFCCC enters into force
• 1997 - Kyoto Protocol (COP 3)
• 2007 - IPCC Fourth Assessment
• 2009 - Copenhagen Accord (COP 15)
2. IPCC (1988)
• Formed by UNEP + WMO
• Purpose: Provide scientific view on climate change + impacts
• 1990 - First Assessment Report
• 2001 - Third Assessment Report
• 2007 - Fourth Assessment Report
• 2014 - Fifth Assessment (95% certain humans = dominant cause since 1950s)
3. UNFCCC (1992)
Ultimate Objective:
"Stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations at level preventing dangerous
anthropogenic interference with climate system"
Key Principles:
1) Precautionary Principle - Act despite scientific uncertainty
2) CBDR (Common But Differentiated Responsibilities) - Developed countries lead
3) Sustainable Development - Integrate with national development
4. KYOTO PROTOCOL (1997)
Targets:
• 5.2% reduction below 1990 levels by 2008-2012 (industrialized countries)
• US: -7%, EU: -8%, Japan: -6%, Canada: -6%
• Australia: +8%, Norway: +1%, Iceland: +10%
6 Greenhouse Gases:
1) CO2
2) CH4 (Methane)
3) N2O (Nitrous oxide)
4) HFC (Hexafluorocarbon)
5) PFC (Perfluorocarbon)
6) SF6 (Sulphur hexafluoride)
5. POST-KYOTO
• 2001 - Marrakesh Accords (COP 7) - Focus: Adaptation
• 2001 - US withdraws from Kyoto Protocol (G.W. Bush)
• 2009 - G8: 2°C limit, 50% reduction by 2050
• 2010 - Cancun Agreements (COP 16)
• 2011 - Durban Platform (COP 17)
6. GREEN CLIMATE FUND
• $100 billion/year by 2020
• From developed countries
• For: mitigation, adaptation, technology
• Announced: Ban Ki-moon Summit, Sept 2014
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SECTION 5: INDIA'S CLIMATE POLICY
1. NAPCC (NATIONAL ACTION PLAN - 2008)
• Released: June 30, 2008
• 8 National Missions (through 2017)
• Focus: Adaptation + mitigation + development
2. EIGHT NATIONAL MISSIONS
A) NATIONAL SOLAR MISSION
• Make solar competitive with fossil fuels
• Increase solar in energy mix
• R&D + international cooperation
• Components: Solar thermal, photovoltaic, R&D, tech transfer
B) ENHANCED ENERGY EFFICIENCY (Industries)
• Energy Conservation Act 2001
• Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE)
• Target: Save 10,000 MW by 11th Five Year Plan (2012)
• Market-based certification
• Shift to energy-saving appliances
C) SUSTAINABLE HABITAT
• Energy efficiency in residential/commercial
• Municipal solid waste management
• Urban public transport promotion
• Mass transport systems
• CNG use
• Bio-diesel production
• Hydrogen-powered vehicles
D) NATIONAL WATER MISSION
• India likely water scarce by 2050
• Optimize water use efficiency by 20%
• Surface + groundwater management
• Wetland conservation
• Desalination technology
E) SUSTAINING HIMALAYAN ECOSYSTEM
• Threats: Temperature rise, precipitation changes, glacier melting
• Empower local communities (Panchayats)
• Land-use planning + watershed management
F) GREEN INDIA
• Forest = 40% overall energy needs
• 80% energy in rural India
• Target: 1/3 geographic area under forest
• Increase forest cover + density
• Conserve biodiversity
G) SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
• Drought/pest resistant crops
• Soil + water conservation
• Financial support for climate-resistant tech
• Weather insurance
• GIS for soil/pest mapping
• Biotechnology for better water/nitrogen efficiency
H) STRATEGIC KNOWLEDGE
• Climate modeling (Regional Climatic Model)
• Data sharing improvement
• Integrated Knowledge Networks
• Human resource development
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SECTION 6: EASTERN HIMALAYAS & CLIMATE CHANGE
1. IMPORTANCE
• Crisis ecoregions, biodiversity hotspots
• Endemic bird areas, mega diversity
• Mountains = early indicators of climate change
• Sustain rivers = lifeline downstream
2. FIVE COUNTRIES
All CBD signatories (1992):
1) Bhutan
2) China
3) India
4) Myanmar
5) Nepal
3. THREATS
• Habitat fragmentation
• Endemic species threatened (e.g., golden langur)
• Timber harvesting
• Intensive livestock grazing
• Agricultural expansion
• Climate change
4. ECOSYSTEM SERVICES (4 Types)
1) Provisioning
2) Regulating
3) Cultural
4) Supporting
5. CBD PROGRAMME (2004)
• Programme of Work on Mountain Biological Diversity
• Goal: Significant reduction of mountain biodiversity loss by 2010
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SECTION 7: CLIMATE CHANGE IN EH (1977-2000)
1. TEMPERATURE CHANGES
• Foothills: +0.01°C annually
• Middle mountains: +0.02°C annually
• Higher Himalayas: +0.04°C annually
• Night-time temperatures increased (spring + summer)
2. BIOPHYSICAL RESPONSES
• Snow cover duration reduced
• Less snowfall
• River flow reduced/increased (variable)
• Glacier retreat: 20-30 m/year
• NPP (Net Primary Production) increased
• Wetlands contract
• Early spring + late autumn flowering
3. PERCEIVED CHANGES
• Winter + spring temperatures rising more rapidly
• Daily temperature range decreased
• Precipitation: increased some areas, decreased others
• Longer growing season
• Tree line moving to higher elevation
• Ice fields contracting
• Biomass increase in wetlands
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SECTION 8: HAZARDS & IMPACTS
1. NATURAL HAZARDS
• Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
• Floods, mudflows, avalanches
• Earthquakes (amplify climate impacts)
• Landslides, slope failures
• Mass wasting
2. ECOSYSTEM STRESSES
Multiple stresses interactions:
• Non-native invasive species → favor over rare/threatened
• Air pollution + fragmentation
• Habitat loss + degradation
• Pollution runoff increases with precipitation
3. IMPACTS ON BIODIVERSITY
• Resilience undermined
• Rising CO2 reduces biodiversity
• Poor/marginalized people suffer most
• Species composition changes
• Ecosystem functions affected
4. IMPACTS ON WATER
• Changes in runoff patterns
• Increased evaporation
• Water quality decreases
• Risk to human health
• More intense tropical cyclones
• Frequent droughts + floods
• Wetlands highly vulnerable
5. IMPACTS ON HUMAN WELLBEING
• Subsistence farmers + pastoral peoples negatively affected
• Reduced livelihood assets for poor
• Undermined regional food security
• Natural systems + infrastructure impacts
6. IMPACTS ON HEALTH
• Increased malnutrition
• Stress, disease, injury from extreme weather
• Vector-borne diseases expand to high altitudes
• Endemic morbidity + mortality rise
• Diseases from floods + droughts
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SECTION 9: VULNERABILITY
1. VULNERABILITY FACTORS IN EH
• Population pressure
• Natural biodiversity devastation
• Poverty + low human development
• Fewer resources to manage risks
• Biodiversity at risk from intensified extraction
2. GENDER DIMENSION
• Women highly vulnerable
• Limited access to resources
• Restricted rights
• Muted voice in decisions
3. INFRASTRUCTURE GAPS
• Lack of climate-defense infrastructure
• No flood defense systems
• Weak water infrastructure
• No early warning systems
4. PROTECTED AREAS (PAs)
• Located in most vulnerable parts
• Conservation areas at risk
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SECTION 10: ADAPTATION & MITIGATION
1. ADAPTATION - DEFINITION
Process by which individuals, communities, countries cope with climate change
consequences
2. ADAPTATION POLICY FRAMEWORK (APF) - 4 PRINCIPLES
1) Adapt to short-term variability = starting point
2) Adaptation occurs at different levels (including local)
3) Assess in development context
4) Strategy + stakeholder process equally important
3. PREREQUISITES FOR EFFECTIVE ADAPTATION
• Understanding current perceptions + coping strategies
• Ecological knowledge systems
• Recognition of multiple stresses
• Collaboration between locals + scientists
4. ADAPTATION POTENTIAL IN EH
• Sustainable natural resource management
• Poverty reduction
• Ecosystem + biodiversity conservation
• Integrated watershed management
• Human development
• Disaster risk reduction
5. MITIGATION
Triple benefits approach:
• Climate mitigation
• People
• Biodiversity
Examples:
• Forest + soil conservation
• Restoration of degraded landscapes
• Agroforestry systems
• Carbon sequestration
• Reduced soil erosion
• Improved water quality
6. COMMUNITY RESPONSES
• Maintain portfolio of crop species/varieties
• Adjust cropping patterns + crop calendar
• Migration to benign environments (extreme cases)
• Informal institutions + customary regulations
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KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR MCQs
✓ Remember years: 1988 (IPCC), 1992 (Rio/UNFCCC), 1997 (Kyoto), 2008 (NAPCC)
✓ Know all 8 National Missions of India
✓ 6 greenhouse gases in Kyoto Protocol
✓ Kyoto targets: 5.2% reduction, specific country percentages
✓ 3 UNFCCC principles: Precautionary, CBDR, Sustainable Development
✓ Temperature changes in EH: 0.01°C (foothills), 0.02°C (middle), 0.04°C (high)
✓ Glacier retreat rate: 20-30 m/year
✓ Forest covers 40% overall energy, 80% rural energy
✓ Water efficiency target: 20% optimization
✓ Forest cover target: 1/3 of geographic area
✓ 4 types of ecosystem services
✓ 5 EH countries: Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal
✓ APF has 4 principles
✓ Green Climate Fund: $100 billion/year by 2020
✓ 30% radiation reflected immediately
✓ Up to 30% species at extinction risk
✓ India water scarce by 2050
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END OF NOTES