Change Leadership – Page 23 – Anne-Maria Yritys

Coral Reefs Are Suffering From Climate Change

October 1, 2017October 16, 2017 by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, climate action, climate leadership, Global Climate Change

“EC. Climate Change Factsheet 2015: Coral reefs are already suffering extensive damage at current levels of warming.”

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Note from author: As explained in the embedded video, produced and published by the World Resource Institution, coral reefs are animals, polyps, that are vital to the overall health for our planet.

Furthermore, with a reference to World Resources Institute, coral reefs are dying and suffering around the world due to various human activities, and warming oceans. Not only is this a significant threat to coral reefs and a number of fish species that depend upon coral reefs, but to humanity and our world in general. Coral reefs are essential to the whole food chain in our world.

Extreme Weather Events Increasing Due To Climate Change

September 30, 2017October 16, 2017 by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, climate action, climate leadership, Global Climate Change

“European Commission. Climate Change Factsheet 2015: Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent or more severe. Their impacts include reduced water availability and crop yields, endangering food production.”

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Note from author: With a reference to my previously published posts about climate change and to everything we witness in our direct environment, through traveling, through contacts and friends all over the world, or through media in general, EXTREME weather events have become more frequent. In Finland, where I today live, we are still lucky not to have too extreme weather events, however, the climate here is changing too, making weather forecasts more unpredictable, increasing rainfall (and, snowfall – in 2017, we had snowfall several times in the month of May here in Southern Finland which is not usual), while when we earlier had Winter starting in November or December, we now rarely have snow until the month of January in southern Finland. Even in the north (in Lapland) snow in the early winter months has at times become so rare that artificial snow has to be used in order to make e.g. skiing possible. Even here in Finland, and in parts of the world where one might think that climate change is not a threat, changing weather patterns and too much rain risk crops and whole yields. We cannot afford to endanger agriculture and food production anywhere in the world, since these are at the core of our ability to thrive and to survive as human beings.

Climate Change Impacts Human Health

September 30, 2017October 16, 2017 by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, climate action, climate leadership, Global Climate Change

“European Commission. Climate Change Factsheet 2015: Climate change has direct impacts on human health. E.g. heatwaves contribute to thousands of premature deaths. Global warming may also encourage the spread of tropical diseases.”

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Note from author: According to a number of sources, including the National Geographic, deadly heatwaves could threaten majority (74%) of humankind by 2100, unless we manage to diminish carbon and greenhouse gas emissions and lower Earth´s temperatures. A study published by Nature Climate Change in June 2017 states that up to a third of the Earth´s population today is faced with deadly climatic conditions for at least 20 days per year. Many of us do like sunshine and warm weather, but when these become extreme, or even causing a significant number of deaths, it is no longer enjoyable or healthy. With extreme weather events, including floods and heat waves, there is also an increased risk of tropical diseases spreading in completely new ways and into new areas, and a risk of tropical diseases worsening the situation in regions that already are affected by these.

Climate Change Has Serious Impacts On Our Global Environment

September 29, 2017October 16, 2017 by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, climate action, climate leadership, Global Climate Change

“European Commission. Climate Change Factsheet 2015: Polar ice caps are melting, sea levels rising and glaciers retreating, threatening the existence of low-lying island states and coastal communities, while the melting of glaciers is putting millions of people at risk of floods, eventually depriving them of fresh water resources.”

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Note from author: We are experiencing floods around the world in many areas as a consequence of natural hazards. Some geographical regions, also called “climate hot spots”, are affected more than others. The ability of a certain region to recover from an extreme weather event, as we recently have witnessed e.g. in the coastal area of Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and in many other regions around the world, varies. Not only is this a question of how severe the weather event is, but also a question of e.g. construction and infrastructure.

To see a complete list of all (recent) floods around the world, visit FloodList.

You may be surprised by the fact how common floods are around the world. In Europe alone, according to the European Environment Agency, the number of flood events from 1980 to 2010 was registered to a total of 3,563 floods, and the number is expected to increase five fold by 2050. Reported by the UN, flood disasters around the world affected 2.3 billion people and killed 157.000 between 1995-2015.

How Can Greenhouse Gases Be Removed From Earth´s Atmosphere?

September 29, 2017October 16, 2017 by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, climate action, climate leadership, Global Climate Change

“EC. Climate Change Key Terms. Sink = Any process, activity or mechanism which removes a greenhouse gas, an aerosol or a precursor of a greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.”

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Note from author: As stated by The Environmental Literacy Council, greenhouse gases in Earth´s atmosphere play a significant role by creating an artificial greenhouse effect and thus warming the Earth´s overall temperature, leading to a number of consequences around the globe, such as melting glaciers and the rising of sea levels. Furthermore, when discussing the release of greenhouse gases into Earth´s atmosphere we refer to a source, while a sink “is a reservoir which takes up a chemical element or compound.” (The Environmental Literacy Council). In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has since the early 1990´s prepared the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks. This annual report by the EPA reveals detailed statistics and an inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks from 1990-2015. (EPA 2017).

What Is Low-Carbon Technology?

September 28, 2017October 16, 2017 by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, climate action, climate leadership, Global Climate Change

“European Commission. Climate Change Key Terms. Low-carbon technology = Technology which results in reduced emissions of carbon dioxide compared with conventional technology.”

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Note from author: According to the European Commission, Europe is a world leader in terms of low carbon technologies which help both reducing greenhouse gas emissions AND creating new employment and growth, a strong indicator that speaks for the fact that sustainable economic development IS possible. According to VTT´s (VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd) Low Carbon Finland 2050 strategy, Finland aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with 80 % by 2050 reflecting the European Union´s policies.

What Is The Kyoto Protocol?

September 28, 2017October 16, 2017 by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, climate action, climate leadership, Global Climate Change

“European Commission. Climate Change Key Terms. Kyoto Protocol = An international agreement, linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which commits industrialised countries to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

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Note from author: “The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, committing its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets.” (UNFCC 2017. Kyoto Protocol).

According to the Kyoto Protocol, which was signed in 1997 and entered into force in 2005, developed nations carry a heavier load while primarily responsible for the current amount of GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions in Earth´s atmosphere, yet the responsibilities are common but differentiated. Some adjustments to the protocol were adopted in Doha in 2012, the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol (UNFCC 2017. Kyoto Protocol).

The goal of the Kyoto Protocol is to lower emissions from six different GHG´s: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC´s), and perfluorinated chemicals (PFC´s). (Kyoto Protocol).

The Kyoto Protocol has as per today 83 signatory countries, and 192 parties. See the complete list here: UNFCC – Status of Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. The good intentions of the Kyoto Protocol today, still, face challenges since carbon dioxide levels in the Earth´s atmosphere are rising at an alarming rate despite of the many technological advancements and transformations into a dominance of renewable energy sources in many countries.

However, not to speculate but the situation may look very different within only a few years or by 2030 with the current developments and actions being taken around the world, especially in nations like China which has taken rather drastic actions to improve not only the country´s domestic situation, heavily affected by pollution and smog, but in taking a leadership role and investing heavily into renewable energy production e.g. in many countries on the African continent.

What Purpose Does The IPCC Serve?

September 27, 2017October 16, 2017 by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, climate action, climate leadership, Global Climate Change

“EC. Climate Change Key Terms. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) = A scientific intergovernmental body established to provide decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change.”

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Note from author: It is worthwhile to notice that the IPCC provides not only decision-makers, but everyone interested in climate issues, with a significant amount of data and reports. All the publications and reports by the IPCC can be accessed here: IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

What Is A Green Climate Fund?

September 27, 2017October 16, 2017 by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, climate action, climate leadership, Global Climate Change

“EC. Climate Change Key Terms. Green Climate Fund = Operating entity provided for under the Copenhagen Accord to support projects, programmes, policies and other activities in developing countries related to mitigation.”

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Note from author: The Green Climate Fund was established by United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC) Green Climate Fund, in 2009 with a target to raise 100 billion USD by 2020 to fund clean energy projects (startups). For more information, see Green Climate Fund and Climate Finance and Markets – Green Climate Fund.

This post serves only for educational purposes and is not to be considered as any kind of financial or investment advise.

What Is The Purpose of EU ETS?

September 26, 2017October 16, 2017 by Anne-Maria Yritys, posted in Change Leadership, climate action, climate leadership, Global Climate Change

“EC. Climate Change Key Terms. EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) = Company-level “cap-and-trade” system of allowances for emitting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, launched by the EU in 2005.”

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Learn more by watching this video published by the European Commission – The EU Emissions Trading System Explained:

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