Greenland and the Paris Agreement Case Study Analysis
Greenland's response to climate change has tended to lag behind that of many other countries. This is despite global temperatures being set to rise by 2.6degC by the end of the century. In addition, Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement has created some uncertainty about the future of the global climate.
Global temperatures will rise by around 2.6degC by the end of the century
The latest report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns that global temperatures will rise by about 2.6degC by the end of the century if business as usual continues. That's a pretty frightening forecast.
However, as far as the IPCC is concerned, the best thing we can do is act now and avoid an unstoppable escalation of climate change. This means cutting greenhouse gas pollution as much as possible. But that's not enough, says Dr Nick Cradock Henry, a senior scientist at Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research.
The latest report from the UN's Intergovernmental panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warns of global warming that is accelerating at an alarming rate. This is the latest in a series of reports and studies to delve into the causes and effects of climate change.
First, the report looks at the impact of human emissions on global temperature. For decades, CO2 levels have increased. It's estimated that a decade's worth of emissions increases the pCO2 by about one percent.
Second, the report finds that warming has increased the intensity of extreme weather across the globe. This includes heat waves and droughts. As well as that, the report predicts that the number of intense tropical cyclones will increase by 13 percent.
Finally, the report explains that while humans are the primary culprits for CO2, natural emissions have a large effect as well. In fact, nature has taken the lion's share of the carbon dioxide in the past sixty years.
All in all, the IPCC's latest report provides a valuable glimpse into how the global climate system works and the potential impact of a changing planet. If the world stays within the 1.5degC mark, it's very likely that we'll avoid a catastrophe, while the 2degC target could be out of reach unless we take action.
Considering the aforementioned findings, it's worth taking a close look at the report's recommendations. They're a good start, but they're not comprehensive. To really make a difference, global GHG pollution must continue to decline rapidly after 2030. Otherwise, there will be no chance of limiting the world's warming to 1.5degC.
Greenland's response to climate change has tended to lag
The Greenland ice sheet, which covers four and a half percent of the Earth, is losing ice at a rapid rate. But it will take many more years to lose its icy cap. Even if greenhouse gas emissions stabilize, it may continue to melt for centuries to come.
Although scientists have a good idea of how the ice sheet is likely to shift in the coming decades, they are uncertain about its long-term fate. A new study from the Nature journal looked at model simulations of how the ice would change in the future. It simulated what would happen under different scenarios to see how the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) would perform.
While it's no secret that the Greenland ice sheet is losing mass at a rapid rate, it's still unclear how fast or how much it will ultimately disintegrate. Scientists also aren't sure whether there's any way to stop the process.
Some scientists believe the ice could remain coverable for several thousand years, but other studies suggest it will be gone in a few decades. Researchers aren't sure why this is so. They speculate that the lagging process that has been happening for thousands of years may be continuing in the era of human-caused climate change.
In the long run, however, there's no real way to bring the Greenland ice cap back to life. If temperatures continue to rise, it's only a matter of time before the ice sheet begins to melt, despite what the IPCC says in its fifth assessment report.
What's more, the ice has been losing mass since the 1980s. That's seven times faster than it did in the 1990s. This is a big deal for scientists, but it's only one of the many uncertainties surrounding the longevity of the ice cap.
In the end, most Greenlanders are aware that the climate is changing, and most think it's a bad thing. However, the majority of their views on climate change and the policy measures needed to solve it aren't clear.
Despite its small size, the Greenland ice sheet plays an important role in the world's climate. As the ice continues to melt, it will raise sea levels by 7.2mm per year.
Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
President Donald Trump has officially withdrawn the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. This is a huge setback for the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Paris Climate Agreement was negotiated in 2015 to strengthen global cooperation on climate change. Its goal is to keep global temperatures from rising more than two degrees Celsius this century.
The US had pledged $3 billion to the global fund. But the Trump administration opted to withdraw two-thirds of that. That leaves a large hole in the international fund.
While the Paris agreement may not be perfect, the underlying principles promote a low-carbon economy and help poorer countries bear the costs of climate change. Obama believes the deal will also increase jobs and economic growth.
However, the withdrawal of the US from the Paris climate agreement is a missed opportunity for American business. And it raises serious questions about the future of climate governance in the US.
As the largest carbon emitter in the world, the United States is a crucial player in addressing global warming. Leaving the agreement will make it impossible for the U.S. to meet its mitigation goals.
The decision was motivated by the domestic politics of the Trump administration. It also reflects the political polarization in the country.
The decision was also criticized by scientists and environmentalists. One of the earliest reactions was an annotated transcript of Trump's speech published by the Guardian.
The president rhapsodized for 27 minutes about the Paris agreement. He claimed that the accords unfairly burdened the United States.
However, the Financial Times said he made misleading claims. A study by the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group found that the Paris deal offers huge investment opportunities in developing markets through 2030.
Hundreds of American businesses support the Paris Agreement. However, leaving the agreement will hurt those businesses.
Energy secretary Rick Perry plans to resign before the end of the year. Meanwhile, Trump agencies are reversing regulations that will destroy hundreds of thousands of jobs.
According to the International Finance Corporation, the Paris deal offers an economic opportunity worth $23 trillion through 2030.
U.S. envoys continue to participate in U.N. climate negotiations
Despite the fact that negotiations on climate change have been stalled for months, the United States and China have agreed to resume formal talks. This is a crucial step towards averting catastrophic climate change.
The two nations also agreed to cooperate to promote a successful COP 26 on climate in Glasgow. They also will collaborate to ensure that the Convention on Biological Diversity's fifteenth conference in Kunming, China, is a success.
The negotiations at Cop27 have been strained by tensions between developed and developing nations. Developing countries have increasingly slammed wealthy nations for not doing enough to fight climate change. It appears as though the United States is the biggest obstacle to progress.
However, the Chinese climate envoy said Friday that he is committed to achieving a deal. He has been working closely with the U.S. delegation, including Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry.
But he also said that he wants more information about a loss and damage fund. This fund would help vulnerable nations cope with climate change.
There are already devastating impacts of climate change, such as floods in Pakistan that killed 1,700 people and destroyed livelihoods. More than 100 high-level announcements were made during the first two days of the summit.
A group of more than 90 countries have also formed a "Coalition of High Ambition," which announced its members on Monday. The coalition will support the European Union in its plans to create a new fund to help poorer countries tackle global warming.
In addition to the loss and damage fund, the European Union has launched a proposal for a new climate finance fund. That fund would include public funding as well as private funds. The proposal would require a stepped-up effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and emerging economies would contribute.
Developing countries agree there is still much work to do to establish a legal framework for a new fund. But they agree the political reality has to stop letting the U.S. dominate international climate policy.
During the Cop27 talks, China's envoy Xie Zhenhua reiterated that the two countries had agreed to work together for COP27. Several delegates expressed hope for a possible deal.
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