royston wea agm 12 may: climate change myths climate change isn’t happening it’s all natural...
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Royston WEA AGM 12 May: Climate change myths
Climate change isn’t happening
It’s all natural
There’s nothing we can do
A bit about me...
Christopher Booker, Telegraph
Which myths to choose?
Top 3 climate change myths
• Climate change isn’t happening• It’s natural: the climate has always
varied• There’s nothing we can do about it
anyway
Top 3 climate change myths
• Climate change isn’t happening• It’s natural: the climate has always
varied• There’s nothing we can do about it
anyway
What’s the difference between climate and weather?
• Weather relates to the conditions over a short period of time.
Climate and weather
• Or climate is what you expect: weather is what you get!
IPCC Assessment Reports since 1990: WGI Contribution
1990
1995
2001
2007
2013
Consensus on climate change
Climate change today
• Higher temperatures• Changing rainfall• Changes in nature• Sea level rises• Retreating glaciers• Changes in sea ice• Changes in ice sheets
Arctic Sea Ice is melting
Loss of Arctic Sea Ice
Changes in nature
Alien species
November 1952
November 2013
Environmental refugees - Tuvalu
Japanese cherry trees
Two graphs
Carbon dioxide and temperature
An (in)famous graph
The Hockey Stick Graph
Top 3 climate change myths
• Climate change isn’t happening• It’s natural: the climate has always
varied• There’s nothing we can do about it
anyway
What’s the coldest year you can remember?
Sahara 5000 years ago
Vikings in Greenland
Dinosaur weather
Mount Pinatubo
Inspired by Tambora
Snowball Earth
Daily Mirror
“UKIP do not believe in all these doom and gloom stories”
I am not a scientist
Soon and the Sun
Milankovitch cycles
Continents 700 years ago
Natural changes happen slowly
Coldest winters
Met Office – coldest years
Top 3 climate change myths
• Climate change isn’t happening• It’s natural: the climate has always
varied• There’s nothing we can do about it
anyway
Wind turbines
PV in desert in Peru
Individual action
UK Carbon Plan
• Carbon budgets – Climate Change Act 2008• All cavity walls and lofts insulated by 2020• Closing coal fired power stations during 2020s•Renewable, nuclear and coal with carbon capture and storage•Low carbon electricity, cars and heating•2030 onwards tackling industry, aviation, shipping, agriculture
Boundary Dam
Croome Park
Ground source heat pump
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
IPCC Assessment Reports since 1990: WGI Contribution
1990
1995
2001
2007
2013
What does the IPCC say?
•We can tackle climate change•It needs international co-operation•It will be much more difficult if we delay beyond 2030•There are a range of different actions we could take
A range of measures• Integrating climate policies in broader development policies • Regulations and standards • Taxes and charges • Tradable permits • Financial incentives• Voluntary agreements • Information instruments • Research and development
Solar Radiation Management
Combating Climate Change Myths