The Dangerous Climate Change And Some Of The Strategies That Can Be Essay

The Dangerous Climate Change And Some Of The Strategies That Can Be Used To Avert The Beginning Of A Dangerous Climate Change - Essay Example Articles 2 of UNFCCC refer dangerous climatic change as dangerous anthropogenic interference caused by human activities. However, Parker and Shapiro (2008) give a more specific definition of a climatic change. They state that dangerous climatic change refers to any or combination of the following; three feet rise in sea level, beyond 50 percent extinction of species or / and regional change in climate that cause severe reduction of local food and water supply. According to climate change experts, dangerous climate change is caused by additional 2oF (1.2oC) rise in global warming above 2000 levels. 2oF (1.2oC) rise in global warming above 2000 levels is equivalent to 450 (per particle million) ppm of Carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration. In May 2008, there were 385 ppm CO2 levels (Parker and Shapiro, 2008). Increase in carbon dioxide concentration is caused by human activities that release carbon dioxide into the atmospheres. All combustion, which are made to generate energy releases ca rbon dioxide into the atmosphere and should be controlled if dangerous climatic change is to be avoided. Figure 1-Reasons for concern about climate change impacts Temperature Change (0C) Sources OECD, 2004 The above figure shows the warming range per every unit of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Each column represents a tipping point caused by a given concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The rate of warming is indicated by the graph that cut across all the columns. Column one shows that an increase in carbon dioxide concentration from 350 ppm to 550 ppm generate additional temperatures of between 1.5oC and 2oC respectively. The impact of increase in temperatures in column one can only harm handful species and can threatened earth system, which may trigger things like ice melt or dieback of forests. If carbon dioxide emissions were to stabilize at around 850 ppm substantial additional warming would occur at this range because the slope of the graph is very steep. If carbon concentrations were to go beyond column five in the above diagram, then temperatures will rise by about 5oC and 6oC respectively. These are extreme rise in temperatures and life may cease to exist. 2) The most affected by dangerous climate change The number of people who die or in danger in developed nations is less as compared to those who die or in danger in developing nations. This is because infrastructure and social safety nets are inadequate or non-existent to cushion people from less developed countries from dangerous effects caused by drastic changes in the climate. People in developing countries are mainly affected by dwindling food suppliers while people in developed countries suffer from weather related conditions such as heat strokes and hurricanes. According to Dawson and Spannagle (2009 p.115), precipitated patterns have caused extreme weather events. Rainfall patterns are changing and incidences of drought have increased due to global warming in devel oping countries. These have affected agricultural production in Sub-Sahara Africa, South Asia and Mediterranean region. Developing countries are hard hit by failing crop yields and declining water supply. Worsening food securities are evident in Africa and South Asian countries. It is estimated that twenty three million people will be hit by severe drought and rising food prices in Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. As a result, Oxfam Launched $152 million appeal to help most affected people in