Al Gore: An Inconvenient Truth

Global Warming Initiatives

Ishraq DhalyJanuary 7, 2008

What is Global Warming?

What is Global Warming?

What is Global Warming?

What is Global Warming?

What is Global Warming?

What is Global Warming?

Global Implications

• The number of Category 4 and 5 hurricanes has almost doubled in the last 30 years.

• Malaria has spread to higher altitudes in places like the Colombian Andes, 7,000 feet above sea level.

• The flow of ice from glaciers in Greenland has more than doubled over the past decade.

• At least 279 species of plants and animals are already responding to global warming, moving closer to the poles.

Global Implications

• Deaths from global warming will double in just 25 years—to 300,000 people a year.

• Global sea levels could rise by more than 20 feet with the loss of shelf ice in Greenland and Antarctica, devastating coastal areas worldwide.

• Heat waves will be more frequent and more intense.• Droughts and wildfires will occur more often.• The Arctic Ocean could be ice free in summer by 2050.• More than a million species worldwide could be driven to

extinction by 2050.

Local Impacts

• Chalanbeel floods are an example of the fact that a 2-Degree Celsius temperature increase is enough to flood out 11% area of Bangladesh– If so, then the lives of 3 to 4 crores people are on the

verge of extinction.

• Acute climate change, i.e. heat waves, cold spells, floods, cyclones, earth quakes

• New support systems i.e. water resource management and disaster preparedness processes will be necessary

Local Impacts

KYOTO PROTOCOL

• Derived from UNFCC (UN Framework Convention for Climate Change)

• 1997 to 2005 (ends in 2012)• The Big Six: USA, EU, China, Russia,

Japan, India• Still not ratified but signed by US,

Australia, Russia, South Africa (?)• Developed, Developing, Underdeveloped

– Who is responsible for what?

THE TRUTH

United States• The treaty called for 55% global reduction of carbon dioxide, based

on 1990 levels.• The United States is responsible for more than one-third (36%) of

the entire world’s CO2 emissions – far more than any other country.• As one of the original signatories of the Kyoto treaty, the United

States agreed to reduce emissions by 6% from its 1990 levels.• In 2001 President George W. Bush refused to ratify the treaty, citing

these reasons:– The US economy could suffer an estimated $400 billion in losses

as a result of emissions restrictions on industry and transportation, and the US could lose almost 5 million jobs.

– Many developing nations that have extremely high emissions are not bound by the emissions limits set in the treaty.

• Since pulling out of the treaty, U.S. emissions have increased 15% above 1990 levels—21% above our initial objective.

THE TRUTH

• However, several recent events may foreshadow a change in the US position:– America’s unique political structure gives each of the 50 states

the autonomy to legislate Kyoto-like reforms on their own. Environmental leaders in some states are already promoting legislation that supports the objectives of the Kyoto Treaty.

– The California Air Resources Board has set tough emissions standards and is well known for its strict emissions regulations.

– The Chicago Climate Exchange is a group of North American municipalities, companies and organizations that have agreed to reduce their emissions over the next several years.

– Massachusetts, New York, and New Hampshire are creating emission reduction and trading systems.

• The recent 2006 elections have placed many in office who are sympathetic to environmental and global warming issues. This may lead to revisions in the US position on Kyoto.

AL GORE

• From January 24, 2006, Al Gore started with opening his campaign through a film at Sundance Film Festival

• Won him Nobel Peace Prize 2007 with IPCC• Represented US at UN Climate Change

Conference at Bali, Indonesia in December, 2007

• May win him the US Presidency run in 2009• Credo: “THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY”

Research & Activism through Global Organizations

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)– The latest IPCC report says that as early as 2020,

between 75 million and 250 million people in Africa will suffer from water shortages, main Asian urban centers will be at risk for flooding, and many species will disappear from Europe.

• Sierra Club– Help influence governments in ways that help our

environment through their lobbying efforts.

• European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica

Local Initiatives

• Two broad groups: The Doers and the Thinkers• 'World Climate Change and Bangladesh' conference organized by the Bangladesh Science

Writer and Journalist Forum– Problem stating seminar, very few innovations or solutions or leadership initiatives

discussed• NRB Blog Zahirul Bhuiyan (Bio Chemist), Rhode Island, USA

– Good solutions that were not heard or carried forth• Small local institution based groups, columnists, etc: but very few PEOPLE DEDICATED TO THE

CAUSE IN TERMS OF EXTENDING LEADERSHIP• UNEP's Sasakawa Prize 2007, a $200,000 award given yearly to individuals or institutions

who have made a substantial contribution to the protection and management of the environment.

– Jeunesse Park of South Africa and Bangladeshi NGO Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha were the co-winners

• IUCN Local Office: Urban Planning, Forestation, Environmental Research & Dialogue (but its UN funded, not exactly local)

• UN Climate Change Conference was held at Bali, Indonesia during December 3-14, 2007– Democrat Candidates Al Gore and Kerry both criticized Bush for his stringent

manners and promised that they would bring in more focus towards managing climate change responsibly

– But they represented US again in a autocratic manner against all the rest of the world by still disagreeing to the EU demanded 40%-45% reduction in emission versus the US hard bargain offer of 20% by 2010.

– In the end, Bali proved a bitter proving ground between US and the rest of the world without any ‘roadmap’ being discovered.

– Next hope lays in 2009 Denmark to reach any global consensus.

Al Gore in BD?• Not yet, but a few unique facts

– Al Gore presents a Keynote presentation describing global warming, policy level changes, and local level

– There is an entire curriculum dedicated to this, a 360 degree campaign– The whole idea requires ‘leadership in the local level’– The whole idea touches very close to home, so will not be a hard sell to stakeholders– Al Gore's documentary ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ shows that the most populated areas of

the world will be affected enormously if we don't act. – Al Gore may be trying to win the global alliance before lobbying individual states in

ratifying Kyoto Treaty• One country at a time, now its BD’s turn

– ‘Underdeveloped Country Initiatives’ that are ultimately successful will get ‘funding’: the necessary aid to survive

– Developing countries (India and China) are key to the US ratifying Kyoto: the battle must be won outside to win inside

– His model is modular: it can be implemented in any country• Bangladesh is ripe to set up a Dialogue – Forum – Organization – Action Plan -

Team• These may collectively or individually be working towards building sustainable

climate change efforts and show measurable improvement in infrastructure that will forecast and preserve the worst hit areas.

How to help stop Global Warming?

ReduceThe amount of energy you consume and start using renewable energy sources,

such as solar power. Sign up for green energy with your local power provider.  If they don't have it, then tell them to get it.

ReuseBy using products made with recycled materials. Make or buy a compost bin to

use your organic waste as fertilizer for your trees, shrubs, and garden.

RecycleAll materials to your best ability in your local area and purchase Carbon

Offsets.

What else can you do?

USE ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS and personally PLANT SOME TREES.

Additional Ref: ’10 things you can do’ to help stop Global Warming, as suggested by Al Gore

“We must act.”- Al Gore

Ending Statement of Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech