Some climate experts believe that the CO 2 concentration of 400 ppm represents a critical value
that cannot be reversed. When the critical value
is exceeded, the global temperature rise will
reach 2°C.
Global warming has negative impacts on the
ecosystem. The combined average temperature
over global land and ocean surfaces for April
2016 was 1.10 °C above the 20th century average of 13.7°C—the highest temperature departure for April since global records began in 1880.
Sixteen of the 17 warmest years on record have
occurred since 2000. Global warming does not
just make winters warmer and summers hotter, it
also causes major environmental crises, such as
glacial retreat in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and
melting ice and snow in the Antarctic and Arctic.
Research indicates that if the global average
temperature rise exceeds 2°C compared to
pre-industrial levels, many species with poor
adaptability will die out; if the global average
temperature rise exceeds 4°C, grain yields will
fall sharply and fishing productivity will be significantly reduced, exposing global food supply
to high risk.
7 Global warming increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather conditions, and accelerates the melting and shrinking
of glaciers, the largest freshwater reserves on
Earth, causing sea levels to rise. Millions of
people will be threatened by environmental disasters like floods, droughts, typhoons, water
scarcity and the submergence of coastal areas,
islands and low-lying littoral cities. According to
the World Bank, the losses inflicted by extreme
weather conditions are increasing—the average
annual loss in the 1980s was valued at $5 million. This has risen to $200 billion in the past
decade.
8 Some scientists predict that the average
global temperature will rise by at least 3°C by the
end of this century, which will result in the
extinction of a large number of species (Fig. 11).
From the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992
to the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris
Agreement in 2015, the international community
has been increasingly concerned about climate
change and made vigorous efforts to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. The Paris Agreement
sets ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. It established an approach based on the
nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of
each signatory country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change;
and it reiterates the UNFCCC’s principle of the
common but differentiated responsibilities of
individual countries. The Paris Agreement represents the first consensus reached by the international community to combat climate change
together, and the first proportionate response by
the world’s political system to environmental
threats. It also brought politicians and academics
together, in agreement and on the same side.
However, the process is full of twists and turns—
the Trump administration announced withdrawal
from the Paris Agreement in June 2017 and
cancelled the Clean Power Plan introduced by the
Obama administration in October 2017, both of
which obstruct efforts to combat climate change.
The Trump administration is also widely criticised by the international community for its
regression and non-action about global climate
change. To deliver the goal of emissions reduction, all countries must gradually reduce their use
of fossil energy. It is, however, extremely difficult
to arrange international negotiations on climate
change and align developed and developing
countries on climate protection goals, emissions
reduction responsibilities and financial investments. As the country with the most advanced
industry and the highest cumulative carbon
emissions per capita, the USA should accept its
responsibilities. Its decision to withdraw from the
Paris Agreement is disappointing. Despite the
intricate political and economic games behind the
negotiations on climate change, the trend of
international collaboration on combating climate
change cannot be reversed (Fig. 12).
The sense of urgency felt by much of the
world about controlling environmental pollution
and combating climate change provides operational space for energy system change. Pollution
like haze and environmental pollution constraints
7
http://www.ccchina.gov.cn/Detail.aspx?newsId=68179.
8
http://news.china.com.cn/world/2013-11/20/content_
30647909.html.
402
S. Yaodong and A. Gillespie
that cannot be reversed. When the critical value
is exceeded, the global temperature rise will
reach 2°C.
Global warming has negative impacts on the
ecosystem. The combined average temperature
over global land and ocean surfaces for April
2016 was 1.10 °C above the 20th century average of 13.7°C—the highest temperature departure for April since global records began in 1880.
Sixteen of the 17 warmest years on record have
occurred since 2000. Global warming does not
just make winters warmer and summers hotter, it
also causes major environmental crises, such as
glacial retreat in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and
melting ice and snow in the Antarctic and Arctic.
Research indicates that if the global average
temperature rise exceeds 2°C compared to
pre-industrial levels, many species with poor
adaptability will die out; if the global average
temperature rise exceeds 4°C, grain yields will
fall sharply and fishing productivity will be significantly reduced, exposing global food supply
to high risk.
7 Global warming increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather conditions, and accelerates the melting and shrinking
of glaciers, the largest freshwater reserves on
Earth, causing sea levels to rise. Millions of
people will be threatened by environmental disasters like floods, droughts, typhoons, water
scarcity and the submergence of coastal areas,
islands and low-lying littoral cities. According to
the World Bank, the losses inflicted by extreme
weather conditions are increasing—the average
annual loss in the 1980s was valued at $5 million. This has risen to $200 billion in the past
decade.
8 Some scientists predict that the average
global temperature will rise by at least 3°C by the
end of this century, which will result in the
extinction of a large number of species (Fig. 11).
From the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992
to the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 and the Paris
Agreement in 2015, the international community
has been increasingly concerned about climate
change and made vigorous efforts to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. The Paris Agreement
sets ambitious goals for reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. It established an approach based on the
nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of
each signatory country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change;
and it reiterates the UNFCCC’s principle of the
common but differentiated responsibilities of
individual countries. The Paris Agreement represents the first consensus reached by the international community to combat climate change
together, and the first proportionate response by
the world’s political system to environmental
threats. It also brought politicians and academics
together, in agreement and on the same side.
However, the process is full of twists and turns—
the Trump administration announced withdrawal
from the Paris Agreement in June 2017 and
cancelled the Clean Power Plan introduced by the
Obama administration in October 2017, both of
which obstruct efforts to combat climate change.
The Trump administration is also widely criticised by the international community for its
regression and non-action about global climate
change. To deliver the goal of emissions reduction, all countries must gradually reduce their use
of fossil energy. It is, however, extremely difficult
to arrange international negotiations on climate
change and align developed and developing
countries on climate protection goals, emissions
reduction responsibilities and financial investments. As the country with the most advanced
industry and the highest cumulative carbon
emissions per capita, the USA should accept its
responsibilities. Its decision to withdraw from the
Paris Agreement is disappointing. Despite the
intricate political and economic games behind the
negotiations on climate change, the trend of
international collaboration on combating climate
change cannot be reversed (Fig. 12).
The sense of urgency felt by much of the
world about controlling environmental pollution
and combating climate change provides operational space for energy system change. Pollution
like haze and environmental pollution constraints
7
http://www.ccchina.gov.cn/Detail.aspx?newsId=68179.
8
http://news.china.com.cn/world/2013-11/20/content_
30647909.html.
402
S. Yaodong and A. Gillespie