The Paris Climate Summit is designed to stop a division between rich and poor nations. It begins on November 30, and runs until December 11,. Nearly 200 nations will gather to discuss ways to stop or limit global warming. After decades of complicated negotiations, the 21st Conference of the Parties will be the first chance to unite the entire world behind a real solution. According to www.swissinfo.ch, Bruno Oberle (head of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment) stated that there was a lot of consensus for changing the course. “The great powers including China and America recognize that it is necessary to act.” Can the Paris Conference conclude with a comprehensive and binding agreement? Although the wealthy nations are concerned about job losses and reduced corporate profits, a comprehensive, effective agreement could be beneficial for the poorer countries like Bangladesh. However, it would lead to more flooding and death, as well as poverty and the possibility of large areas of the country being submerged under the ocean. Many of the islands along Bangladesh’s coast are now submerged. ActionAid estimates that hundreds of lives are being lost each year due to floods, storms, and cyclones. Bangladesh sees fifty children drown each day. Two main themes of the meeting The agenda includes two topics: The support for developing countries’ climate-friendly policies. 2. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapour (CH2) as well as methane, methane, nitrous oxide, N2O, ozone (O3) and chlorofluorocarbons. These gases are naturally occurring, however human activities have increased their emission into the atmosphere. The release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is the biggest concern according to experts in the environment. The increase in greenhouse gas emissions is a result of human activities such as burning fossil fuels and cutting down trees. Scientists and policymakers want to limit the global average temperature rise to no more than 2oC above the preindustrial period. Aasma lives in Bangladesh and wants Shumona (9 years old) to attend school. She’s afraid to let Shumona go. A local girl fell from a bamboo bridge three years ago and drowned while walking to school. This will prove to be an extremely difficult target considering that the average global temperature today is almost 1oC higher than it was prior to the industrial revolution. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a scientific intergovernmental organization under the auspices United Nations (IPCC), exceeding the 2oC goal could have devastating consequences for humans and other living things on Earth. This conference should lead to a binding, universal and binding agreement. It can replace the 2012. expired Kyoto Protocol. The levels of CO2 found in the atmosphere have reached ppm, the highest ever recorded (since records started). The 2000 to 2010 period was the Earth’s warmest decade in 10,000 years, says the IPCC. Scientists believe that 2015 will set new records. It won’t take long for the 2oC limit to be breached if we don’t act quickly. You don’t have to wait for the future, it is possible to act now. Birds moving away from their natural habitats BirdLife International reported this week that worldwide birds have begun migrating towards higher ground or to the poles because of increased heat. Climate change has had a negative impact on 570 species of bird that have been examined internationally. Tris Allinson was co-author. She stated: “People see climate change as something that is on the horizon or about to happen, but the signs from birds indicate that major and profound changes in the environment are already happening, with adverse effects for many of the birds.” BBC Video – Why does 2oC matter?
