63rd Session of UNECEClimate Change Mitigation and

Adaptation – the Work of the ECE

Geneva, 31 March 2009

Panel One: Energy Efficiency, Air Pollution and GHG Emissions

Moderator: Prof David SimonRoyal Holloway, University of London

Distinguishing GEC from ‘natural’ disasters

• Disasters usually short, one-off extreme events

• ‘Natural’ vs anthropogenic disasters• GEC

– Increased frequency and severity of extreme events

– Slow-onset, (semi-)permanent changes

Policy responses to GEC:

• Mitigation:

–short- to medium term

–reducing vulnerability and impact

• Adaptation:

–longer term

–changes to how & where we live

Recent Global Sea Level Rise Estimates

Del

ta C

omm

. WB

GU

Data

Data:Church and White (2006)Scenarios 2100:50 – 140 cm (Rahmstorf 2007)55 – 110 cm (“high end”, Delta Committee 2008)Scenarios 2200:150 – 350 cm (“high end”, Delta Committee 2008)Scenarios 2300:250 – 510 cm (German Advisory Council on

Global Change, WBGU, 2006)

Table 1 Greenhouse gas production

Source: The Guardian (London) 31 October 2006

Country Mn tonnes CO2 equivalent, 2000  

USA 6,928 Mexico 512

China

4,938 Indonesia 503

Russia 1,915 Australia 491

India 1,884 Ukraine 482

Japan 1,317 Iran 480

Germany 1,009 South Africa 417

Brazil 851 Spain 381

Canada 680 Poland 381

UK 654 Turkey 355

Italy 531 Saudi Arabia 341

S. Korea 521 Argentina 289

France 513 Pakistan 285

World Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Region,2003-2030 (Billion Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide)

http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/brochures/greenhouse/Chapter1.htm