The Science Behind Climate Change
|
| |
Greenhouse Gases
|
| |
Increased levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as carbon
dioxide (CO2) act to enhance the natural 'greenhouse' effect by
trapping more heat in the atmosphere, leading to an increase in the
average surface temperature of the Earth. Click here for more details
|
| |
Legislation
|
| |
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) objective is to stabilise atmospheric greenhouse gases at a level that would prevent dangerous interference with the climate system.
Click here for more details
|
| |
Trends Over Time
|
| |
Figures released recently by the EPA show that instead of stabilizing
at 13% above base levels, emissions of GHGs in Ireland increased by
25.4 per cent in 2005 from a baseline of 55.78 Mt of CO2.
Click here for more details
|
| |
Consequences
|
| |
The EU considers that if global average temperatures do not exceed 2o C
above pre-industrial levels then the most dangerous climate impacts can
be avoided. The EU is now looking for reductions of 30% over 1990
levels by 2020 and accepts the scientific analysis that much deeper
cuts will be needed in later decades. Click here for more details
|
| |
What Can Be Done?
|
| |
The Irish Government intends to meet its Kyoto target through a combination of actions in the commercial, waste, residential and farming and forestry sectors and the purchase of carbon credits. You too can play your part.
Click here for more details
|
| |
You Weigh 12 Tonnes!
|
| |
The average per capita CO2 emissions for Ireland is 12 tonnes, the fourth highest in the world, slightly ahead of the UK with 11 tonnes and exceeded only by Australia, Canada and the USA. Click here for more details
|
| |
Trees and Climate Change
|
| |
Deforestation, or the felling of trees, is one of the main causes of climate change and of soil erosion, which many people see as an equal problem to global warming, as soils needed to feed an increasing world population, are being destroyed. Click here for more details
|
