Environmental management at the global level: the governance - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Environmental management at the global level: the governance challenge Katherine Richardson, Professor Center for Macroecology Evolution and Climate Leader of the Sustainability Science Center University of Copenhagen Professor Katherine
Katherine Richardson, Professor
Center for Macroecology Evolution and Climate Leader of the Sustainability Science Center University of Copenhagen
Professor Katherine Richardson www.sustainability.ku.dk
Professor Katherine Richardson www.sustainability.ku.dk
certainty)
Observationer can lead to fact)
likely explanation for the
What is the role of the UN Climate Panel IPCC here?
Professor Katherine Richardson www.sustainability.ku.dk
IPCC = Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
groups
do research)!
a resume of all existing
in the scientific peer reviewed literature)
denominator”
Professor Katherine Richardson www.sustainability.ku.dk
What do the observations show?
air temperature but
decades are the warmest on record
From IPCC AR5 WG1 Sept. 2013
Professor Katherine Richardson www.sustainability.ku.dk
That warming is ”patchy” :
From IPCC AR5 WG1 Sept. 2013
Professor Katherine Richardson www.sustainability.ku.dk
From IPCC AR5 WG1 Sept. 2013
Professor Katherine Richardson www.sustainability.ku.dk
AND that
Challenge to marine biodiversity and ability of oceans to function as sink of CO2
corrosive to aragonite by 2030- 2060
Turley et al 2006
Professor Katherine Richardson www.sustainability.ku.dk
From R. Buddemeier, based on Kleypas et al. 1999
Figure 4.12 In Steffen et al 2004: Global Change and the Earth System, a planet under pressure. Springer
Professor Katherine Richardson www.sustainability.ku.dk
”> 95% certain that humans are causing global climate change”
It is extremely likely that more than half of the observed increase in global average surface temperature from 1951 to 2010 was caused by the anthropogenic increase in greenhouse gas concentrations and other anthropogenic forcings together. The best estimate of the human‐induced contribution to warming is similar to the observed warming over this period
Professor Katherine Richardson www.sustainability.ku.dk
Charles Darwin: 1809‐1882
Challenged the contemporary (religious based) understanding of the Human‐Earth Relationship and the contemporary economic paradigm.
Presidential candidates are discussing whether Darwin’s conclusions should be taught in schools!
Professor Katherine Richardson www.sustainability.ku.dk
Steffen et al. 2004
Note the start of the ’Great Acceleration’ around 1950, when many activities began
Steffen et al 2004
Professor Katherine Richardson www.sustainability.ku.dk
Steffen et al. 2004
Responses of the Earth System to the accelerating human enterprise. Root cause = demand for resources and services approaching supply!
Steffen et al 2004
Planetary Boundaries: Exploring the safe
humanity in the Anthropocene (Nature, 461 : 472 – 475, Sept 24 - 2009)
Dias 16 Enhedens navn Sted og dato
Nitrogen flow Ocean acidity
50-60 70-80 Latest data 90-00 Pre- Ind.
Professor Katherine Richardson www.sustainability.ku.dk
For the first time in human history, the demand for some essential natural resources and services is beginning to exceed supply
distinct from societies (economic) interests (natural resources = currency)
more efficient resource use and/or the development
meet demand.
Professor Katherine Richardson www.sustainability.ku.dk
18
The greatest challenge of the 21st century: Acknowledging that the planet’s resources are limited AND the development of (governance) mechanisms to share these resources among 9 billion people