Chapter 9

Climate Change and Global

Warming

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 Weather vs Climate
Weather:
• Short-term conditions of the atmosphere,
including temperature, humidity, precipitation,
wind speed, and atmospheric pressure.
• It can vary greatly from day to day, even hour to
hour.
• Weather is influenced by local factors e.g., a
thunderstorm in the afternoon or a sunny day
with mild temperatures.
• Meteorologists forecast weather on a daily or
weekly basis, and it can fluctuate widely even
within a season.

Climate:
• Long-term average of weather patterns in a specific region over extended periods,
typically 30 years or more.
• It encompasses the typical conditions in a region—like cold, snowy winters or hot, humid
summers.
• Climate patterns are influenced by larger, more persistent forces, such as ocean currents,
global wind patterns, and the amount of sunlight received. 2
 Global Warming
• Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average surface
temperature.
• In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about
0.8 °C (1.4 °F) with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last
three decades.
• All the long-term effects of recent global warming induced climate change like
rising sea levels, glacier retreat, and altered patterns of agriculture are actually
cited as direct consequences of human activities e.g., Burning of fossil fuel,
increase of industrial pollutants and deforestation
• The temperature at or near the surface of the Earth is determined by four main
factors:
 The amount of sunlight Earth receives.
 The amount of sunlight Earth reflects.
 Retention of heat by the atmosphere.
 Evaporation and condensation of water vapor.
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 How Global Warming Works?
The Greenhouse Effect
• The Greenhouse effect theory was proposed by Joseph Fourier in 1824 and was first
investigated quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896.
• The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms Earth’s surface. It happens because
certain gases in the atmosphere, known as greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide, methane,
and water vapor), trap heat.
 The sun sends energy to Earth in the form of light and shortwave radiation, which passes through
the atmosphere and warms the planet’s surface.
 Earth absorbs this energy and then re-emits it as infrared radiation (heat), which has longer
wavelengths than sunlight.
 Instead of escaping directly into space, some of this heat is absorbed by greenhouse gases and re-
radiated back toward Earth, warming the atmosphere and the planet’s surface.

• This effect is essential for life on Earth, as it keeps our planet warm enough to support
ecosystems and maintain stable temperatures.
• However, human activities are increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases, which
enhances the greenhouse effect, trapping more heat and leading to global warming and
climate change.
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How Global Warming Works?
The Greenhouse Effect
 Causes of Global Warming
• Natural processes
 Release of methane gas from arctic tundra and
wetlands
 Release of carbon dioxide gas, ashes etc. from
Volcanoes
 Earth’s Orbital Changes
 Solar Variability

• Human activities
 Burning fossil fuels (adds about 5.4 billion metric
tons of carbons each year)
 Deforestation (adds about 1.6 billion metric tons per
year)

 Land use change account for up to one third of total anthropogenic CO2 emissions.
 Livestock and manure management, pa rice farming, wetland changes, and landfill
emissions leads to higher methane atmospheric concentrations.
 Use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in refrigeration systems, and manufacturing
processes.
 Agricultural activities e.g., use of fertilizers, leads to higher nitrous oxide (N2O)
concentrations.
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Chlorofluoro
carbons

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 Global Warming Potential (GWP)
• Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a measure of how much
heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a specific
time period, typically compared to carbon dioxide (CO₂).
• CO₂ is used as the reference gas with a GWP of 1.
• GWP is usually calculated over a 20, 100, or 500-year
timeframe, with 100 years being the most common standard.
• The higher the GWP, the more heat the gas will trap in the
atmosphere compared to CO₂ over the same period.

GHGs GWP
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
GWP 1

Methane (CH4)
GWP 24

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

GWP 310

CFC12 (CCI2F2) GWP 6200-7200

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 Global Warming - Potential Effects
• Changes in Climate pattern
Global rise in temperature is expected to significantly change
patterns of rainfall, soil moisture, and other climatic factors
related to agricultural productivity.

• Rise in Sea Level

The result is rising sea and water levels, causing floods and
massive destruction to low-lying towns and cities along water
bodies.

• Changes in plant and animal distribution

Climate change also distorts the natural habitats and lives of
many plants and animals. For example, the survival of polar
bears and penguins in icy regions are in danger.

• Human health
Extreme changes in temperature makes people suffer
breathing difficulties, head aches, body rashes and other
illnesses.
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 Global Warming - Potential Effects

• Food Production
Climate change is projected to decrease agricultural
productivity in the tropics and sub-tropics for almost any
amount of warming. Countries will face malnutrition
problems as food production will decrease due to frequent
droughts and floods.

• Biomass/Forest Management
Managing forest will become more challenging difficult due
to an increase in pests, fires and irregular rainfall.

• Water Scarcity
One third of the world’s population is now subject to water
scarcity. Climate change is projected to decrease water
availability in many arid- and semi-arid regions

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 The rise in average global temperature is directly linked to the
rise in the concentration of CO2 / GHGs in the atmosphere

CO2 concentration in atmosphere with 420 ppm in 2020 measured at Mauna Loa Observatory

Source: NOAA 2020, Atmospheric CO2 at Manau Loa Observatory, Hawai.

 Global Average Temperature
• The average global temperature on Earth has increased by at least 1.1° Celsius (1.9°
Fahrenheit) since 1880.
• The majority of the warming has occurred since 1975, at a rate of roughly 0.15 to
0.20°C per decade.
• A one-degree global change is significant because it takes a vast amount of heat to
warm all of the oceans, the atmosphere, and the land masses by that much.

• In the past, a one- to two-degree drop was all it took to plunge the Earth into the Little Ice Age. A five-
degree drop was enough to bury a large part of North America under a towering mass of ice 20,000
years ago. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/world-of-change/global-temperatures
CO2 Emission by Countries
 Climate Change

• According to UNFCCC, climate change refers to a change in climate

that is attributable directly or indirectly to human activities that
alters atmospheric composition.

• Climate change refers to significant shifts in weather patterns over

extended periods, which can include changes in precipitation,
wind patterns, and the frequency or intensity of extreme weather
events like hurricanes, droughts, and floods.

• These shifts can be influenced by natural processes, such as

volcanic eruptions and solar variations, as well as human activities.

*UNFCCC stands for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

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 Global Warming Vs Climate Change

Global warming Climate change

Increase of the Earth’s average
Broader term that refers to long-
surface temperature due to a
term changes in climate,
build-up of greenhouse gases in
including average temperature
the atmosphere.
and precipitation.

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Global Warming leads to
Climate Change

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What’s the proof that global
warming is taking place?
 Portage Glacier
Alaska

1914 2004
Rising tides Some scientists predict that a warmer climate will trigger more violent
storms, which will cause increased rates of coastal erosion.
Cape Hatteras in North Carolina in the USA.
 Is Climate Really Changing?

• Prediction from the Scientific Analysis

• Observed Changes
Flooded Area from 1954 to 2020

1998 is the
most sever
flood
Low-lying Bangladesh is prone to coastal flooding caused by storm surges, which
have killed many people in recent years. Experts say if the sea level goes up by 1
metre, Bangladesh will lose 17.5% of its land.
 Consequences of Climate Change

• Cyclone/storm surge: increased frequency, intensity, increasing salinity

• Floods: increased frequency, magnitudes
• Droughts: Spreading over time and space
• Erratic rainfall: Intensive rain in short time
• Temperature: extremes increasing
• Increased riverbank and coastal erosion
• Water logging and permanent inundation due to Sea Level Rise
 Why Bangladesh is vulnerable to Climate Change?

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable

countries to climate change because of its:

• Flat and low-lying topography (of the total

land area, 79% has less than 1m elevation)

• High population density

• Reliance of many livelihoods on climate

sensitive sectors, particularly agriculture
and fisheries

*Golam Azam, M., & Mujibor Rahman, M. (2022). Identification of Climate Change
Vulnerable Zones in Bangladesh Through Multivariate Geospatial Analysis. In Climate,
Environment and Disaster in Developing Countries (pp. 89-114). Singapore: Springer
Nature Singapore.
Drought Cyclone Storm surge, salinity

Hazards Bangladesh faces

Flood Water logging Bank

Bank erosion Erosion
 Economic Impact of Climate Change in
Bangladesh

• Climate change impacts all economic sectors in Bangladesh,

from raw material production to distribution.
• Loss of biodiversity
• Decreased crop yields
• Decline in fish production
• Extreme weather disrupts goods transportation on rivers and
roads. Bad weather leads to:
 Infrastructure damage
 Damage to supplies
• Fewer customers frequenting shopping malls, impacting sales.

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 Adaptation and Mitigation
Mitigation
• Involves efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of
greenhouse gases, aiming to limit the extent of climate
change.

• The goal of mitigation is to address the root cause of

climate change—greenhouse gas emissions—to reduce
future warming and its impacts.

• Mitigation strategies include-

 Driving fuel efficient vehicles
 Promoting solar and carbon efficient technologies efficiency.
 Reforestation and afforestation to increase carbon
sequestration.
 Promoting sustainable agricultural and industrial practices.

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 Adaptation and Mitigation
Adaptation:
• Focuses on adjusting and preparing for the effects of climate
change that are already occurring.
• Adaptation is about managing the consequences of climate change
to protect human and natural systems from its adverse effects.
• Adaptation strategies include-
 Building infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather events
(e.g., flood defenses, climate-resilient buildings).
 Developing agricultural practices suited to changing climate conditions.
 Planning for water resource management in areas facing drought.

• 3 types of adaptation:
1. Autonomous Adaptation: Immediate and spontaneous and does
not consider future risk and vulnerability
2. Anticipatory Adaptation: Takes place before the impacts of climate
change
3. Planned Adaptation: Well informed and guided by policy or
decisions and supported by technologies and resources
 Adaptation for Drought Adaptation for Coastal
Areas
• Cultivation of rice with minor
irrigation: rice grown in drought-
prone areas • Cyclone shelter centre
• Digging of small ponds for water • Climate smart house design
reservoir • Salt tolerant crops
• Less water consuming trees • Afforestation to protect the
• More vegetation Chars and river bank
• Homestead Garden
• Crop Diversification
Be energy – efficient!

Biomass
Solar

Wind
 Climate Mitigation Model: Increasing Green Coverage

Mangrove Plantation

Creating individual forest (Amar Ban)

through participatory approach
Adaptation Model: Climate Adaptive Agriculture and Food
Security
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 Climate Change & National Policy Landscape

Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy

8th Five Year Plan
and Action Plan (BCCSAP)

Nationally Determined Contribution

Bangladesh Delta Plan-2100
(NDC)

Climate Change and Gender Action

Perspective Plan of Bangladesh-2041
Plan

Bangladesh Country Investment Plan for Environment Forestry and Climate

Change
 BCCSAP: Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and
Action Plan (2009)
Built on Six Pillars:

1. Food Security, Social Protection and Health

2. Comprehensive Disaster Management
3. Infrastructure
4. Research and Knowledge Management
5. Mitigation and Low Carbon Development
6. Capacity Building and Institutional

As a consequence, Government of Bangladesh initially allocated $400 million

to Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (2010) known as BCCTF.

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