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Women's Studies 1022F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Gro Harlem Brundtland, Green Economy, Global Warming

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silverherring176
23 Nov 2016
School
Western University
Department
Women's Studies
Course
Women's Studies 1022F/G
Professor
Bipasha Baruah

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Document Summary

Lecture 3: gender, climate change and the green economy: key issues. What are the gendered implications of (a) climate change and of (b) adopting green economies to respond to. Global warming and climate change refer to an increase in average global temperatures. Natural events and human activities are believed to be contributing to an increase in average global temperatures. This is caused primarily by increases in greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (co2), methane (ch4) (which is 20 times as potent a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide) and nitrous oxide (n2o). Water vapor is also considered a greenhouse gas. These gases occur naturally in the atmosphere. Without them, the earth"s mean temperature would be 33 degrees celsius lower than it is. The atmospheric concentration of some gases increased dramatically in the past 200 years due to modifications of biogeochemical cycles by human populations. New human-engineered gases, such as chlorofluorocarbons (cfcs), have been added.

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Related Questions

This laboratory relates to the following Terminal Course Objective(TCO):


8 Given the two major problems of global warming and ozone layerdepletion, compare and contrast the causes, environmental andhealth impacts, as well as the success or failure of internationalpolicies to solve these problems.


Introduction

We have heard for a long time that air pollution and theaccumulation of greenhouse gases lead to global warming. In theanimation below the rise in global temperature and the rise in sealevel is predicted by a model built by the Intergovernmental Panelon Climate Change (IPCC). This model is based on a number ofassumptions on the amount of ozone, particulate matter and otherair pollutants.







Depletion of the Ozone Layer

Solar radiation emits electromagnetic waves with a wide range ofwavelengths. Visible light is the part of the electromagneticspectrum that can be detected by the eye's photoreceptors.Ultraviolet radiation has slightly shorter wavelengths than visiblelight and can cause damage to the biological tissues that absorb itby destroying protein and DNA molecules. The damaging effects ofultraviolet radiation are mitigated by the ozone (O3) in theatmosphere. The ozone in the stratosphere is called the OzoneLayer. Without the Ozone Layer, it is doubtful that any life onearth could survive. Since World War ll, many atmosphericscientists began to measure the concentration of ozone in thestratosphere around the South Pole. They have noted someinteresting trends. In the exercise below we will explore the issueof Ozone Depletion.



Wind Circulation in the Atmosphere

Wind circulation in the atmosphere is largely responsible for ourweather, our climate zones, and the movement and concentration ofgreenhouse gases and other air pollutants. The learning objectbelow demonstrates the circulation of winds vertically andhorizontally around the earth.



Man and Global Climate Change

The role of man in the creation of greenhouse gases and globalwarming has long been debated. The Intergovernmental Panel onClimate Change (IPCC) commissioned a model to judge the effects ofman on global temperature, the role of natural environmentalprocesses, and the combination of both. This model is exploredbelow.



One of the greenhouse gases that can be directly related to theactivities of man is carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a product ofindustrial and transportation activities. While it is true thatother processes, like respiration, can produce CO2, it is simple tolook at the concentration of CO2 before and after the industrialrevolution and clearly see the effects of man.



Concern about greenhouse gases led to representatives of 166nations to sign the Kyoto Protocol of 1997, which attempted tolimit emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Therise of the global economy has complicated the issue, as isdemonstrated in the learning object below.



Greenhouse Gases and Health

In recent years we have been measuring the Air Quality Index (AQI),which is a measure of such pollutants as ozone, particulate matter,and CO2. In the exercise below you may explore the AQI in citiesacross the U.S.







Let's look at two locations less than 500 miles apart thatrepresent both ends of the spectrum of the issue of greenhousegases and global warming. Explore both virtual field trips andevaluate them in terms of whether they contribute to the greenhousegas problem or help reduce it.

Kuala Lumpur

Rainforest / Terraced Rice Fields



Exercises

Exercise 1. Have a class debate between people representing thedeveloping countries and people representing the developedcountries OR write an essay comparing and contrasting the two.Characterize each side in terms of the issues surroundingpopulation growth, energy use, resource use, and sustainabledevelopment. Find common interests between the two.

Exercise 2. Look at the two virtual field trips and define each ofthe environments depicted in terms of the global carbon cyclediagram below. Assuming that the cycle is in balance, how wouldeach site change the balance.



Exercise 3. Develop a series of international agreements that wouldlead to the kind of reductions in greenhouse gas emissions calledfor in the Kyoto Protocol and that would satisfy the concerns forglobal equity between developed and developing countries.

Exercise 4. Using the table below keep track of your dailyactivities and how they affect the greenhouse gas crisis in theworld. What does each activity produce? Are the products positiveor negative. How do the sizes (volumes of gas) of the variousproducts vary? After you have created your table define yourpersonal global carbon footprint. Do you have a positive effect ora negative one?







1

Assigned as

Homework

1

Which of the following will accelerate transformation of the landscape?

A

Wildfire

B

Increasing temperature

C

Drought

D

All of these answers are correct

Unanswered

Submit

2

Assigned as

Homework

2

Water vapor is a by-product of which of the following?

A

Wind hitting the turbulent surface of the oceans

B

Rain

C

Metabolism of plants and animals

D

Respiration in plants and animals

Unanswered

Submit

3

Assigned as

Homework

3

How does incomplete combustion occur?

A

Incomplete combustion, the reactant burns in oxygen, producing a limited number of products.

B

When there isn't enough oxygen to allow the fuel to react completely to produce carbon dioxide and water.

C

Incompletecombustion is a form of oxidation otherwise known as a fire, in which large amounts of heat and light energy are released, which often results in a flame.

D

Incomplete combustion is the slow, low-temperature, flameless form of combustion, sustained by the heat evolved when oxygen directly attacks the surface of a condensed-phase fuel.

Unanswered

Submit

4

Assigned as

Homework

4

The average car emits how many pounds of carbon dioxide a year?

A

10,000 pounds

B

3,000 pounds

C

8,000 pounds

D

12,000 pounds

Unanswered

Submit

5

Assigned as

Homework

5

Which of the following is a characteristic of methane?

A

A molecule released by one ant so that other ants can follow its path

B

A molecule released by a bee to signal nestmates to organize

C

Lifetime in the atmosphere is brief (10-12years)

D

A compound produced by a bacterium that inhibits nearby fungi.

Unanswered

Submit

6

Assigned as

Homework

6

Which of the following is the best sink for atmospheric methane?

A

The greenhouse gases

B

The carbon bases located on land

C

The hydrogen radical in the ocean

D

Hydroxyl radical in the troposphere

Unanswered

Submit

7

Assigned as

Homework

7

What would the temperature of the earth be without a natural greenhouse effect?

A

32 degrees F

B

18 degrees F

C

98 degrees F

D

9,941 degrees F

E

0 degrees F

Unanswered

Submit

8

Assigned as

Homework

8

Which of the following will affect the global population the most due to a changing climate?

A

Computer manufacturing

B

Adequate oxygen supplies

C

Landscape businesses

D

Adequate water supplies

Unanswered

Submit

9

Assigned as

Homework

9

A "carbon offset" is best defined as which of the following?

A

An increase of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for or to offset a greenhouse gas emission made elsewhere.

B

An industrial induced offset of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to deprive a greenhouse gas emission made elsewhere.

C

A reduction of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for or to offset a greenhouse gas emission made elsewhere.

D

An increase of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to maintain a greenhouse gas emission made elsewhere.

Unanswered

Submit

Assigned as

Homework

10

What is the molecular explanation of why a decrease in oceanic pH will cause fish and coral death?

A

All three answers are correct

B

Acidic pH denatures proteins

C

Acidic pH denatures lipids

D

Acidic pH denatures carbohydrates

Unanswered

Submit

I need help with this case study

“Sweet Indigestion” by Peggy Brickman

Part I—Of Cows and Carbs “What’s so funny?” Gwen asked as sheslid next to her friends Sara and Emily at the library.

“Read this,” Sara said. “I’m thinking about getting my dadvaccinated.”

S Y D N E Y, Australia, June 7 — Australian farmers aresigning up their sheep and cattle in droves to take part in avaccine program aimed at reducing harmful methane gas emissionsfrom their animals and help take the heat off global warming.Methane is a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide andfarm animals produce a lot of it. Australian scientists said todayearly results show they may be able to reduce methane emissions peranimal by about 20 percent a year, or the equivalent of 300,000tons of carbon dioxide a year if they can vaccinate three millionanimals. The methane vaccine discourages Methanogenic archae,organisms which inhabit the animal’s digestive system and whichproduce methane by breaking down feed. Reuters 2001.

Gwen laughed, “Your dad? What about your dog? He’s got the realproblem. But seriously, is farting a major

cause of global warming?”

“Well, not all of it, but greenhouse gases could be reduced ifpeople stopped eating meat. Cows actually

produce the vast majority of methane released in the U.S.” Emilyreplied.

“300,000 tons of CO2 in Australia alone,” Gwen said. “I wonderhow much people produce?”

“When I visited Space Camp we learned about how the astronautsdeal with noxious fumes,” Sara said. “The average astronaut expelsabout a half liter of gas a day from bacterial break down ofundigested carbohydrates in the large intestine. Maybe we allshould be vaccinated. You both have been dieting, I bet you thinkyou’re eating a lot less carbohydrates than before. You could beour first test subjects.”“But what are carbohydrates exactly?”Emily asked looking at Gwen. “And which are undigested?

Here’s a list of what the girls had eaten so far:

• For breakfast—Cheerios with oat bran, a tall Latte with skimmilk, and a PowerBar®.

• For lunch—Coke and a salad with lettuce, cabbage, tomato,shredded carrot, green peas, kidney beans, and tuna fish.

QUESTION: Underline all foods containingcarbohydrates. Come up with a rule to help you identify foodscontaining carbohydrates. How are carbohydrates made normally(i.e., what organism makes them) Which ingredient would cause gasand Why are some foods digestible and othersaren’t?