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Climate Change Crisis and Urgent Actions for a Sustainable Future

Understand the dangers of human-driven climate change and the imperative need to restore Earth's energy balance by reducing CO2 levels to below 350 ppm. Key actions include phasing out coal emissions, raising carbon prices, enhancing CO2 sequestration, and reducing non-CO2 forcings. Planning for inevitable climate impacts and halting current natural system destruction are crucial for survival. Collaborations, public engagement, and research utilization are essential for addressing climate threats. Visit online biodiversity databases for relevant information.

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Climate Change Crisis and Urgent Actions for a Sustainable Future

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  1. Royal Society Coral Crisis Working Group 6 July 2009

  2. Metrics for “Dangerous” Change Extermination of Animal & Plant Species 1.Extinction of Polar and Alpine Species 2. Unsustainable Migration Rates Ice Sheet Disintegration: Global Sea Level 1. Long-Term Change from Paleoclimate Data 2. Ice Sheet Response Time Regional Climate Disruptions 1. Increase of Extreme Events 2. Shifting Zones/Freshwater Shortages Taken from James Hansen’s presentation: Climate Threat to the Planet. The Path from Science to Action. Trinity International University June 5 2009

  3. Assessment of Target CO2 (Hansen et al 2009) • PhenomenonTarget CO2 (ppm) • 1. Arctic Sea Ice 300-325 • 2. Ice Sheets/Sea Level 300-350 • 3. Shifting Climatic Zones 300-350 • 4 Alpine Water Supplies 300-350 • 5. Ocean Acidification 300-350 •  Initialtarget CO2 <350 ppm* *assumes CH4, O3, Black Soot decrease Taken from James Hansen’s presentation: Climate Threat to the Planet. The Path from Science to Action. Trinity International University June 5 2009

  4. Key actions for getting back to 350ppm 1. Phase Out Coal CO2 Emissions - by 2025/2030 developed/developing countries 2. Rising Carbon Price - discourages unconventional fossil fuels & extraction of every last drop of oil (Arctic, etc.) 3. Soil & Biosphere CO2 Sequestration - improved farming & forestry practices 4. Reduce non-CO2 Forcings - reduce CH4, O3, trace gases, black soot

  5. In summary: • Human driven climate change is real and the danger is far greater than most people are aware. • It’s imperative that we restore Earth’s energy imbalance (i.e. get back to <350ppm CO2.) with all urgency. • We need to understand & act on the developing threat & response imperatives. • We should be redoubling efforts to ensure the current destruction of natural systems is halted. These are key to our survival. • We need to be planning for the now unavoidableimpacts of climate change. • We have precious little timeto avert runaway climate change.

  6. The critical importance ofnatural systems UNEP atlas of carbon stored by biome

  7. What’s our view on agriculture?

  8. What are ourviableenergyoptions?

  9. A compelling case for nuclear power?

  10. What’s our view on Geoengineering?

  11. Online climate change & biodiversity database www.bioclimate.org www.bioclimate.org

  12. How might risk change? Susceptibility due to biological traits Extinction Risk high Exposure to climate change Interaction

  13. Zoo community focus actions: • Keep on top of the emerging threat and response information and the wider environmental/climate community. • Take up and disseminate the WAZA position statement and support materials • Consider decision maker communication initiatives (as we did for COP-15) • Increase pubic engagement (exhibits, Websites, media, talks/symposia etc) • Realise potential of our zoo sites for research. • Need to agree improvements to current threat evaluation process. • Highlight Zoo focus species (CP and ICP programmes etc) • Need to increase specialist collaborations (e.g. Hadley, NASA) • Fully utilise the international WAZA community network. • Need to be flexible and responsive to emerging developments (eg phytoplankton decline) and react accordingly.

  14. Online climate change & biodiversity database www.bioclimate.org www.bioclimate.org

  15. www.bioclimate.org

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