KKKH4284

PERANCANGAN BANDAR LESTARI

TASK 6: GLOBAL WARMING

NAME : SYUHAIDAH HANI BINTI HUSSIN

MATRIC NO. : A133529

LECTURERS:

1) Prof. Ir. Dr. RIZA ATIQ ABDULLAH BIN O.K. RAHMAT

2) Puan NORLIZA BINTI MOHD AKHIR

3) Dr. MUHAMAD NAZRI BIN BORHAN

Supposed you are living in a coastal city. The city administrator has noticed that the mean

sea level has been rising for the past 50 years. The raising is small but over a long period of

time it may cause problems in the city centre as the level of that part of the city is quite low. If

you are hired as a consultant, write a plan of action on what can be done to reduce or

mitigate the problems. Your report must include Mitigation and Adaptation measures. 

Introduction

Most of the world’s coastal cities were established during the last few millennia, a period

when global sea level has been near constant. Since the mid-19th century, sea level has been

rising, likely primarily as a result of human-induced climate change. During the 20th century,

sea level rose about 15-20 centimeters (roughly 1.5 to 2.0 mm/year), with the rate at the end

of the century greater than over the early part of the century . Satellite measurements taken

over the past decade, however, indicate that the rate of increase has jumped to about 3.1

mm/year, which is significantly higher than the average rate for the 20th century . Projections

suggest that the rate of sea level rise is likely to increase during the 21st century, although

there is considerable controversy about the likely size of the increase. As explained in the

next section, this controversy arises mainly due to uncertainties about the contributions to

expect from the three main processes responsible for sea level rise: thermal expansion, the

melting of glaciers and ice caps, and the loss of ice from the Greenland and West Antarctic

ice sheets.

Figure 1: Image from NASA

Mitigation

Mitigation of global warming involves taking actions aimed at reducing the extent of global

warming. Scientific consensus on global warming together with the fear of climate transitions

is leading to increased efforts to develop new technologies and sciences, to address the issue

of global warming. At the core of most proposals is the reduction in greenhouse gas

emissions by reducing energy use and switching to cleaner energy sources. Responding to the

challenges of controlling global warming requires fundamental changes in energy production,

transportation, industry, government policies, and development strategies around the world.

These changes would take time. The challenge today is to manage the impacts that cannot be

avoided while taking steps to prevent severe impacts in the future. Some of the mitigating

measure is appended below:

a. Forests provide many social, economic and environmental benefits. In addition to timber

and paper products, forests provide wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, prevent soil

erosion and flooding, help provide clean air and water and contain tremendous biodiversity.

Forests are also an important defense against global climate change. Through the process of

photosynthesis, forests produce life-supporting oxygen and consume huge amounts of carbon

dioxide, which help the most in mitigation of global warming.

b. Hydro-electric power by means of dams is regarded as a relatively cleaner source of energy

because it emits fewer greenhouse gases than thermal power plants. Greenhouse gases

contribute to global warming and climate change, and for many environmentalists, the

buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is the most important environmental issue.

c. The scientific study of the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the world oceans is

called oceanography. Greater knowledge of climatic variations can be attained to describe

how the biological productivity in the sea is controlled. A lot of carbon dioxide could be

removed from the atmosphere if significant amounts of carbon dioxide could be sucked up by

tiny floating marine plants in the vast oceans. Oceans receive considerable sunlight and have

an abundance of the nitrogen and phosphorus compounds that usually support the growth of

such plants in the greenish waters of the coastal ocean. In an experiment, sea-water

containing dissolved iron was pumped to a small area resulting in growth of small marine

plants.

d. One way to keep carbon dioxide emissions from reaching the atmosphere is to preserve

and growing more trees. Trees, especially young and fast-growing ones, soak up a great deal

of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Slowing the rate of deforestation and planting new

trees can help in neutralizing the expansion of greenhouse gases. In most cases, the process of

carbon capture would involve transporting the gas in compressed form to suitable locations

for underground storage. Deep ocean waters could also absorb a great deal of carbon dioxide,

although the environmental effects may be harmful to ocean life. The feasibility and

environmental effects of these options are under study by international teams.

e. The total worldwide consumption of fossil fuels is increasing by several percent annually.

Newer technologies for energy resources may help offset these effects. Significant reductions

in carbon dioxide emissions can only be achieved by switching away from fossil-fuel energy

sources.

i. Nuclear power plants release no carbon dioxide at all, but nuclear energy is controversial

for reasons of safety, security and the high costs of nuclear waste disposal.

ii. Solar Power, Wind Power and Hydrogen Fuel Cells can be alternative means of energy

emit no greenhouse gases. These energy sources can be practical and low-polluting

alternatives to fossil fuels. Other alternatives include fuels made from plants, such as

biodiesel (made from used and new vegetable oil) and ethanol (a plant-based gasoline

additive). Use of these fuels can help reduce total carbon dioxide emissions from

automobiles. The hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), which uses both an electric motor and a

gasoline or diesel engine, emits less carbon dioxide than conventional automobiles.

f. Urban planning also has an effect on use of energy. Inefficient use of land practices have

increased infrastructure costs as well as the amount of energy needed for transportation,

community services, and buildings. Efficient planning will serve to reduce energy usage and

greenhouse gas emissions. Planning and the concentration of housing within walking distance

of town centers and transport will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

g. Emissions from housing are substantial. New buildings using passive solar building design

can be made more efficient through the use of insulation, high-efficiency appliances

(particularly hot water heaters and furnaces), double or triple glazed gas-filled windows,

external window shades, and building orientation and site. Renewable heat sources such as

geothermal power and passive solar energy reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted.

This saves energy because it cools buildings and reduces the urban heat island effect thus

reducing the use of air conditioning.

h. Development of new technologies, such as hydrogen cars, may reduce the consumption of

petroleum and emissions of carbon dioxide. A shift from air and transport to electric rail

would reduce emissions significantly. Increased use of bio-fuels will also reduce emissions.

For electric vehicles, the reduction of carbon emissions will improve further.

i. The population explosion is a fundamental factor that has led to global warming. Proposed

measures include improving access to family planning and reproductive health care and

information, public awareness about the consequences of continued population growth, and

improving access of women to education and economic opportunities.

j. There is a requirement to launch a media campaign at national level through print and

electronic media for awareness of the masses regarding hazards of Global Warming and

importance of growing trees.

k. Rules and regulations regarding setting up and operation of industries already exist. There

is a dire need that industrial sector be forced by the concerned agencies, to follow the rules

with letter and spirit regarding environment friendly policies.

There is a need to secure our future from the hazards of environmental changes faced

by the present world. The mitigation efforts for the reduction of Global Warming would help

in making prosperous nation besides a healthy atmosphere for our next generations. The most

basic question as to who would take the first step is now beyond discussion due to obvious

scenery of consequences. So pro-active policy at each tier is mandatory and should become

our moral obligation towards better and prosperous future.

Global Warming is resulting in increased temperatures, drying up water sources,

sudden and unpredictable natural calamities; resulting in loss of millions of lives every

decade, which should act as a wake-up call and as a group or at an individual level we all

must try to adopt applicable mitigation measures and this is only possible if we understand

the core issue and severity of its far reaching implications.

Adaptation

Adaptation to global warming is a response to climate change that seeks to reduce the

vulnerability of social and biological systems to climate change effects. Even if emissions are

stabilized relatively soon, climate change and its effects will last many years, and adaptation

will be necessary. Climate change adaptation is especially important in developing countries

since those countries are predicted to bear the brunt of the effects of climate change.

Adaptation measures aim to reduce the impacts of global warming by adapting society

and the economy to a warmer climate, based on the recognition that a certain amount of

global warming will be inevitable. Those measures could be described as "treating the

symptoms" --symptoms like rising temperatures and sea levels.

The examples of realistic and effective adaptation measures include designing and

constructing buildings with future warming in mind, for example, by including balconies, sun

shades and natural ventilation systems. As well, in anticipation of decreases in available

water resources due to drought and other impacts of global warming, precautionary measures

can be taken against water shortages by introducing water-saving devices and water-loss

control systems.

Adaptation will not necessarily help society cope with all of the projected effects of

climate change. However, given the fact that global warming is already upon us, it is essential

to step up such measures in order to sustain our society and economy in warmer climates. For

instance, when designing new buildings, it is important for us to take into consideration the

higher temperatures and other foreseeable impacts of global warming. There is no doubt that

the need and demand for adaptation measures will grow, as the impacts of global warming

become increasingly apparent.

When considering these matters, it soon becomes clear that adaptation measures will

be expensive, as in the case of raising the height of coastal dikes, for example. It is all the

more important, therefore, to strike a balance between adaptation and mitigation. Humanity

must carefully allocate its resources--measured in terms of money, human resources, public

attention, and so on not only into the obvious solutions but also into greater efforts to cut

greenhouse gas emissions, as those are the ultimate steps needed to mitigate global warming.

Adaptation can consist of a wide variety of actions by an individual, community, or

organization to prepare for, or respond to, climate change impacts. Many of these measures

are things we are already doing but could be stepped up or modified to prepare for climate

change. Some examples include:

a) Agriculture and Food Supply

Breed crop varieties that are more tolerant of heat, drought, and water logging from

heavy rainfall or flooding

Protect livestock from higher summer temperatures by providing more shade and

improving air flow in barns

b)Coasts

Promote shore protection techniques and open space preserves that allow beaches and

coastal wetlands to gradually move inland as sea level rises.

Identify and improve evacuation routes and evacuation plans for low-lying areas, to

prepare for increased storm surge and flooding.

c)Ecosystems

Protect and increase migration corridors to allow species to migrate as the climate

changes.

Promote land and wildlife management practices that enhance ecosystem resilience.

d)Energy

Increase energy efficiency to help offset increases in energy consumption.

Harden energy production facilities to withstand increased flood, wind, lightning, and

other storm-related stresses.

e)Human Health

Implement early warning systems and emergency response plans to prepare for

changes in the frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme weather events.

Plant trees and expand green spaces in urban settings to moderate heat increases.

f)Water Resources

Improve water use efficiency and build additional water storage capacity.

Protect and restore stream and river banks to ensure good water quality and safe guard

water quantity.