GEOG 360 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Volumetric Heat Capacity
Document Summary
Science and technology- climate science and technical challenges (ccs, renewables) Economics and policy- estimation of damage costs, cba, carbon tax/cap/trade. Ethics and equity- moral imperative to do something (who benefits/loses/should act?) If we cut our co2 emissions to 0 today, [co2] would begin to decrease: Concentration depends on the difference between influx and outflux. Outflux of co2 emissions determines speed of decrease. Will decrease more quickly at first, and slower with time. Due to thermal inertia, the earth will continue to heat for a short period (10y), then cool. [co2] would continue to increase, then level out. Temperature would increase quickly at first, then more slowly with time. The global north (western countries) are most responsible for co2 emissions. Countries in the global south suffer most from climate change. Have a subsistence level of emissions allowed, so that development can continue unhindered until an acceptable quality of life standard is reached.