WWF Scotland recently held an event at Our Dynamic Earth at the end of May 2015. I was lucky enough to be invited to attend. The event was billed as an update on “the effects of climate change on the polar regions and our seas”.
The first speaker was Lang Banks, the Director of WWF in Scotland who gave a brief introduction to WWF and the event.
WWF is of course over 50 years old now, has 1,300 projects in 150 countries with 5 million members and supporters across the planet. It’s main mission can be seen as “where people and nature thrive”. The main focus for its activities apart from the UK is in China, India, East Africa and Brazil (or Amazon basin). It produces a “Living Planet” report every 2 years. Lang also indicated that the number of species on the planet is decreasing. Climate change and carbon emissions are now very serious threat to the planet’s future.
Rod Downie (WWF-UK polar programme manager) then presented a briefing on the impact of climate change on the polar regions.
Rod has spent quite a bit of time at both poles over the last few years and has seen, first hand, some of the changes taking place. The Arctic is home to about 4 million people over 8 countries. It is estimated that 20% of the planets hydrocarbons can be found there and it also contains 4 of the largest fisheries. If you go and stand on the ice in the Antarctic you will have to go down 4 kilometers before you find a rock surface, that 4km of ice! Both of the polar oceans are abundant with life. There’s quite a few species that rely on the sea ice (polar bears, penguins). This ice is melting and the continued loss will seriously affect these species. The Arctic sea ice, for example, is losing about 13% per year at present and it may well be free of summer ice by 2040 unless something is done. There are methods that could be used to resolve these issues: good governance, responsible development and having a conservation blueprint for both seas.
After a wee break it was the turn of Professor Callum Roberts (WWF-UK ambassador) to brief us on changes to our oceans.
The marine ecosystem contains coral reefs that are the richest most biodiverse areas of the sea. The sea surface water is warming. Oceans absorb 90% of heat from greenhouse gas emissions. The yearly increase in surface temperatures is equivalent to 17 times the average annual energy consumption of the planet. Coral reefs are very sensitive to changes in heat, as the ocean gets warmer they start to die and can do so quite rapidly. There has also been a 30% rise in ocean acidity since pre-industrial times. This is related to human activity. Many countries depend on coral reefs for their existence and a sea rise of more than 1 meter by 2100 is expected meaning some of these countries may cease to exist. The rise in sea levels is not common or uniform across the planet. Sea rises may lead to changes in the coast. For example, coastal wetlands can be the first line of defence in some areas, rising sea levels will result in these being lost. One possible solution is to create very large Marine Protected Areas however, he did point out that the small scale schemes recently adopted by the Scottish Government weren’t, in his opinion, fit for purpose.
The final briefing was given by Gina Harrison (WWF-UK climate change and energy policy officer).
Gina reported that the 2009 Climate Change Act of the Scottish Parliament had strong cross-party consensus when it was intorduced.It has a couple of reduced emmisions targets of 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. But, Scotland has already missed its targets for 3 years running and was about to miss again. This is due to a failure to invest. To sort this and stand a chance of achieving the 2020 target would require a step change in investment and approach from the Scottish Government. Greater steps are needed to improve energy efficiency in our homes (more retro-fitting and improved building standards). There is also major action required to improve and promote sustainable transport (less road building, more cycling and walking routes). Some of these changes will require building a bigger evidence base and persuading business of the need for a low carbon future. Part of this will involve making it easy for people to understand the need for change in easily understood language. WWF Scotland works in this area with the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coalition.
This article is based on my notes from the meeting, any errors and omissions are mine.
How is WWF doing in Scotland?
WWF Scotland recently held an event at Our Dynamic Earth at the end of May 2015. I was lucky enough to be invited to attend. The event was billed as an update on “the effects of climate change on the polar regions and our seas”.
The first speaker was Lang Banks, the Director of WWF in Scotland who gave a brief introduction to WWF and the event.
WWF is of course over 50 years old now, has 1,300 projects in 150 countries with 5 million members and supporters across the planet. It’s main mission can be seen as “where people and nature thrive”. The main focus for its activities apart from the UK is in China, India, East Africa and Brazil (or Amazon basin). It produces a “Living Planet” report every 2 years. Lang also indicated that the number of species on the planet is decreasing. Climate change and carbon emissions are now very serious threat to the planet’s future.
Rod Downie (WWF-UK polar programme manager) then presented a briefing on the impact of climate change on the polar regions.
Rod has spent quite a bit of time at both poles over the last few years and has seen, first hand, some of the changes taking place. The Arctic is home to about 4 million people over 8 countries. It is estimated that 20% of the planets hydrocarbons can be found there and it also contains 4 of the largest fisheries. If you go and stand on the ice in the Antarctic you will have to go down 4 kilometers before you find a rock surface, that 4km of ice! Both of the polar oceans are abundant with life. There’s quite a few species that rely on the sea ice (polar bears, penguins). This ice is melting and the continued loss will seriously affect these species. The Arctic sea ice, for example, is losing about 13% per year at present and it may well be free of summer ice by 2040 unless something is done. There are methods that could be used to resolve these issues: good governance, responsible development and having a conservation blueprint for both seas.
After a wee break it was the turn of Professor Callum Roberts (WWF-UK ambassador) to brief us on changes to our oceans.
The marine ecosystem contains coral reefs that are the richest most biodiverse areas of the sea. The sea surface water is warming. Oceans absorb 90% of heat from greenhouse gas emissions. The yearly increase in surface temperatures is equivalent to 17 times the average annual energy consumption of the planet. Coral reefs are very sensitive to changes in heat, as the ocean gets warmer they start to die and can do so quite rapidly. There has also been a 30% rise in ocean acidity since pre-industrial times. This is related to human activity. Many countries depend on coral reefs for their existence and a sea rise of more than 1 meter by 2100 is expected meaning some of these countries may cease to exist. The rise in sea levels is not common or uniform across the planet. Sea rises may lead to changes in the coast. For example, coastal wetlands can be the first line of defence in some areas, rising sea levels will result in these being lost. One possible solution is to create very large Marine Protected Areas however, he did point out that the small scale schemes recently adopted by the Scottish Government weren’t, in his opinion, fit for purpose.
The final briefing was given by Gina Harrison (WWF-UK climate change and energy policy officer).
Gina reported that the 2009 Climate Change Act of the Scottish Parliament had strong cross-party consensus when it was intorduced.It has a couple of reduced emmisions targets of 42% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. But, Scotland has already missed its targets for 3 years running and was about to miss again. This is due to a failure to invest. To sort this and stand a chance of achieving the 2020 target would require a step change in investment and approach from the Scottish Government. Greater steps are needed to improve energy efficiency in our homes (more retro-fitting and improved building standards). There is also major action required to improve and promote sustainable transport (less road building, more cycling and walking routes). Some of these changes will require building a bigger evidence base and persuading business of the need for a low carbon future. Part of this will involve making it easy for people to understand the need for change in easily understood language. WWF Scotland works in this area with the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coalition.
This article is based on my notes from the meeting, any errors and omissions are mine.
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