The Impact of Climate Change in China

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The Impact of Climate Change in China

• By Sarah, Jamal, Mark Sean

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Causes

• China generates 70 of its electricity from coal.
• The use of coal is rapidly advancing- each week a
  new plant is opened1
• 2nd largest polluter, low per capita emissions.

1-http//www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/business/world
business/11chinacoal.html?pagewanted2ex13076784
00ene9ac1f6255a24fd8ei5088partnerrssnytemcrss
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(No Transcript)
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Sea Level Rise

• net increase of 20cm since 1950
• Projected increase of 6-26 cm by 2050, inundating
  70 of cities with seawater.
• 30-70 cm by 2100
• Land subsidence due to over pumping of aquifers,
  overdevelopment.
• Rising sea levels from glacier and ice cap
  melt/thermal expansion threaten cities

http//english.people.com.cn/200204/13/eng20020413
_93966.shtml
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Deforestation

• Increased stress due to greater CO2 and SO2
  emissions
• Decreases earths oxygen supply
• Loss of forests/biodiversity leads to
  desertification
• Decreased fertility of the land.

www.tqnyc.org/NYC052139/Deforestation.html
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Desertification

• Result of deforestation for firewood, overgrazing
  and over cultivation.
• Caused by a shortage of rainfall, frequent
  windstorms and successive droughts.
• A survey of 10 yrs noted that land turned desert
  has surpassed 17.6 of Chinas territory.
• Increased stress on remaining land available for
  farming, change in climate.

www.english.people.com.cn/english/200109/01_79027.
html www.gluckman.com/chinadesert.html
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Acid Rain

• The increased emission of sulfur dioxide and
  nitrogen oxides absorbed by water droplets in
  clouds
• Increased anomaly of acid rain in different
  areas-extremes
• 2003 study of 487 cities showed 54.4 occurrence
  of acid rain
• Cause of forest destruction and habitat loss.

www.english.people.com.cn/200403/25/eng20040325_12
8514.shtml
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Cycle of Acid Rain
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Results

• Increased coal use has created more cloud cover,
  lowered received sunlight and increased changed
  rain patterns.
• Deforestation creates more intense
  floods/droughts.
• Health hazard from dust storms, increased smog-
  leading cause of death.

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Some solutions

• Deforestation
• Reforestation
• Decreased usage of trees and more
  alternatives/recycling
• Desertification
• Management Center of Desertification prevention
  Control
• Seeking to make desertification prevention and
  treatment a top priority of China.
• In the past 20 yrs, 30 B trees have been planted
  as part of a greening campaign to stop
  desertification.
• Sea Level Rise
• Reduce impact by lowering worldwide emissions
• Carbon sequestration, etc.

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Bibliography

• http//www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/chinaenv.html
• http//www.euractiv.com/en/energy/comment-china-co
  al-use-effects-environment-global-economy/article-
  151527
• http//www.gluckman.com/ChinaDesert.html
• http//www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/business/worldbu
  siness/11chinacoal.html?pagewanted2ex1307678400
  ene9ac1f6255a24fd8ei5088partnerrssnytemcrss
• http//www.american.edu/TED/chincoal.htm
• http//english.people.com.cn/200204/13/eng20020413
  _93966.shtml