Global Warming

&
Health
 What is Global Warming?
 An increase in the average temperature of the
Earth’s atmosphere and oceans.

 From the last 8000 years, Earth’s surface

temperature is raised by 1°C only.

 As on today, it is 15°C.
 What is Global Warming?
 From the last 100 years, the surface temperature
has raised by ½°C and at this rate of global
warming, it is estimated that by 2050, the
temperature would rise by 2.5°C and by the end of
this century, by another 2.5°C.

 A rise in temperature of 2°C could trigger

irreversible and catastrophic state of global
warming.
 What is Global Warming?

 Global temperature on both land and sea

increased by 0.6 ± 0.2 °C over the past century

 Volume of atmospheric carbon dioxide increased

from 280 parts per million in 1800 to 367 in
2000, a 31% increase over 200 years
 Global Warming?
 1824 - A French mathematician, JB Joseph Fourier
discovered that the temperature of Earth was slowly
increasing. He called it ‘Green House Effect’.

 1850 - An instrument became available to record the

surface temperature of Earth (Before that, there was
proxy thermometer).

 1880s - Scientists associated the relation between

the human activities and the rise of CO2 level in the
atmosphere.
 Global Warming?
 The term global warming was used first on 8th
August 1975 in a science paper by "Wally Brocker”
 The national academy of science first used global
warming in 1979 paper called "Charney Report"
 Global warming became more popular after 1988
NASA scientists of climate, name James Hansen
used it.
 1995 - Scientists formed an association Inter-
governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The
IPCC concluded that global warming has been due to
building of green house gasses in the atmosphere.
 After him the term global warming was commonly
used by the press and public.
 Our Changing Climate

 Global mean surface temperatures have increased 0.5-

1.0°F since the late 19th century

 The snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere and

floating ice in the Arctic Ocean have decreased

 Sea level has risen 4-8 inches over the past century
 What causes it?
Human Impacts-
Atmospheric greenhouse gases
trap some of the outgoing
energy, retaining heat

Natural Impacts-
Change in sun’s energy output
Volcanoes Water Vapor Clouds

Greenhouse Gases -
CO2 Methane Nitrous oxide Chlorofluorocarbons

Since industrial revolution, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide increased 30%,

methane more than doubled, nitrous oxide risen by 15%.
These increases have enhanced the heat-trapping capability of the earth’s atmosphere
 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
 Combustion of fossil fuels
coal-burning power plants,
automobile exhausts, factory
smokestacks, other waste
vents of the human
environment contribute 22
billion tons of carbon dioxide
and other greenhouse gases
each year.
 Greenhouse Gas Emissions

 Animal, agriculture, manure,

natural gas, rice paddies,
landfills, coal, and other
sources contribute about 450
million tons of methane each
year
Greenhouse Gas Emissions

 Atmospheric concentrations
of CO2 and CH4 have
increased by 31% and
149% respectively above
pre-industrial levels since
1750
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Power Plants
40% of carbon dioxide emissions stem
from the burning of fossil fuels for the
purpose of electricity generation

Carbon Dioxide from Buildings

Buildings structure account for about
12% of
carbon dioxide emissions
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Cars
20% of carbon dioxide emissions comes from the burning of
gasoline in internal-combustion engines of cars and light
trucks with poor gas mileage contribute the most to global
warming

Trucks
Another 13% of carbon dioxide emissions come from
trucks used mostly for commercial purposes

Airplanes
Aviation causes 3.5 percent of global warming,
and the figure could rise to 15 percent by 2050
Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Methane
• Methane is more than 20 times as effective as CO2 at
trapping heat in the atmosphere.

• Derived from sources such as rice paddies, bovine

flatulence, bacteria in bogs and fossil fuel production.

• In flooded fields, anaerobic conditions develop

and the organic matter in the soil decomposes
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Nitrous oxide
• Naturally produced by oceans and rainforests.

• Man-made sources-nylon and nitric acid production, the

use of fertilizers in agriculture, cars with catalytic
converters and the burning of organic matter
 Chlorofluorocarbons -
 CFCS- Entirely of industrial
origin. AC, Refrigerators.
Contribute to main destruction
of the ozone layer.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Deforestation
• Responsible for 25% of all carbon emissions
entering the atmosphere by the burning and cutting
of about 34 million acres of trees each year
The Carbon Cycle
 Hazards of Global Warming
• Acid Rain
• Shift in hydrological cycle
• Effect on glaciers
• Air pollution
• Disturbances of ecological system
• Ozone depletion.

Positive Effects
Can stimulate plant growth in places where CO2 and temperature are the limiting
factors (preventing photorespiration which can destroy existing sugars)
Melting Arctic ice may open the Northwest Passage in summer, which would cut
5,000 nautical miles from shipping routes between Europe and Asia
 Effects of Global Warming

Positive Effects
Can stimulate plant growth in places where CO2 and temperature are the limiting
factors (preventing photorespiration which can destroy existing sugars)
Melting Arctic ice may open the Northwest Passage in summer, which would cut
5,000 nautical miles from shipping routes between Europe and Asia
 Effects of Global Warming
Acid rain: The SO2 and NO2 coming from the industries
combine with oxygen and moisture of the air and form
dilute mixture of sulphuric acid, nitric acid (and carbonic
acid) in the clouds. When the acid rain falls on earth, it
results in the following effects:

• Destruction of food crops

• Deforestation (Dense forests become scrub jungles)
• Desertification
• Erosion of soil
• Acidification of water bodies
• Destruction of aquatic life.
 Effects of Global Warming

Shift in hydrological cycle: This results in the following

effects:

• Reduction in the quality and availability of drinking water

• Reduction in the productivity of arable land
• Favoring of draughts and famines
• Increased incidence of malnutrition.
 Effects of Global Warming

Effect on glaciers:

• Melting of polar icecaps

• Retreat of glaciers
• Rise of sea levels (resulting in frequent floods and
disappearance of islands)
• Inundation of coastal areas and threatening the life of
coastal people
• Degradation of surface water quality
• Favoring water borne epidemics.
 Effects of Global Warming

Hazards of air pollution:

• Respiratory diseases (allergic, infectious and

carcinogenic)
• Decreased vital capacity of lungs
• Animals (cattle) become weak (Animal yield becomes
less)
• Destruction of historical monuments
• Heat waves, heat stress
• Smog formation in valleys.
 Effects of Global Warming
Sulphur oxide and Nitrous oxide both come from

industry will combine with oxygen and moisture of

air and from dilute mixture of sulphuric acid, nitric

acid in clouds, when acid rain falls on earth it results

in destruction of crops, deforestation destruction of

marine life, aquatic life.

 Effects of Global Warming
Effects of Ecological disturbances include more
and more of natural disasters. More vector born
diseases, emerging and reemerging diseases and
destruction of coral reefs
 Effects of Global Warming
Ozone Depletion –
• Normally ozone layer is barrier to harmful effect of
ultraviolet rays. Depletion of ozone layer leads to
more ultraviolet rays on earth give rise to skin
cancer and cataract.
Effects of Global Warming
 Effects of Global Warming
Impacts on health -
According to WHO following are the health effects
on human beings-
• 23% of all global deaths are linked to the
environments.
• 3.8 million in south east Asia region
• 3.5 million in western Pacific region
• 2.2 million in Africa region
• 1.4 million in European region
• 854000 in eastern Mediterranean region
• 847000 in the region of America
What Can be Done: Alternatives
Renewable Energy Sources

Solar Energies Wind Power Biomass Geothermal

Changes In Vehicle Systems

Hybrid Fuel Cell Battery-

Electric
 Kyoto Protocol
 United Nations (UN) Secretary called the
climate changes as, ‘the biggest challenge of
21st century’.

 16th Feb 1997, Kyoto, Japan  developed

countries agreed to specific targets for cutting
their emissions of greenhouse gases to at least
5.2 % below that of 1990 levels by 2010.

 Countries failing to meet these challenges, will

pay penalty.
 Kyoto Protocol

 It was supported by 141 nations but it was

boycotted by USA, the worst polluter. However,
34 industrialized countries signed the Kyoto
protocol.

 Objective is the stabilization of greenhouse gas

concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that
would prevent dangerous anthropogenic
interference with the climate system
 Kyoto Protocol
 Kyoto protocol allows trading of emission, i.e. if a committed
country fails to reach the target, it can do it by buying the
Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) from low emission
nations.
 Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997. It entered
into force in 2005.
 The first commitment period was from 2005 to 2012. Most
of the nations have failed to fulfil the targets.
 The second commitment period is from 2012 to 2016.
Copenhagen summit was held from Dec 7 to Dec 18, 2009.
 It was to ensure that rich nations significantly reduced their
GHG emissions and provide finance and technology to poor
nations.
 What to do now
 Global Change is multifaceted (climate, nitrogen, land
use, invasive, biodiversity, air quality, etc.)

 The greenhouse effect is a natural process which is

necessary to maintain living conditions on the planet

 However, the natural planetary greenhouse effect has

been augmented by human activities, including primarily
fossil fuel use and deforestation.

 Responsibility to improve environmental conditions lies

upon all of us as individuals
 What to do now

 Concentrate on preventing environmental degradation

before it starts

 Need to strengthen the existing public health system

rather than inventing the new system. We must tackle
the issue on all fronts. We have to ‘Think Globally, Act
Locally’. (World Health Day Theme - 1990).

 One Planet One Family. We have to save our beautiful

planet Earth.
Thank you