Lesson 5: Rising CO2 and Rising Temperatures

February 5, 2024

Review:

• Submit paper (1-page only)
• Shortwave and Longwave radiation
• Atmosphere composition and Greenhouse gases
• Global Energy Budget
• Clarifying the greenhouse gas global warming potential table (on a “molecule for molecule” basis)

Presentation:

• CO2 and Air Temperature
  • Historical CO2 levels (NOAA)
  • Atmospheric levels
  • Emission levels
  • 800,000 year record
  • Socioeconomic scenarios
• 2023 Temperatures
  • The Hottest Year on Record (NYTimes shared)
  • Is global warming accelerating (NYTimes shared)
• Why a paper on Climate Change in Russia?
  • Because everything is connected.
  • Greenhouse gas emissions are a function of human geopolitics, economics, tech.
  • Putin’s Russia, and others guided by nationalism don’t want to cooperate in mitigation efforts.
  • So narratives of climate change “denial” or economic “benefit” are useful, politically.
  • Why nationalism is a barrier to solving climate change (02:07)
• Living in a world with 3 degrees Celsius warming (The Economist, 16:23)
• Why should I care if I live at the equator where temperatures are already high?
  • Rising Sea Level threat
  • Climate Refugees
• Do you feel despair about how climate change might impact the future?
  • Don’t lose hope! Nothing is inevitable.
  • What would it cost to prevent catastrophic climate change? (10:26)
• Chapter 3 Slides

Activity:

• Read the two shared NYTimes articles (above)
• Read the two articles about climate change vulnerabilities in Singapore
  • Rising Sea Level threat
  • Climate Refugees

Assignment:

• Read Chapter 3: Air Temperature