TASK 6: GLOBAL WARMING

Supposed you are living in a coastal city. The city administrator has noticed that the mean sea
level has been rising for the past 50 years. The raising is small but over a long period of time
it may cause problems in the city centre as the level of that part of the city is quite low. If you
are hired as a consultant, write a plan of action on what can be done to reduce or mitigate the
problems.

ANSWER:
STRATEGY
MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION
Since coastal zones are the first to be threatened by climate change, we
should know what does the coastal zone mean? The coastal zone is the
area where land meets ocean, and as such it constitutes one of the most
dynamic natural system. This significance springs from the fact that the
three components of earth, the hydrosphere, the lithosphere and the
atmosphere, meet and interact in the coastal zone, forming the
interconnected systems. Moreover, land and freshwater meet saline water
in the coastal zone, and across this zone the effects of ocean on land and
vice versa, are transferred and modified. Thus, the coastal zone is the field
of the current battle against climate change.
Mitigation is An intervention to reduce the causes of changes in climate, such as through
reducing emissions of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

Green roof
Better insulation
Permeable pavement
Reduce peak demand
Expand tree canopy
Renewable energy

There is wide range of energy sources that provide energy needs with
minimal impact on the environment through using technologies with high
energy-conversion efficient designs. However, the use of these resources
in an environmentally acceptable manner while providing for the needs of
growing populations and developing economies is a great challenge. The
following are the main sources of energy:
1. The alternative liquid fuels such as coal-to-liquids, gas-to-liquids, oil
shale, tar sands, heavy oils, and bio-fuels. But, it is still uncertain
how and to what extent these alternatives will reach the market and
what the resultant changes in global GHG emissions.
2. Coal can be converted to liquids and gases by the use of
technologies with high energy-conversion efficient designs.
3. The use of energy carriers with increased efficiency and
convenience, particularly away from solid fuels to liquid and
gaseous fuels and electricity.
4. Nuclear energy could make an increasing contribution to carbon free
electricity and heat in the future, if the concerns of recycling, safety,
waste management, security and proliferation are solved.
5. Renewable energy sources must either be used in a distributed
manner or concentrated to meet the higher energy demands of
cities and industries.
6. The use of non-hydro renewable energy-supply technologies such as
solar, wind, geothermal and biomass must be enlarged.
Additionally, there are several ways by which we can reduce (GHG)
emissions:
1. Review of local planning practices relating to Climate Change
Mitigation or/and Adaptation.

2. The use of better building design to reduce the need for

artificial heating and cooling by insulation.
3. The use of energy-saving bulbs.
4. The use of fiber optics and light sensors.
5. The use of economical vehicles through better urban design.
To do so, there are several alternatives that may be used for this end:
1. Solar energy: solar installations can generate a considerable
rate of the world energy needs.
2. Energy self-sufficient buildings: such buildings can lessen
consumption of energy.
3. Biomass energy: although this sources contribution to
worldwide energy generation is less than 1% at present, this
contribution can be enlarged. (Bloomfield, Janine, Molly Smith &
Nicholas Thompson, 1999)

As regards its mitigation strategy, the county focuses on four areas:

1. Greenhouse gas emissions, accountability and limits.
2. Climate friendly transportation choices.
3. Energy conservation, efficiency, clean energy and clean fuels.
4. The use of building design and materials.
For its adaptation strategy, the county has been working in six areas:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Climate science.
Public health, safety and emergency preparedness.
Surface water, freshwater quality and water supply.
Land use, buildings and transportation infrastructure.
Economic impacts.
Biodiversity and ecosystems.

However, there are four options available to be adopted in dealing with

climate change impacts. They are as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Do nothing
Managed retreat
Structural protection
Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)