Introduction - Overview

Overview

     Climate change is today’s global issue and a challenge for humanity. Climate change impacts greatly on the natural ecosystems. It causes increase in temperature, loss of sea ice, raise sea level, and more heat waves, etc. The earth's temperature has increased between 0.72°F to 1°F over past 100 years. The forecast of temperature rising is between 2.5° F to 10° F over the next century (IPCC, 2007). It depends on how much future of greenhouse gas emissions produces. Climate change also related to global warming. In addition, the increase of volume of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and other human activities is believed a primarily source of global warming in the past 50 years.

Figure 1 Carbon dioxide concentration at Mauna Loa Observatory

Figure 1 shows that for the last 55 years, from 1960 to 2015, the CO2 concentration levels have been steadily increasing. The CO2 concentration rose from 315 ppm to 400 ppm (Atmospheric CO2 Research, n.d.). Climate change is a great threat to our health, life, community and economy. Greenhouse gases (GHG) is trapping heat and radiation in our atmosphere which preventing them to escape. Greenhouse gases level has also increased in our atmosphere by 30 percent since people start using fossil fuels.

     The first guidelines of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was accepted in 1994 and published in 1995. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol (revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines) was adopted. The protocol set the global standards for accounting, reporting, sector guidance, calculation tools and training for business and government. The first commitment period is 2008-2012. The second commitment period is 2013-2020. There are 37 industrialized countries and the European Union under the Kyoto Protocol.

     Some of principal concepts of the Kyoto Protocol are:
- Binding commitments for the countries that have ratified the treaty. It legally binds the developed countries to reduce the emission target.
- Implementation: Governments make policies and regulations to meet the commitments. Each government prepares policies and measures for the reduction of greenhouse gases in their respective countries. They can joint implementation, or trading emissions.
- Minimizing impact on developing countries.
- Accounting, reporting
- Compliance.

      However, the United States has neither ratified nor withdrawn from the protocol. In 1997, the Senate has passed the non-binding Byrd-Hagel Resolution which was disapproved any international agreement that did not require the developing countries to make commitment with emission reductions and could harm US economy (Byrd-Hagel Resolution, 1997). In 90s, the US accounted for 36 percent of GHG emissions. Canada also withdrew from the Kyoto protocol after 3 years signed the agreement. Canada agreed to cut greenhouse emission under 6 percent by 2012, but emission still was 17 percent higher in 2009. If Canada did not withdraw, it would face enormous penalties. It could cost $14 billion for not achieving Kyoto targets.
     States and regions are also taking action to address the climate change. Policies and regulations are adopted to reduce greenhouse gases emission, promote clean energy resources, clean transportation standards, agricultural policies, etc. California is the first state in the country that mandates and enforces this Global Warming Solution Act (AB 32, 2006). Its emission targets are 2000 levels by the year 2010, 1990 levels by the year 2020, and less than 80 percent 1990 levels by the year 2050. AB32 has required the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to implement the law to reduce the greenhouse gases emission and engaging other state agencies. California is a lead role in energy efficiency standards and environmental protection.
     When talking about California, we think of the path of green trees, green lawn with the bright colored flowers. There are a lot of attractions and national parks in California. This land is proudly treated with year-round sunny weather. While snow is still falling in the other parts of the country, including the Northeast or Midwest in March or April, California weather is dry in the nice temperature of mid 70o F. However, low rainfall, unusually warm temperatures and wildfires have created extreme weather in California recently. Extremely dry condition has been occurring statewide since 2013. State governor Jerry Brown declared “drought emergency” at state-level and federal also recognized all 58 California counties as “natural disaster areas” in 2014.