Are Global Warming and Climate Change the same thing: how ... · “ It is time we started talking...
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INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE Are Global Warming and Climate Change the same thing: how do we communicate the issues? Robert Mather Chanthaburi, 02 March 2012
Transcript of Are Global Warming and Climate Change the same thing: how ... · “ It is time we started talking...
INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE
Are Global Warming and Climate Change the
same thing: how do we communicate the
issues?
Robert Mather
Chanthaburi, 02 March 2012
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“Global Warming” – easy to understand
powerful message, and frightening
Example of climate change in the next 10 – 30 years
Warmer – Trend of increasing average maximum temperature
Future climate projection for Southeast Asia
SEA START RC copyright 2011
Hottest day of the year will be hotter
Example of climate change in the next 10 – 30 years
Future climate projection for Southeast Asia
SEA START RC copyright 2011
Longer summertime – number of ‘hot day’ will increase
Example of climate change in the next 10 – 30 years
Future climate projection for Southeast Asia
SEA START RC copyright 2011
Climate Change better term, but more complex to communicate
It is not just temperature that is changing – Increasing annual Rainfall
Global Climate Change
SEA START RC copyright 2011
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Choice of Words and agenda setting 1
“ It is time we started talking about climate change instead of
global warming….Climate Change is less frightening than global
warming”
Memo from Frank Luntz Republican political strategist advising
George W. Bush Government in 2002
“We should stop talking about climate change and talk instead
about our “deteriorating atmosphere”
EcoAmerica 2009
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Choice of Words and agenda setting 2
Since 2009, the Obama Administration has purposefully started
talking about Carbon Pollution instead of Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
In his 2012 State of the Union address, President Obama
mentioned Climate Change once, but mentioned “energy” and
“clean energy” almost two dozen times
Washington Post 30 January 2012
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Why we should be concerned 1
• These changes in “branding” of the issue, take us further away
from understanding the full causes of the problem, and identifying
appropriate solutions
• If Greenhouse Gas Emissions are only understood as “carbon
pollution” will we start to forget that chopping down trees is “carbon
pollution” too?
• If “clean energy” is the solution – then we can consume as much
as we want – because if it is “clean” it must be good so it doesn’t
matter how much we consume – right?
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Why we should be concerned 2
“The way we talk about the problem affects how we deal with it. We
can use new wording to deflect political heat, but call it “climate
Change” or not, it doesn’t change the fact that the climate is
changing”
Maxwell Boykoff author of “Who speaks for the climate? Making
Sense of Media Reporting on Climate Change”
CHANGES IMPACTS
Sea level rise More coastal flooding, saline intrusion
of coastal aquifers, coastal
ecosystems need to migrate
More intense rainfall
events
More frequent flash flooding, erosion,
dyke failure
Higher peak
temperatures and sea
surface temperatures
Increased disease and parasites,
groundwater use, coral bleaching
Stronger winds, and
more frequent storms
Higher waves, infrastructure damage,
no fishing/no income, coastal erosion,
water turbulence and light penetration
affects sea grass
Gradual changes but shorter and unpredictable events occur
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Species Responses
Plant and animal species are moving/changing • Mackerel sensitive to temperature, – may shift range to cooler seas •Mud crab sensitive to temp, pH, ocean circulation -can shift range by 1,000km •Squid very adaptable, may grow faster and replace other species •Seabass more tolerant of higher temp than grouper or snapper – up to 32°C • Prawns may grow faster but be more susceptible to disease
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Principles for effective adaptation
1. Promote long-term local solutions for people and nature – starting
with “no-regrets” actions
2. Focus on reducing non-climate stresses
3. Involve local communities and address governance and justice
issues
4. Develop multi-partner, multi-sector, multi-scale strategies
5. Build upon existing NRM good practices,recognize climate is not
static
6. Adopt adaptive management approaches and support local
innovation
7. Integrate Ecosystem-based Adaptation with wider climate
adaptation strategies)
8. Communication and education, sharing and exchange
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Project Web page
www.iucn.org/building-coastal-resilience
