Northern Temperate Zone

Climate

- Halifax, Nova Scotia has a humid continental climate with severe winters, no dry season, warm summers and strong seasonality (Köppen-Geiger Climate Classification)

- Average monthly temperatures vary by 22ᵒC. this indicates that the continentality type is continental, subtype subcontinental

- On average there are 1889 hours of suns

Nova Scotia's

Climatograph

Electricity

• In September 2012, final regulations to reduce emissions from the coal-fired electricity sector were released. These regulations apply a stringent performance standard to new coal-fired electricity generation units and to coal-fired units that have reached the end of their economic life.

London's Climatographs

Taking Action

Li Shuo, climate and energy campaigner for Greenpeace in China, said a carbon cap was a “positive and natural step forward” following the adoption of a cap on energy use, announced in 2011.

Indicators and Effects of Climate Change

As written in many recent articles by The Guardian, and Bloomberg News, China has begun for the first time to find a way to cap its greenhouse gas emissions.

-Greenhouse gas emissions increase

-Temperature increases

-Changes in agriculture and food production

"Between 2005 and the end of last year, China reduced its emissions intensity by more than 28 percent, Xie said. That compares with its target to cut emissions intensity by 40 percent to 45 percent from 2005 levels in 2020."

Bibliography

“China and the US are in different development phases,” Xie said. “One is the biggest developed country, and one is the biggest developing country. We have different historic responsibilities and different development levels. We have different capacity for addressing climate change. One thing in common is we are both working very hard to address climate change.”

"The world’s biggest producer of fossil-fuel emissions has been studying for more than a year how and when it might be able to make its pollution levels peak and hopes to act as soon as possible."

-Xie Zhenhua, China’s lead envoy

(to the United Nations global-warming talks)

Köppen Climate Classification System

Actions England is taking to Slow Climate Change

Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Gas

CO2 is a heat-trapping greenhouse gas and a major contribution to the warming of the Earth's atmosphere.

There is generally an upward trend in China's temperature.

Bloomberg News. "BusinessMirror." - China seeks to cap greenhouse-gas emissions for first time. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 June 2014. <http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/features/global-eye/33403-china-seeks-to-cap-greenhouse-gas-emissions-for-first-time>.

"China temperature spikes linked to burning of fossil fuels." The Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Apr. 2013. Web. 8 June 2014. <http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0412/China-temperature-spikes-linked-to-burning-of-fossil-fuels>.

Climate-Data.org. (n.d.). Climate: East London. Retrieved May 30, 2014, from http://en.climate-data.org/location/633/

Climate of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Average Weather. (n.d.). Climate of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Average Weather. Retrieved May 30, 2014, from http://www.halifax.climatemps.com/

Climatograph. (n.d.). Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada Climate. Retrieved May 30, 2014, from http://www.halifax.climatemps.com/halifax-climate-graph.gif

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. (n.d.). Indicators of Climate Change in the UK. Indicators of Climate Change in the UK. Retrieved June 3, 2014, from http://www.ecn.ac.uk/iccuk/

"Global Emissions." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 5 June 2014. <http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/global.html>

Harvey, Fiona. "The Kyoto protocol is not quite dead." theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 27 Nov. 2012. Web. 8 June 2014. <http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/nov/26/kyoto-protocol-not-dead>.

Liming Ye, Huajun Tang, Wenbin Wu, Peng Yang, Gerald C. Nelson, Daniel Mason-D’Croz, and Amanda Palazzo (2013). Chinese Food Security and Climate Change: Agriculture Futures. Economics Discussion Papers, No 2013-2, Kiel Institute for the World Economy. http://www.economics-ejournal.org/economics/discussionpapers/2013-2

London (England, United Kingdom). (n.d.). Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved May 30, 2014, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/top

"Shanghai Weather: Climate with Weather Forecast, Best Visit Time." Shanghai Weather: Climate with Weather Forecast, Best Visit Time. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 May 2014. <http://www.travelchinaguide.com/climate/shanghai.htm>.

"Shanghai Weather." weather shanghai. WeatherOnline Ltd., n.d. Web. 30 May 2014. <http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/weather/maps/city?WMO=58362&CONT=asie&LAND=CI&LEVEL=160&PAG=1>.

"Terrestrial Ecoregions--Northeast China Plain deciduous forest." N.d. Web. 30 May 2014.

<http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/pa/pa0430_full.html>.

Tell us what you think of GOV.UK. (n.d.). Adapting to climate change. Retrieved June 3, 2014, from https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/adapting-to-climate-change

Vaughan, Adam, and Tania Branigan. "China to limit carbon emissions for first time, climate adviser claims." theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 3 June 2014. Web. 6 June 2014. <http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/03/china-pledges-limit-carbon-emissions>.

About 90% of these temperature rises could be traced back to greenhouse gas emissions.

• England has been a part of the Kyoto Protocol since 1997
• The first ‘UK Climate Change Risk Assessment’ (CCRA) was completed in 2012 in order to better understand the specific risks that climate change poses to the UK. The assessment gives a detailed analysis of 100 potential effects of climate change.
• There are several policies that were designed to improve England's environment
• The 2008 Climate Change Act established the world’s first legally binding climate change target. We aim to reduce the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 80% (from the 1990 baseline) by 2050.

"To date, China has not accepted a mandatory restriction on its emissions similar to the one the European Union and other industrial nations adopted in Kyoto."

China signed the Kyoto Protocol on May 29 1998.

However, China was not obligated to reduce greenhouse gas production as it was considered a developing country and was not seen as a main culprit for emissions during the period of industrialization that is today thought to be the cause for global warming.

Instead, developing countries were to benefit with cash from rich nations to help them avoid a high-carbon route to prosperity.

China's carbon dioxide (CO2) had an increase of more than 13% on the previous year in 2011 and is expected to continue to grow.

Globally, emissions have increased by approximately 50% since 1990.

China's emissions went up 286.6% from 2.5m metric tonnes to 9.7m metric tonnes.

"China has rapidly grown from a nation of subsistence farmers at the end of the 1970s into the world's second-largest economy behind the U.S., and the environmental costs of such change are often visible.

Beijing is no longer dominated by bicycles but by cars, and the skyline is barely visible at times because of thick pollution. More people are living in cities, buying air conditioners and other energy-hungry home electronics and consuming more energy for transportation and heating."

-Seth Borenstein, AP Science Writer / April 12, 2013

A study by Chinese and Canadian researchers found that daytime highs rose 0.9 degree Celsius (1.7 degrees Fahrenheit) and the daily lows went up about 1.7 degrees Celsius (3 degrees Fahrenheit) from 1961-2007.

China contributes to about 23% of the Global CO2 Emissions from Fossil Fuel Combustion and some Industrial Processes (million metric tons of CO2) in 2008.

China overtook the US in 2006 to become the world’s biggest producer of greenhouse gases.

Based on the temperature and precipitation observations, the Köppen climate classification world maps are constantly changing.

Indicator/Effects of Climate Change

• There has been a significant change in populations and behavior of animal species (for example, changes in England's bird populations )
• There has been a rise of sea levels and a risk of tidal flooding in London
• The UK Climate Projections 2009 identified a number of possible risks and impacts, such as a risk of increased flooding and high temperatures causing buildings to overheat in summer.
• There has also been an increase of air temperature

Representing one fifth of the world's population, the well being of the Chinese population is dependent on agriculture and food production, which is now greatly being affected by climate change. This can be seen as a threat on food security not just in China but in many other countries as well.

Due to the fact that China covers a great area of land, it can fall under all of the classifications in the Köppen climate classification system though the majority of it appears to fit under the classification for D.

The IMPACT model results on yield, production, and net trade of major crops such as wheat, rice, and maize in China, and on daily calorie availability as an overall indicator of food security under climate change scenarios and socio-economic pathways in 2050. Results show that crop production, wheat, maize, and rice yields will increase from 2010–2050, and also that China will remain a major importer of maize at 20 million tons per year, but turn from a net importer of rice (5 million tons per year in 2010) to a net exporter in 2020 (5–9 million tons per year by 2050), while becoming a self-sufficient consumer of wheat by 2050.

Although Chinese agriculture is relatively durable to climate change and Chinese food security by 2050 is unlikely to be compromised due to climate change, there will be increasing demand coupled with regional disparities in the adaptive capacity to climate change.

Biomes

Results from Actions

• Alpine
• Deciduous forest
• Desert
• Temperate grassland
• Temperate forests
• Tropical forests

• Much of the decrease in methane (CH4) was due to improved landfill and waste management, encouraged by UK policies such as the 1996 Landfill Tax.
• A small number of industrial installations accounted for nearly all industrial non-CO2 emissions and reduced them sharply, responding to policy and new technological opportunities.
• Since 2007, there has been a major decline in both OECD and UK CO2 emissions, primarily due to the recession.

To the west, China is mostly deserts and grasslands. In the northeast, China is mostly temperate forests and mostly tropical forests in the southeast.

China

• The Köppen-Geiger climate classification is Cfb.

• London England is located in the temperate deciduous forest biome.

Shanghai Climatograph

The most precipitation in this city in China occurs in August and the temperature is the highest in July and August. Overall, there is high humidity in Shanghai.

Situated in or near the cools temperate wet forest biome

The 'Plum Rain Season' (Meiyu Season) lasts for nearly one month starting in mid-June when the plums ripen along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. During this period, the rainfall often equals 25% of the city's annual total.

Indicators and Effects of Climate Change on Canada

• Canada had to notify the United Nations of its intent to withdraw from Kyoto by the end of the year or face additional cuts under the accord based on a five-year audit being conducted at the end of 2012. Canada would have been forced to buy expensive carbon credits to meet those targets.

• The Conservative government has opposed any extension of the Kyoto Protocol framework in future agreements, arguing instead for a new international agreement that includes commitments from all major emitters, including those in the developing world.

Indicators and Effects of Climate Change on Canada (continued)

• Climate variability has a definite impact on the capacity of groundwater systems to maintain water supplies, in-stream conditions, and aquatic habitat; impacts such as these may increase as a result of climate change.

• Canada’s freshwater reserves fluctuate widely due to natural variations in climate, and changes in climate caused by human activities could have dramatic and unpredictable effects.

Actions Taken Slow Climate Change

• The Canadian Government is taking a sector-by-sector approach to regulating greenhouse gas emissions, such as sectors of transportation, electricity renewable fuels; and investing in solutions, including Carbon Capture and Storage and agricultural greenhouse gases through the Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program.

Results of Actions

Shanghai has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa)

• A warming climate will have impacts on water quantity and quality across the country.

• In the Great Lakes Basin, climate models predict changes in annual stream flow and lake levels, with the possibility of more frequent flooding. Current sewage treatment facilities will be unable to cope with increased volumes of storm water and sewage runoff.

• Canada withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in December 2011.

• According to Environment Minister Peter Kent, it was estimated that $14 billion will be saved through the departure of the accord. Kent put fault on the Liberals for signing the Kyoto Protocol accord in 1997 that they were not able to maintain throughout the years. Kent says

• Canada produces less than two per cent of global carbon emissions, Kyoto doesn't require major emitters like China and India to cut the amount of greenhouse gases they produce.

Kyoto Protocol

London, England

Nova Scotia, Canada

Climate

My suggestions

Precipitation

Energy Use

• In London, the climate is warm and temperate.

• The average annual temperature in London is 18.2°C.

• London has a temperate climate without the extremes found in continental Europe.

• There are four distinct seasons. July is the hottest summer month, averaging 66°F (19°C), and January is the coldest winter month, averaging 44°F (7°C).

I think that China is already taking good step towards decreasing their negative impact on the environment by aiming to cap their carbon emissions. However, it is not only carbon emissions that is causing harm but also many other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide. Seeing as a large part of China is still greatly dependent on agriculture which produces a lot of methane gases, a future goal could be to cut down methane emissions while also striving for the goal of lower carbon emissions.

Energy Use

Renewable Fuels

• As of December 15, 2010, gasoline is required to contain an average five per cent renewable content. These regulations are one pillar of the Government's broader Renewable Fuels Strategy. As a further step, we have implemented a 2 per cent renewable fuel requirement for diesel fuel.

Energy Use

Carbon Capture and Storage

• Canada is well-placed to be a global leader in the development and deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies. In recent years, Canada's federal and provincial governments have committed a total of approximately $3 billion in funding for CCS, which could lead to as many as five to six large-scale demonstration projects in Canada. In addition to taking significant action at home, Canada is actively involved in international efforts to advance the development and deployment of CCS technology.

- Total annual precipitation averages 138mm which is equivalent to 1388 Litres/m²

I also suggest that the country tries to be more energy efficient and perhaps introduce and encourage technologies and/or public transportation (since the majority of the Chinese population commutes to work and school by subway or by bus) powered by renewable energy sources such as solar power.

Transportation

Agricultural Greenhouse Gases

• The Agricultural Greenhouse Gases Program (AGGP) represents Canada's initial contribution to the Global Research Alliance. AGGP will help Canadian farmers become more competitive and profitable through improved access to, and adoption of, beneficial management practices that help mitigate greenhouse gases. An initial $19.6 million has been approved for 18 projects and will bring farmers, the agricultural community and academia together to work towards a common goal of advancing research, technology transfer and adoption of beneficial management practices to mitigate agricultural greenhouse gases.

• Canada has collaborated with the U.S. towards working out common North American standards for greenhouse gas emissions for vehicles.

• In November 2012, proposed regulations limiting emissions from passenger vehicles and light trucks model years 2017 and beyond were released, building on the final regulations for model years 2011-2016. As a result of the regulations, it is projected that the average greenhouse gas emissions from 2025 vehicles will be reduced by about 50% from those sold in 2008

• With regards to heavy-duty vehicles, in February 2013 the Government of Canada released final regulations limiting emissions for the 2014 and later model years. Through the implementation of the standards, it is anticipated that the average greenhouse gas emissions from 2018 heavy-duty vehicles will be reduced by up to 23 percent.

Agricultural Greenhouse Gases

• As well, Canada is one of the founding members of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, an international network of more than 30 member-countries devoted to collaboration in agricultural research on greenhouse gas mitigation and beneficial management practices for farmers in Canada and around the world. At its launch, Canada announced that it would invest $27 million towards the Global Research Alliance.

Rainfall

Our Impact on the World

Personal Reflections

• Late autumn and winter are the wettest seasons but rain is possible in any season.

• There is significant rainfall throughout the year in London.

• Even the driest months still have a lot of rainfall.

• About 822 mm of precipitation falls annually.

All in all, our carbon footprints have increased throughout the years of humanity's existence, affected by the increase in innovations involving the consumption of fossil fuels, which leads to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to the warming of our planet.

We can make a greater difference if we start sooner rather than later.

Countries all over the world are realizing their negative impact on the environment, they are starting to make changes to their system and hope to cap their emissions. We as citizens of the world can do the same with our lifestyles. If we can become more environmentally cautious, perhaps we will begin to see an ameliorated impact on the world.

Comparisons

As can be observed from the climatographs below, the average precipitation for Nova Scotia does not fluctuate nearly as much as the average precipitation for London. This would be due to the fact that Nova Scotia is a coastal city while London is situated further inland. Also, the average precipitation is lower in the summer months for Nova Scotia while the average precipitation is higher in the summer months for London and Shanghai. The average temperatures for Nova Scotia and Shanghai show an increase in the summer months, while the average temperature in London remains relatively the same sitting at around 20 degrees Celsius throughout the year. The average temperatures for Shanghai however show a more dramatic contrast between the winter (low) and summer months (high) with a difference of about 28 degrees Celsius, but unlike in Nova Scotia, the average temperature does not go below zero.

My Suggestions

Suggestions

Shanghai, China

Canada

London, England

• Canada has been keen in monitoring carbon emissions on the global scale.

• Programs have been dedicated to helping the environment and taking action through enforcing laws that benefit our ecosystem.

• Despite these efforts, it is evident that climate change effects have begun to impact us, if not already years before, through the warmer winters and sustaining winter throughout the spring months and the inconsistent weather patterns of the winters and summers of the last decade.

Canada is currently facing the crisis in the collaboration of Canada and the U.S. on combating greenhouse gases.

• Canada is being pressured to cut emissions in a crucial sector – oil production. U.S. is stating that focus on cutting on their coal-fired power plant emissions is their contribution, and that Canada is not doing enough until the problem of, oil production, their fastest-growing source of emissions, is addressed.

• I think that measuring coal emissions of each country is not an efficient way of dealing with greenhouse gas emissions since each is different in that percentage.

• Focus shouldn’t only be on the emissions of power plants.

Nova Scotia, Canada

England:

- Find a way to protect the coastal areas; with water levels rising the coast is going to be the most effected

- Create more laws/programs for protecting wildlife

- For UK citizens/inhabitants, the weather will be getting warmer in years to come due to rising air temperatures. Stay hydrated and be aware of potential risks of long-time sun exposure

Implementing solar power will be beneficial with the massive geography of Canada, especially in the concentrated areas of the population.

• Reminding Canadians that energy-saving habits should be adapted, especially in transportation, water, and electricity.

• With urbanization increasing every day, planting would as well benefit those compact cities.

Northern Temperate Zone

By: Priscilla Lo, Christina Reuben, Micah Soriano