Nexus between global warming impact and mitigation of Greenhouse Gases

Professor the Honourable A. Anthony Chen

The first in a series of 12 lectures about the Climate-Energy Nexus

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Highlights of the Lecture

Lecture Outline

Basics of Global Warming, climate and energy nexus
Impacts on Caribbean, especially Sea level Rise

The big picture:
Inadequacy of IPCC, global model especially in simulating ice dynamics and sea level rise
Basics of Paleoclimatology
How are sea level, temperature and CO2 concentrations estimated (qualitative description)
What paleoclimate scientists tell about past sea level rise, ice and CO2

What do they tell us about future sea level, temperature and CO2 concentrations
What does 400 +/- 100 ppm mean for us?
Tipping points and Point of no return
What are dangerous consequences?

Possibility of 5 or more meter rise over this century
Non-linear processes
Methane hydrate feedback

Should the Caribbean Act?
Caribbean footprint similar to or greater than Austria, Denmark, Norway, Portugal,
Sweden. Should they be forced to cut back?
Responsibility of country aspiring to be first world country
Differentiated cutback based on equity.

Energy security and later independence

A call for action