Update on Climate change by Mr Al Gore (2011-2012)

Share some updates on Climate change by Mr Al Gore:

1.Highlight: Al Gore at 24hrs of Reality (2011) [10 mins]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY2sBLKU2x8

In this video, Al Gore explained the "New normal" of “Long periods of Droughts followed by short period of heavy rains”. He also refuted the climate deniers point-by-point.

2. Al Gore's has another updated video in 2012: (44 mins)

http://climaterealityproject.org/video/

[Pls scroll down to watch "Hour 24: New York finale with Al Gore (2012)" Video.

It is up-to-date and expresses the urgency of the situation acutely.]

The following is a summary of the 2012 video:

Record heat events

The world experienced the hottest month in Sep 2012. ( Similar to the hottest month in 2005).

In 2012, NASA director Dr James Hansen and 2 of his colleagues present a powerful statistical evidence of how the Earth is warming up.

Dr James Hansen did a statistical study of the temperature of Earth from 1950 till 2011. He broke up Earth to ‘150 mile sq blocks’ and collected what the temperature has been every where on Earth in every block.

The study shows that:

From 1951 till 1980:

1/3 of the days are cooler than normal, 1/3 of the days are normal, &1/3 hotter than normal.

i.e. 1 day with normal temperature, 1 to 2 days cooler, 1 to 2 days hotter.

In 1980s, everything started to shift. (more hotter days)

From 2001 till 2011, the temp shifted a lot.

Now we have:

1 day with normal temp, 1 day cooler than normal, 4 to 5 days hotter than normal.

(With 1 to 2 days as extremely hot days).

Dr James Hansen also observed that from 1950s to 1980s, Extreme heat events happen on 0.1% of Earth’s surface,  

Now (In 2012) it happens on 10% of Earth’s surface. (That is a 100 times increase.)

…..

US, heat records shows that:

In 1950 – 1999:   1 hot day to 1 cold day,

In 2001 to 2011:  2 hot days to 1 cold day.

In 2012:              10 hot days to 1 cold day !!!

Jul 2012 is the hottest month in US in recorded history.

………

Arctic / Greenland ice melts/ Sea level rise

Arctic ice covers hit the lowest record this year. ( Arctic ice surface area reached a 3.5 million sq km record low in 2012. Arctic ice used to be 8.5 million sq km in the 1980s)

Greenland & Antarctica ice melts affects sea level.

Cities at risk of the sea level rise.

Top 10 cities in danger of sea level rise: (By Population)

Calcutta, Mumbal, Dhaka (Banglah Desh), Ho Chi Minh City, Shang Hai, Bangkok,

Rangoon, Miami, Hai Phong

Top 10 cities in danger of sea level rise: (By Assets at risk: trillions of $US)

Miami, Guangzhou, NY/ New Jersey, Calcutta, Shanghai, Mumbai, Tianjin Tokyo, Hong Kong, Bangkok

…….

Increased ocean temp/ increased water vapor in the air.

For Hurricane Sandy: When Hurricane Sandy turn towards NY, ocean temp is a 5 Deg C (9 Deg F) higher than normal. (Sea Surface temp: SST)

The air now holds more water vapour.

With each additional 1 deg increase in temp, the atmosphere’s capacity to hold water vapor increases by 7%.

Now, there are already 4% more water vapor over the oceans than there was only 30 years ago.

……..

Disasters in 2012

In 2012: 65% of US land has suffered from drought.

Droughts in 2012: Spain/ India/ N & South Korea/ Africa (Senegal)

Floods in 2012:  Pakistan / Beijing Jul./ India/ Taiwan/ N. Korea/ Russia (Jul)

Record drought/ record floods in the same country.

……..

Food Availability

Mr Al Gore shows a Food Surpluses and Deficits graph (1965 – 2010)

Food surpluses are found in North America & South America & Aus.

Occasionally, in E Eu & Russia.

Every where else (Europe/ Central Am/ Western Eu/ Asia/ Middle East & Africa) are all in food deficit.

Crops are sensitive to heat conditions.  By end of century, yield of corn can fall 1/3 just from heat stress alone.

…..

Water Availability

Global Water supply: 11% for domestic use, 19% Industrial use, 70% is for agriculture.

We are drawing water from aquifers at an unsustainable rate.

……..

Tropical disease are spreading with climate change. (e.g West Nile virus, Dengue fever are spreading)

……….

Increase in Clean energy policies

We are putting 90 million tons of global warming pollutants out in the air every 24 hrs.

We currently rely on carbon-based fuels for 85% of energy that we used.

In 2010, Renewable energy Investments exceeded those in Fossil Fuels for the first time

(Fossil Fuels: $157 Billion: Renewables: $187 Billion)

We now have a new wind turbine every 30 mins.

……

We have to act now to protect the planet and future generations.

Our Singapore Conversations @ Botanic Gardens (17 Nov)

Mr Low signed up for Our Singapore Conversation during Oct. He was invited to a Singapore Conversation session @ Botanic Gardens on 17 Nov. 
During the session, Mr Low brought up an issue to reduce consumption patterns: “ A WWF report shows that if everyone lives the lifestyle of an average Singaporean, we would need 3.5 planets to cater to our way of consumption! We have to reduce our consumption patterns to conserve the resources of the planet.” Many participants resonate with this view point and discussed with Mr Low on this matter during the tea-breaks and at the end of the session. 

Mr Low feels that the Singapore conversation is a good initiative as it gives the common people a chance to voice our options and participate in shaping the future of our nation. It also offers a chance for citizens to listen to different view points on various subjects and encourages citizens to network with each other.